Snow Falling on Cedars

Snow Falling on Cedars is a controversial novel, written about the fictional murder trial of Kabuo Miyamoto, a Japanese-American. It is told from many perspectives, primarily that of Kabuo's childhood friend, Ishmael Chambers. The book is set in December, 1954 on the isolated, imaginary island, San Piedro, in the Puget Sound, Washington . The book explores many of the personages’ memories of the dead man, Carl Heine, and also Ishmael's flashbacks of his intimate relationship with Kabuo's wife, Hatsue and his youth spent with the accused man. Throughout the book, Ishmael reflects on his time spent at war with the Japanese when he lost his arm and the hatred he feels towards their race. He also spend a lot of time thinking of the regret and anger he feels surrounding Hatsue's rejection of his love. Snow Falling on  Cedars switches frequently between past and present as each of the characters steps up to the witness stand and sinks into a recollection of their past decisions and actions.

 

​Spearheading the prosecution are the town's sheriff, Art Moran, and prosecutor, Alvin Hooks. Leading the defense is the old, experienced Nels Gudmondsson.   Several witnesses, including Etta Heine, Carl's mother, accuse Kabuo of murdering Carl for racial and personal reasons.  David Guterson sets up the novel so that it appears at first that Carl and Kabuo were on very bad terms before the time of the murder.  A family feud over a strawberry field had been taking place for several years between the Heines and the Miyamotos.  Originally, Carl Heine Senior had promised the land to Kabuo's father, the Miyamotos were on their third last down payement when they were marched off to war.   Carl Sr died while they were away, and his wife, Etta, sold the land to a man named Jergeson.  Just before Kabuo returns, Jergeson suffers a stroke and decides to sell the land.  Carl and Kabuo both attempt to purchase the strawberry fields, and this is a source of enemity between them.  We learn later on however, that although the two weren't friends, Kabuo had no misgivings about helping a man in need.  

 

 

In Snow Fallng on Cedars, Ishmael pities himself immensely for the majority of the book.  He is melancholy and surly because he believes that everyone stares at his lost arm.  He is also lovesick for a relationship that ended some 10 years ago with Hatsue.  In the novel, Ishmael feels betrayed by Hatsue and angry at Kabuo for "taking" his woman.  Although Ishmael discovers conclusive proof, in the form of light house logs, that Kabuo didn't murder Carl, he struggles with his emotions  and chooses not to reveal it.  Later, he rereads Hatsue's letter of repudiation and is finally able to let go of their affair.  Soon after, he makes the moral choice and he discloses the evidence of Kabuo's innocence.  We learn that Carl died when a freight ship went to close and the wake caused him to fall and hit his head, evidenced by the logs.   Hatsue thanks Ishmael for his honesty and speaks to him for the first time in years.