The Breakwater by Leslie Shimotakahara
A multigenerational saga about the long shadow of an unspeakable family secret, culminating in an overdue reunion between rivalrous brothers.
Cathy Matsumoto lives in Toronto and is rebuilding her life after a divorce when her father, Yas, calls to tell her his plans to take a trip. Yas says he wants to go to Victoria, BC, to visit a dying relative, a cousin he has not been in touch with for a long time. Cathy has never heard of this cousin and is both intrigued and worried about Yas travelling such a distance alone. Yas is elderly and has glaucoma that has worsened to the point he is no longer permitted to drive. Cathy and her sensitive, book-loving young daughter, Tessa, decide to accompany Yas on this trip to BC.
Once in BC, Yas evades Cathy’s questions about the cousin they are to visit. The trip brings back many memories for Yas; his past, decisions and actions from long ago haunt his present. As the son of Japanese immigrants, his life was a struggle even before the war. And as the eldest son, Yas felt it was his role to help support his family. Yas has not returned to BC since he was released from the internment camp where he and his family were held during WWII. The history of the internment is not a topic Yas wishes to discuss, but it continues to impact his life even though many years have passed. As a condition of release, those interred were required to leave the province, to disguise the fact that the government had seized their property. Throughout the novel, the dark shadow of internment is woven with the family’s long-hidden complicated secrets, making this an intriguing and compelling story that, though fictional, brings the characters to life on the page.
The Breakwater is beautifully written in delicate prose about a period in Canadian history that needs to be remembered. It shines a light on the long-term effects of the internment and dispersal of Japanese citizens in Canada. The story examines how internment influenced the struggles and relationships within one family, and how these struggles did not end with government compensation payments, which arrived many decades later. Told from multiple points of view, the story builds tension as love is mixed with misunderstandings and miscommunication, leading to longstanding rifts in the family. A moving and compelling read, this novel will appeal to readers who enjoy complex family stories. I recommend this as a great read.
About the Author
Leslie Shimotakahara is an award-winning author of three novels and a memoir, as well as numerous short fiction and essays. She won the Canada-Japan Literary Prize (2012) and has been shortlisted for the K.M. Hunter Artist Award. Her writing has appeared in the National Post, World Literature Today, and other anthologies and periodicals. She holds a PhD in English from Brown University and lives in Toronto with her husband.
About the Reviewer
Pamela Sinclair is a writer and lifelong reader. She enjoys reading multiple genres, both fiction and nonfiction. She lives in Halifax, NS, with her husband, daughter, and a grumpy grey cat named Ben. She is currently working on her first novel.
Book Details
Publisher : Cormorant Books
Publication date : April 4 2026
Language : English
Print length : 376 pages
ISBN-10 : 1770868259
ISBN-13 : 978-1770868250
 | A guest post by
|