Gifted Hands: Saino No Aru Te by Kenneth Fenter "A chance for love the second time around."

Author: Kenneth Fenter
Publisher: Arborwood Press

Amazon: Gifted Hands: Saino No Aru Te by Kenneth Fenter

Release Date: Available Now
ISBN: 978-1479168804, 1479168807

Page Count: 361
Genre: Romance Contemporary
Reviewer: Teresa

Rating: 5 Angels + RR

Gifted Hands by Kenneth Fenter explores the life of Charlie Kelly first in the trials of youth to adulthood.

This story begins in nineteen fifty three with a chapter from the earlier novel Pivotal Times when Charlie returns home after serving his time in the army in Sasebo, Japan where he met and fell in love with Keiko Shimamura, a Japanese English teacher. What began as a friendship, blossomed into a love that seemed to span the cultural differences between Keiko and Charlie. Keiko traveled to the USA to continue her education and quickly gained the love of Charlie’s family. When her father was tragically injured in a fishing accident, Keiko returned home and weeks went by without a letter forcing Charlie move on with the love and support of their mutual friend, Carla. Charlie’s life is full of love and family until Carla’s unexpected death threatened to spiral him into depression once again. Charlie decides to take a year to gain a new perspective while he travels around the world. His first stop is Japan where a series of misadventures lead him to new friends and maybe a love he never quite forgot.

The love between Keiko and Charlie was torn apart by distance and cultural differences that were incredibly difficult to overcome in the nineteen fifties. It was beautiful how Keiko asked Carla to look after Charlie so he would never be alone. The years for Charlie passed much easier than Keiko who struggled to build a life for herself after she discovered that it was her mother who kept them apart by destroying the letters they sent to each other. I was fascinated by the cultural differences between Japan and the USA as the many foreigners struggled to be accepted by the Japanese people. It was wonderful how the people gathered around Father Alverez for friendship and understanding in a society vastly different than they were used to. Seeing Japan through Charlie’s eyes brought its majesty and beauty alive for me. The cultural differences and the way the people in Japan look at things can be frustrating and fascinating to anyone who visits Japan. I actually spent time in Japan and found its people for the most part very accepting of other cultures, but there are always a few exceptions like Charlie saw. If for one enjoyed every second and enjoyed experiencing Japan through Charlie’s and Keiko’s eyes as they got their chance for love the second time around.   Teresa