
Praying to the Guardian
About This Novel
Eight years after "The Worry-Free Grocery Store", Keigo Higashino has written another miraculous novel! In a small town more than an hour's drive from Tokyo, there is the ancient Tsukigo Shrine. There is a huge ancient tree deep in the courtyard. Legend has it that as long as you pray to it, your wish will come true. The prayer rules are as follows: 1. Prayer is limited to one person; 2. Prayer is only allowed late at night, and an appointment is required in advance; 3. There is no restriction on the content of the wish, even if it is to wish someone else to die. Ling Dou, who was in his early twenties, was living in a mess. When he was desperate, a mysterious man saved him with a huge sum of money, on the condition that he protect the ancient tree. Reito knew nothing about the tree and didn't believe in the legend. If the wish can come true, of course what I want is money pouring into my family! He couldn't help but laugh. But he was surprised to find that many people came to pray, and their attitudes were terrifyingly solemn. Late one night, Lingdou accidentally approached the ancient tree and heard a strange humming sound coming from the tree. Confused and ordinary people are everywhere in this world. As long as you pray to that tree, any wish will come true. There will really be such a miracle!
What Readers Think
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Community(0)
Official(10)Scraped 20d ago
Thoughts are life, don't touch, don't give
It's been a long time since I've read a book by Keigo Higashino. I read "Jieyou Grocery Store" and "The Devotion of Suspect X", and when I think about it carefully, it seems like it was in high school. I came across this book by chance. It was published at the beginning of this year. It is not thick, about 160,000 words. The story is suspenseful, but not exciting; it has ups and downs, but not annoying. Like many Japanese literary works, it has a tranquil and tranquil temperament. As I read it, I felt warm. Legend has it that if you make a wish to Kami Kusu at Tsukigo Shrine, your wish will eventually come true. Although this legend is untrue, Shennan does have its magic. During the day, everyone can come to Tsukigo Shrine to pray to Kami Nan, but at night only one person can go and hold a special candle to pray to Kami Nan. On a crescent moon night, the person who cares can convey his or her "thoughts" to Shen Nan, and on a full moon night, people who are closely related to the person who cares can receive this thought. The author wrote this article not to tell a story. The book is not thick, but it is also very beautiful. The author just wants to list some of my opinions after reading for you and your future self. | Love | There are no perfect people in the world, but there is love that will never fade away. There is a very necessary condition for success in praying to Shen Nan, and that is blood connection. But the author did not limit the concept he wanted to convey: he not only expressed the inseparability of blood ties, but also expressed that even if there is no blood relationship, love can be deep. Every character in the novel is imperfect. Even Yanagisawa Chishu relies on a notebook to cover up his increasingly serious cognitive impairment. Everyone has weaknesses, difficulties, hardships, and mistakes, but they all show their love to those close to them cautiously or without hesitation. Saji Toumaaki went to Kaminan Qinian for many full-moon nights in a row, hoping to play the piano music that his brother Kikuo gave to his mother Takako before his death. Kikuo had extraordinary musical and piano talents, but was overwhelmed by his mother's expectations. Takako supported Kikuo all the way from music to performance to terminal illness, and then to his own cognitive impairment. He did not expect his eldest son to succeed, but just wanted him to live a life he liked. When Takako, who is elderly and has cognitive impairment, heard the piano melody and immediately recognized it as a piece composed by Kikuo, I almost wanted to cry. If you think about it carefully, every story in the book is a tragedy, but the author uses pen and ink to wrap them up into the ordinary. The little beauties popping out of these ordinary stories make the readers feel extremely warm. The love of a father for his daughter, the love of a mother for her son, the love of a younger brother for his older brother, the love of a daughter for her father, the love of a son for her mother, the love of a stranger for a stranger. And Yanagisawa Chishu's love for his nephew Naoi Reito is quite complicated. The past with his father Naoi Soichi and the neglect of his sister Michie. In my opinion, Yanagisawa Chishu's love was initially more like a kind of regret and repayment for the indifference and willfulness of the past; but later, when this love transformed into the love of an older generation for a younger generation, it became more pure. There is an inconspicuous detail in the article that I especially like: near the end of the book, when being criticized by Qianzhou, "Reito feels more comfortable than when he is praised." This is in contrast to the mental abuse of "this old woman" at the beginning. I think this is not about Reito's growth, but that he truly recognized this excellent aunt, and he had the kind of love for Qianzhou that only exists for elders. | Guard | Tribute to every steadfast supporter of love "Thoughts are life, don't touch, don't give." This is what is written on the first page of "Shennan's Guardian's Experience". For hundreds of years, the Yanagisawa family has guarded Shennan from generation to generation, recording the people who come to pray every night, and quietly guarding this sacred land, a secret. Maybe this is just a necessary background for the story to happen, but it is very touching. It is not easy to persevere, and it is even more difficult to persevere from generation to generation. In most cases, this kind of persistence is unknown, guarding a small world for oneself or for others. There are many such adherents, and because of them, many technologies, cultures, and stories can be passed down from generation to generation. If I were to find one word to describe these sticklers, I think it would be "long-lasting love." Being affectionate towards people sounds quite artificial, but being affectionate toward things is a rare and beautiful quality. When Reito first took over the task of protecting Nan, he didn't understand it: he was dissatisfied with the high mountain road, the daily cleaning, and the inquiries from customers during the day. I think what moved him, besides the magical power of Shennan, was also the persistence of the Yanagisawa family's hundreds of years of love in the scroll archives. I have always thought that long-term people are quite cute and respectable. These people are often very small, as small as the leader of a community, the guardian of a forest, or the inheritor of an almost-obliterated intangible cultural heritage. Yes, if the thing you insist on is big, as big as a culture that connects ancient and modern times, and big enough that everyone knows the truth, then trying your best to show your persistence may not be a long-term relationship, and it will become a kind of artificial performance in front of others. Those little people will be lonely and misunderstood, but they still stick to their own craft and world. Respectable and lovely. | A little thought | Looking for "Shennan" If I were to say what kind of book "Praying for the Guardian" is, I would think that it is a warm book. "Shennan" is an important part of the book, conveying the "thoughts" of generations and making up for the regrets of the past. If Shen Nan is embodied, there will be many explanations, but my understanding is still shallow. In my opinion, "Shen Nan" may be a medium for spreading "thoughts". It is patient enough and long-lasting enough to absorb everyone's thoughts and then transmit them without reservation. "Shennan" is a medium of communication that spans years, so it has accumulated and is cherished enough. In real life, would there be Shen Nan?
Dreams always have to be had, what if they come true? Just like in the novel, most people go to the wishing tree with the intention of making a pilgrimage and make sincere wishes. If such a thing really existed, then those people would probably be happy, right?
I love this series of books written by Keigo Higashino. But it also made me burst into tears. This book has been writing about love, but the most heartbreaking thing is Kikuo. Regarding giving up your dreams and dropping out of school, your mother never blamed you and always protected you. Although your father didn't let you step into George's house, he asked his younger son to send you money secretly. The younger brother was forced to inherit the family business and never complained. They all love you deeply, so you have been repenting your whole life, and you have also suffered from severe chronic alcoholism and deafness in both ears. Until my father's death and your death, I was unable to see my father and brother for the last time, and my mother suffered from severe cognitive impairment as a result. 💔 There is also Tōichiro's love for his son who is not his biological son, Zhuangqi; and Chishu's love for Reito, and his confession to his sister and father, which made my eyes red; Reito was also lucky, he met Chishu when he was accomplishing nothing and taught him to grow up; and Showa, he is a good person. The characters in the book are so exquisitely drawn, and there are foreshadowings everywhere in the text. You really have to read it carefully. I really like what Qianzhou said to Reito, it was warm and touching: "But I want you to remember that there is no one in this world who should not be born, no matter where you are. Everyone has a reason to come to this world."❤️
Without that tree to pray to, we are on our own! As long as we work hard and fight hard, one day we can realize our wishes with our own hands.
I also want to have a tree like this! There is such a miracle! When I saw the tree introduced in the introduction, I felt that if it really existed, I would definitely go there and make a wish, hoping that my own wish would come true.
Warm and gentle
Good story, good pace. What a foreshadowing and ending.
One sentence review
Excellent, it has a spiritual power that is deeply rooted in people's hearts.
So gentle.
Thoughts that make people never forget them, filled with the gentle power of love
reasoning
Sad stories written by Mr. Higashino
Higashino
Keigo-kun is truly the standard bearer of mystery novels
Rating
Community(0)
Official(10)Scraped 20d ago
Thoughts are life, don't touch, don't give
It's been a long time since I've read a book by Keigo Higashino. I read "Jieyou Grocery Store" and "The Devotion of Suspect X", and when I think about it carefully, it seems like it was in high school. I came across this book by chance. It was published at the beginning of this year. It is not thick, about 160,000 words. The story is suspenseful, but not exciting; it has ups and downs, but not annoying. Like many Japanese literary works, it has a tranquil and tranquil temperament. As I read it, I felt warm. Legend has it that if you make a wish to Kami Kusu at Tsukigo Shrine, your wish will eventually come true. Although this legend is untrue, Shennan does have its magic. During the day, everyone can come to Tsukigo Shrine to pray to Kami Nan, but at night only one person can go and hold a special candle to pray to Kami Nan. On a crescent moon night, the person who cares can convey his or her "thoughts" to Shen Nan, and on a full moon night, people who are closely related to the person who cares can receive this thought. The author wrote this article not to tell a story. The book is not thick, but it is also very beautiful. The author just wants to list some of my opinions after reading for you and your future self. | Love | There are no perfect people in the world, but there is love that will never fade away. There is a very necessary condition for success in praying to Shen Nan, and that is blood connection. But the author did not limit the concept he wanted to convey: he not only expressed the inseparability of blood ties, but also expressed that even if there is no blood relationship, love can be deep. Every character in the novel is imperfect. Even Yanagisawa Chishu relies on a notebook to cover up his increasingly serious cognitive impairment. Everyone has weaknesses, difficulties, hardships, and mistakes, but they all show their love to those close to them cautiously or without hesitation. Saji Toumaaki went to Kaminan Qinian for many full-moon nights in a row, hoping to play the piano music that his brother Kikuo gave to his mother Takako before his death. Kikuo had extraordinary musical and piano talents, but was overwhelmed by his mother's expectations. Takako supported Kikuo all the way from music to performance to terminal illness, and then to his own cognitive impairment. He did not expect his eldest son to succeed, but just wanted him to live a life he liked. When Takako, who is elderly and has cognitive impairment, heard the piano melody and immediately recognized it as a piece composed by Kikuo, I almost wanted to cry. If you think about it carefully, every story in the book is a tragedy, but the author uses pen and ink to wrap them up into the ordinary. The little beauties popping out of these ordinary stories make the readers feel extremely warm. The love of a father for his daughter, the love of a mother for her son, the love of a younger brother for his older brother, the love of a daughter for her father, the love of a son for her mother, the love of a stranger for a stranger. And Yanagisawa Chishu's love for his nephew Naoi Reito is quite complicated. The past with his father Naoi Soichi and the neglect of his sister Michie. In my opinion, Yanagisawa Chishu's love was initially more like a kind of regret and repayment for the indifference and willfulness of the past; but later, when this love transformed into the love of an older generation for a younger generation, it became more pure. There is an inconspicuous detail in the article that I especially like: near the end of the book, when being criticized by Qianzhou, "Reito feels more comfortable than when he is praised." This is in contrast to the mental abuse of "this old woman" at the beginning. I think this is not about Reito's growth, but that he truly recognized this excellent aunt, and he had the kind of love for Qianzhou that only exists for elders. | Guard | Tribute to every steadfast supporter of love "Thoughts are life, don't touch, don't give." This is what is written on the first page of "Shennan's Guardian's Experience". For hundreds of years, the Yanagisawa family has guarded Shennan from generation to generation, recording the people who come to pray every night, and quietly guarding this sacred land, a secret. Maybe this is just a necessary background for the story to happen, but it is very touching. It is not easy to persevere, and it is even more difficult to persevere from generation to generation. In most cases, this kind of persistence is unknown, guarding a small world for oneself or for others. There are many such adherents, and because of them, many technologies, cultures, and stories can be passed down from generation to generation. If I were to find one word to describe these sticklers, I think it would be "long-lasting love." Being affectionate towards people sounds quite artificial, but being affectionate toward things is a rare and beautiful quality. When Reito first took over the task of protecting Nan, he didn't understand it: he was dissatisfied with the high mountain road, the daily cleaning, and the inquiries from customers during the day. I think what moved him, besides the magical power of Shennan, was also the persistence of the Yanagisawa family's hundreds of years of love in the scroll archives. I have always thought that long-term people are quite cute and respectable. These people are often very small, as small as the leader of a community, the guardian of a forest, or the inheritor of an almost-obliterated intangible cultural heritage. Yes, if the thing you insist on is big, as big as a culture that connects ancient and modern times, and big enough that everyone knows the truth, then trying your best to show your persistence may not be a long-term relationship, and it will become a kind of artificial performance in front of others. Those little people will be lonely and misunderstood, but they still stick to their own craft and world. Respectable and lovely. | A little thought | Looking for "Shennan" If I were to say what kind of book "Praying for the Guardian" is, I would think that it is a warm book. "Shennan" is an important part of the book, conveying the "thoughts" of generations and making up for the regrets of the past. If Shen Nan is embodied, there will be many explanations, but my understanding is still shallow. In my opinion, "Shen Nan" may be a medium for spreading "thoughts". It is patient enough and long-lasting enough to absorb everyone's thoughts and then transmit them without reservation. "Shennan" is a medium of communication that spans years, so it has accumulated and is cherished enough. In real life, would there be Shen Nan?
Dreams always have to be had, what if they come true? Just like in the novel, most people go to the wishing tree with the intention of making a pilgrimage and make sincere wishes. If such a thing really existed, then those people would probably be happy, right?
I love this series of books written by Keigo Higashino. But it also made me burst into tears. This book has been writing about love, but the most heartbreaking thing is Kikuo. Regarding giving up your dreams and dropping out of school, your mother never blamed you and always protected you. Although your father didn't let you step into George's house, he asked his younger son to send you money secretly. The younger brother was forced to inherit the family business and never complained. They all love you deeply, so you have been repenting your whole life, and you have also suffered from severe chronic alcoholism and deafness in both ears. Until my father's death and your death, I was unable to see my father and brother for the last time, and my mother suffered from severe cognitive impairment as a result. 💔 There is also Tōichiro's love for his son who is not his biological son, Zhuangqi; and Chishu's love for Reito, and his confession to his sister and father, which made my eyes red; Reito was also lucky, he met Chishu when he was accomplishing nothing and taught him to grow up; and Showa, he is a good person. The characters in the book are so exquisitely drawn, and there are foreshadowings everywhere in the text. You really have to read it carefully. I really like what Qianzhou said to Reito, it was warm and touching: "But I want you to remember that there is no one in this world who should not be born, no matter where you are. Everyone has a reason to come to this world."❤️
Without that tree to pray to, we are on our own! As long as we work hard and fight hard, one day we can realize our wishes with our own hands.
I also want to have a tree like this! There is such a miracle! When I saw the tree introduced in the introduction, I felt that if it really existed, I would definitely go there and make a wish, hoping that my own wish would come true.
Warm and gentle
Good story, good pace. What a foreshadowing and ending.
One sentence review
Excellent, it has a spiritual power that is deeply rooted in people's hearts.
So gentle.
Thoughts that make people never forget them, filled with the gentle power of love
reasoning
Sad stories written by Mr. Higashino
Higashino
Keigo-kun is truly the standard bearer of mystery novels


