Fifty Words for Rain: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel)
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Fifty Words for Rain: A GMA Book Club Pick (A Novel) Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Asha Lemmie (Author), Robin Eller (Narrator), Siho Ellsmore (Narrator),
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 12,463 ratings
Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction
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A Good Morning America Book Club Pick and New York Times Best Seller!

From debut author Asha Lemmie, “a lovely, heartrending story about love and loss, prejudice and pain, and the sometimes dangerous, always durable ties that link a family together.” (Kristin Hannah, number one New York Times best-selling author of The Nightingale)

Kyoto, Japan, 1948. “Do not question. Do not fight. Do not resist."

Such is eight-year-old Noriko “Nori” Kamiza’s first lesson. She will not question why her mother abandoned her with only these final words. She will not fight her confinement to the attic of her grandparents’ imperial estate. And she will not resist the scalding chemical baths she receives daily to lighten her skin.

The child of a married Japanese aristocrat and her African American GI lover, Nori is an outsider from birth. Her grandparents take her in, only to conceal her, fearful of a stain on the royal pedigree that they are desperate to uphold in a changing Japan. Obedient to a fault, Nori accepts her solitary life, despite her natural intellect and curiosity. But when chance brings her older half-brother, Akira, to the estate that is his inheritance and destiny, Nori finds in him an unlikely ally with whom she forms a powerful bond - a bond their formidable grandparents cannot allow and that will irrevocably change the lives they were always meant to lead. Because now that Nori has glimpsed a world in which perhaps there is a place for her after all, she is ready to fight to be a part of it - a battle that just might cost her everything.

Spanning decades and continents, Fifty Words for Rain is a dazzling epic about the ties that bind, the ties that give you strength, and what it means to be free.

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  1. Listening Length
    13 hours and 13 minutes
  2. Author
    Asha Lemmie
  3. Narrator
    Robin Eller, see all
  4. Audible release date
    September 1, 2020
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Penguin Audio
  7. ASIN
    B089B5T1RZ
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 13 hours and 13 minutes
Author Asha Lemmie
Narrator Robin Eller, Siho Ellsmore, Katharine Lee McEwan, Jeena Yi, Sarah Skaer, Louis Ozawa
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 01, 2020
Publisher Penguin Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B089B5T1RZ
Best Sellers Rank #15,000 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#36 in Asian American Literature (Audible Books & Originals)
#125 in Asian American Literature & Fiction
#898 in Historical Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
12,463 global ratings
A must read novel of love and personal empowerment
5 Stars
A must read novel of love and personal empowerment
Love and heartache live on every page of this astonishing debut. I wanted to wrap my arms around Nori on page one and whisper, “You are Love,” through every “feeling-less-than” moment of her life. Nori’s ability to cling to the smallest inkling of hope amidst the tsunami of violence, subjugation and prejudice she is forced to endure is awe-inspiring. And every moment of her struggle rings true. Asha Lemmie’s ability to share the complexity of the human heart will break yours. A week after finishing this must read novel, I still don’t know if I agree with Nori’s final decision, but I do understand her choice, and I’m ever so proud of how she found the strength to transform and own her life.
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Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it duwn!
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024
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I loved reading about this beautiful child. And having been to Kyoto, it felt like I was visiting there once again.

The author has a wonderful way of using descriptive words.

I'll definitely be reading more of her works in the future!
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Serena
4.0 out of 5 stars Slightly Juvenile Writing, but Still Enjoyable
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024
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At first, I thought the book must have been written for young people and was slightly annoyed as I started reading because I hadn't realized I bought a book for high school aged kids. I got over that quickly because the story grabbed me and didn't let go. The pages flew by.

There are very few descriptions of the details of Japanese life, culture, and architecture at the time I can see with a few changes that this book could have taken place in almost any other country. Beautiful kimonos are described, but not much else. Even though I have been to Japan many times I often pictured western style places because there are no descriptions. For example, the author mentions an estate. I pictured a sprawling western mansion even though I know that the Japanese "estate" of those times and mostly now are very different from what we might imagine. The granddaughter lives in what is called an attic. Of course I picture a western attic as I am not too sure that there were or are attics in most Japanese homes--no matter how fancy. I have been in a number of Japanese homes--small and large and don't recall any attics. So, if you are hoping to learn or read about Japanese culture which is not at all what Westerners think it is, this is not the book for you. If you want a book that keeps you reading then this is it.

Some things are left hanging at the end, but I suspect there will be a sequel.

I recommend for any age.
5 people found this helpful
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J.L. Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars In A Word ... Heartrending
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2024
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If I had to review this book in one word, it would be heartrending. From start to finish, Nori goes from one bad situation to another. She’s the bastard child of the Kamiza clan and hidden away in an attic after her mother disgraces herself, then abandons Nori to the care of her grandparents. In my view, that’s the worst sin her mother committed.

Set in Japan after the Second World War, the reader gets a view of the changing world that’s resisted by the aristocracy. When Nori meets her brother, the heir apparent, she’s fascinated with him. He has scant regard for her at first, and her adoration is idolatry that I feared would turn into incest. It didn’t.

The cruelty and lack of regard for Nori’s life underscores the divide between the rich and poor, the accepted and the forbidden. Her calm acceptance of being less than nothing makes Fifty Words For Rain a painful read.

Nori eventually escapes the harsh world she was born into, but comes full circle and returns to Japan. The end of the book leaves much food for thought and speaks to untenable choices people make out of a sense of obligation, misguided or not.

In Nori’s case, her decision to change the status quo was at odds with the treatment of her son. With power in her hands, she walks in her wicked grandmother’s footsteps. But, if there’s a follow-up to this story, I definitely want to read it.
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Natasha Hinkson
3.0 out of 5 stars Riveting story full of intrigue.
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2020
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***Spoiler Alert*** THIS REVIEW CONTAINS COMMENTS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED SPOILERS.

I read this book because it was picked by Amazon Editors as one of this year’s most essential reads, and the blurb was incredibly intriguing. In the end however, I struggle to give it 4 stars, and will have to settle at 3....maybe 3.5.

So much of this book seemed ‘borrowed’ to me. Starting with the title, which was reminiscent of 50 Shades of Grey. After reading the book though, and being able to appreciate the choice of title, I can forgive the author for this similarity.

The first part of the book was far too reminiscent of Flowers in the Attic. Down to the description of the magnificent house, polished floors and grand staircase. Next, was the almost replication of Memoirs of a Geisha, again including some of the imagery it conjured.

In the second half of the book, the story flowed on it’s own steam, but began to lack the substance that it provided in the first two parts. The characters became a bit more stereotyped, which was a big disappointment for me as I felt like so much had gone into the character development in the first two parts of the book. There was so much more to draw upon for these characters in the second half of the book, which was not fully exploited, and at times actions contradicted the earlier character development. Furthermore, the story became far too dramatic and took on a “Danielle Steele” element in the second half of the book.

My biggest problem with this book was the overburden of grief and misfortune that took place in one storyline. While I know that this theme of grief / being cursed was central to the story, it was in my opinion really overdone to the point of being unbelievable. How many times can a person cheat death? There were huge chunks of the book (especially in the first section) which just relayed tragedy after tragedy without any real story development. The author seemed to be simply going for shock value.

Despite this harsh criticism that I’ve launched, I did enjoy reading this story and read all 400+ pages in 3 days. The pacing was spot on. I was never quite sure what turn the story would take, and that kept me wanting more, reading late into the night to see what happened next. The story itself was riveting and full of intrigue. I loved the exploration of the theme of abandonment and how this ripples through one’s life, never quite ending. The writing itself was easy to digest and with some very nice imagery and use of vocabulary. Even if concepts seemed ‘borrowed’, the words were not.

A lot of readers did not seem to like the ending, but I actually found it very fitting to the story itself. It also set up nicely for a sequel, which I might read in the hope that the author’s writing matures with her second book.
32 people found this helpful
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Karen S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read!
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
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This book was so good. Very engaging and unpredictable, heartwarming and heartbreaking! Excellent!
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EmptyNesterMom
4.0 out of 5 stars Memorable story, immersive read
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2024
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A memorable story and setting, an enjoyable read
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Dee H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024
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A spellbinding story with a universal plot. An easy read with some great plot twist! I found it difficult to put it down.
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gail hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written!
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2024
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What a fantastic story! Definitely on the top shelf of favorites books ever! The only thing wrong was that it ended!!!
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Top reviews from other countries

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walli
4.0 out of 5 stars 50 Worte für Regen
Reviewed in Germany on December 9, 2023
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Sie ist erst acht Jahre als ihre Mutter sie an der Tür ihrer Großmutter absetzt. Noriko ist beinahe starr vor Angst. Sie soll still sein und gehorchen, aber sie ist doch erst acht. Noriko wird im Haushalt ihrer Großmutter aufgenommen. Im Jahr 1948 in einem Haushalt einer reichen Familie mit Beziehungen zum Königshaus, was macht man da mit einem kleinen Mädchen, dass anders ist. Man versteckt es. Noriko bekommt eine gewisse Erziehung und eine Art Bildung, aber nach draußen darf sie nicht. Niemand soll wissen, dass es sie gibt. Doch eines Tages steht wieder ein junger Mensch vor der Tür, ihr ehelicher Halbbruder Akira.

Mit diesem Romandebüt besucht man die Jahre nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg in Japan. Auch dieses Traditionen verhaftete Land kommt nicht umhin, sich zu verändern. Doch die obere Klasse sträubt sich gegen Änderungen. Sich zu ändern kann schließlich auch bedeuten, Macht einzubüßen. Norikos Großmutter handelt fast wie ein Kerkermeister, sie sperrt das Kind ein, versteckt es und misshandelt es. Erst Akiras Auftauchen ändert etwas. Der vier Jahre älter Junge, ein begnadeter Violinist, öffnet Noriko die Welt. Er führt sie zur Musik, er spricht mit ihr, er sieht sie. Für Noriko, die von ihrer Mutter verlassen und von ihrer Großmutter gequält wurde, ist er die Welt und auch die Öffnung zur Welt.

Das kaiserliche Japan ist wie eine fremde Welt, die in den 1950er Jahren traditionell und rückwärtsgerichtet erscheint. Die herrschende Klasse will ihren Einfluss nicht verlieren und ein uneheliches Kind einer Tochter aus sogenanntem guten Haus, bei dessen Vater es sich dazu noch um einen farbigen Amerikaner handelt, ist nicht gerade dienlich. Im einigem Entsetzen liest man von den Verhaltensweisen, die Norikos Großmutter an den Tag legt, um mit noch größerem Widerwillen festzustellen, dass der Großvater noch fürchterlicher ist. Und die verstehen sich als Noble. Akira wirkt als sei er Norikos Rettung. Man wünscht den Geschwistern nur Gutes, auch wenn sie manchmal etwas zu eng sind. Vielleicht ist es so, wenn sich Geschwister, die befürchteten Alllein zu sein, später finden. Fast schon zu viel hat Noriko zu erleiden. Es wirkt so, als geschehe immer eine Katastrophe, wenn gerade mal alles gut ist. Und so ist gerade die emotionsgeladene Dramatik, die den Roman vorantreibt und packend macht, die man mitunter als etwas überladen empfindet. Besonders zum Ende hin, sind Norikos Entscheidungen nicht immer nachvollziehbar. Und auch den Gang der Dinge würde man sich anders wünschen. Dennoch ein fesselnder Einblick in eine ferne Kultur zu einer vergangenen Zeit.
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Stephanie W
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting read
Reviewed in Canada on September 7, 2020
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Fifty Words for Rain is a strong debut novel, telling the story of Nori, a young biracial girl in post-WWII Japan, born to a Japanese aristocratic mother and her lover, an African-American soldier. Nori is abandoned by her mother and sent to live with her Japanese grandmother who cannot abide a granddaughter who is illegitimate and part black, and neither can the traditional rules-bound Japanese society in which they live. Nori’s life is difficult and bleak as she is hidden away by her grandmother in the attic, treated harshly and forced to take chemical baths to lighten her skin. Nori’s life changes with the arrival of her Japanese half-brother, Akira, who tries to help her build a life within the confines of the regimented, discriminatory and anti-American post-WWII Japanese society.

The plot is generally well-paced, although the middle part does drag a little, the writing is excellent, and the characters are fascinating. Themes of self-acceptance, the challenges of being a woman in a traditionally patriarchal society, resilience and strength are woven throughout the novel. I could not believe that this is the author’s first novel. Very well-done and well-deserving of being the September GMA book club pick!
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Barb Leisle
4.0 out of 5 stars A Bit Slow Moving
Reviewed in Canada on July 7, 2022
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Overall i enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged enough to read to the end but i found it quite slow moving.
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Farida
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing end.
Reviewed in India on February 17, 2021
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I liked the book- though found the end very disappointing.. very contrary to the story. Was as if the beginning was by one author & the end another... unless there is a sequel planned!!
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Dafydd bach
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing first novel
Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2021
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An extraordinary story of the life of a mixed race child born into Royalty in Japan. Perceived as the families shame she is imprisonments in an attic , beaten and humiliated. She is rescued by a half brother, who like her was abandoned by their mother who had tried to escape the binding family ties. It is a story of triumph of the spirit against overwhelming odds.
The book is hard to put down and one is left wanting more at the end.
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