Katherine Govier

What was really good about this book was learning about the history and development of the town of Banff in Alberta, a place i have loved to visit. What also is good is learning about the development of our National Park system and about the cowboys and trail leaders who roamed there in the early 2oth century. Also of interest is the exploits of a guide and a family expedition in the rocky mountains. There is a mysterious disapperance of this family that is central to all that happens in this novel. This novel tended to wax on poetic just a bit too much and I think it could have been wrapped up quicker. I also would have like to have seen the story of "Helen", who was a founding employee of the National Park in Alberta, more developed. She was a working woman who refused to be only a secretary and wrote the first guide book to the Rockies. She then went out on an expedition to see what the park was like. She seems to fade away part way through the novel.
A good read.… (more)

Pulling from history, and adding it's own spin, The Printmaker's Daughter tells the story of Ei Katsushika, the third daughter of Hokusai Katsushika. For those of you who may be fans of Japanese art, or of their rich history, this name will ring a bell. Hokusai was a famous artist at the end of an era. A man who openly and vibrantly put his feelings down into his paintings. Faced with censorship and hardship, Hokusai was a man shrouded in much mystery. The Printmaker's Daughter takes what is known to be fact, and mixes it gorgeously with a fictional story.

In the beginning, Ei is shown as the favorite of her father. She is afforded a freedom that most women didn't have at this time. Galavanting around town, meeting people from all different walks of life, and even being allowed to attend places that children weren't technically allowed to go. Ei's ability to slip unnoticed into these places allows the reader to get a through glimpse at what life was like for the common people during this time. I thought it was truly brilliant how much Ei is allowed to experience, and therefore how much the reader is as well.

As Ei gets older, Katherine Govier really shows the truth behind this young girl's life. The reader follows as Ei tries to make a place in the world for herself. Constantly belittled by her father and told she is nothing, it is her strength that really drew me in. Until her dying breath, she faced the world head on and did what she felt was right for her. In fact, all the characters in this story are strong and wonderfully written. The first person narrative is beautifully done, and it is very easy to become immersed in this story.

The Printmaker's Daughter is hauntingly beautiful and well written. The vivid characters bring the story to life, and really were what kept me reading on. If I had one complaint, it would be that there were times when Ei's story became a little heavy in the historical descriptions. However, considering the topic, it makes perfect sense. I'm simply not a reader who often delves into Historical Fiction, so it was a different read for me. The discussion at the end of the book ties everything together, and definitely answered all the questions I had left upon finishing this intriguing book.

If you are a reader who enjoys historical fiction, this is a book that you will fall in love with. I definitely recommend Katherine Govier's The Printmaker's Daughter and look forward to more from this author.… (more)

Beautiful. I loved this book. It was a well-written story of a woman living her life in her father's shadow. Is it fast-paced? No. But it is a wonderful book and I enjoyed every minute of reading it. Govier grants you an inside look at not just this father-daughter relationship but also the culture of Japan in the early 1800s. Fans of Memoirs of a Geisha should definitely give Oei's life a read!

What I really wanted to address was the afterword. I know many people skip things like that but I promise, it's well worth the read. The author has me fully convinced that Oei is the true artist behind many paintings attributed to Hokusai. It's an intriguing look at art history and the evidence required to change the historical record, as well as an explanation behind the author's inspiration.… (more)