Description

The Night Circus meets Lonely Castle in the Mirror in this multi-award-winning Japanese bestseller, available finally in an English translation by Philip Gabriel, a translator of Murakami

– AN FT BEST SUMMER READ 2023
– OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD IN JAPAN
– WINNER OF THE NAOKI PRIZE AND THE JAPAN BOOKSELLERS’ AWARD
– A MAJOR MOVIE RELEASE IN JAPAN

‘A thrilling and often nail-biting depiction of music, friendship, and personal demons’ OBSERVER
‘Propulsive and poetic’ KIRKUS
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Welcome to a magical world of music, friendship and rivalry …

In a small coastal town just a stone’s throw from Tokyo, a prestigious piano competition is underway. Over the course of two feverish weeks, three friends will experience some of the most joyous – and painful – moments of their lives.

Aya was a piano genius, until she ran away from the stage and vanished; will the tall and talented Makun bring her back?
Or will it be child of nature, Jin, a pianist without a piano, who carries the sound of his father’s bees wherever he goes?

Each of them will break the rules, awe their fans and push themselves to the brink. But at what cost?

Tender, cruel, compelling, HONEYBEES AND DISTANT THUNDER is the unflinching story of love, courage and rivalry. Most of all, it shows how three young people reconcile with the highs and lows of what it means to truly be a friend.
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Japanese readers love HONEYBEES AND DISTANT THUNDER:
– ‘The novel is a masterpiece’ 5 stars*****’
– ‘Each contestant was wonderfully drawn, and I felt very moved’ 5 stars*****
– ‘I felt like I was right there, and there were scenes that brought me to tears’ 5 stars*****
– ‘This is a beyond a reading experience. It felt like some sixth sense was at work. Wonderful’ 5 stars*****

Publisher Review

A thrilling and often nail-biting depiction of music, friendship and personal demons . . . Onda beautifully conveys the transcendent power of classical music in all its emotive, psychological and visceral glory. * OBSERVER * A pitch-perfect, vivid masterpiece. A celebration of the love and joy inherent in the act of creating and appreciating music. Honeybees and Distant Thunder contains a warm frequency that vibrates with life and soul. * NICK BRADLEY, author of THE CAT AND THE CITY * Propulsive and poetic * KIRKUS REVIEWS * Deeply moving. The now-ness of Onda’s writing left me more than once with a big, goofy grin on my face or tears on my cheeks * ASSOCIATED PRESS * A fine performance * IRISH TIMES *