The Last Tea Bowl Thief

By: Jonelle Patrick

Narrated by: Cindy Kay

For 300 years, a stolen relic passes from one fortune-seeker to the next, indelibly altering the lives of those who possess it.

In modern-day Tokyo, Robin Swann's life has sputtered to a stop. She's stuck in a dead-end job testing antiquities for an auction house, but her true love is poetry, not pottery. Her stalled dissertation sits on her laptop, unopened in months, and she has no one to confide in but her goldfish.

On the other side of town, Nori Okuda sells rice bowls and tea cups to Tokyo restaurants, as her family has done for generations. But with her grandmother in the hospital, the family business is foundering. Nori knows if her luck doesn't change soon, she'll lose what little she has left.

With nothing in common, Nori and Robin suddenly find their futures linked to an ancient, elusive tea bowl. Glimpses of the past set the stage as they hunt for the lost masterpiece, uncovering long-buried secrets in their wake. As they get closer to the truth - and the tea bowl - the women must choose between seizing their dreams or righting the terrible wrong that has poisoned its legacy for centuries.

©2020 Jonelle Patrick (P)2021 Tantor

Fascinating

Such a compelling story. Also never knew anything about this ancient art. A great read.

Rich and rewarding

Stepping into a distant land, a distant time, a remarkable story begins in feudal Japan of a soul’s journey then left in limbo. The story nearly disappears over nine generations and then comes out of hiding and is reignited.
This story and my imaginations of being there, will linger with me.
I learned much about a culture and history I have been interested in;
and value the wisdom made available regarding attachment and non attachment in attaining peace and happiness.

Excellent audiobook

My wife and I were already fans of this book, having read it when it was first published in print. Another pass through it -- this time via audio -- and we're probably bigger fans. The audio adaptation is excellent. I'm especially impressed by the reader's smooth inclusion of Japanese words and names in what sounds to me like accurate Japanese pronunciation.

We took time during a holiday break from work to listen. In fact, we made some of that time by making some drives for no other reason than to give it a listen. I'm glad we did. It was fun visiting again with this cast of characters as the teabowl worked its magic on them.

Delightful read

Holds your attention throughout despite jumps in time. Interesting characters and cultural observations. Well narrated, too.

Atmospheric historical art mystery

The characters are so well-drawn and there’s a distinct female lens to the story even though the historical actors involved were men. The switch from one period to another makes the plot more exciting.