Home > Snow Falling on Cedars Summary & Study Guide

• Study Guide
• Group

Snow Falling on Cedars | Introduction

David Guterson's reputation as a writer began with his first novel, Snow Falling on Cedars. It is a blend of courtroom drama and romance that takes place in a small town in Washington. Set in 1954, the novel examines the dynamics of the fictitious community of San Piedro Island after World War II. The past and present stories of many of the citizens of the small community spin off the central murder trial. Critics have embraced this novel for its sensitivity, vivid imagery, well-rounded characters, and thoughtful handling of difficult issues. Guterson admits that Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (which he assigned his high school students to read) was a major influence on his novel. He was inspired by the structure, which brings together separate stories, and the drama created by a racially-motivated trial in a small community.

Snow Falling on Cedars went virtually unnoticed when it was released in hardback. Once it was published in paperback, however, the book's popularity gained momentum from word of mouth, and the book became a paperback bestseller. In fact, Guterson's novel became the fastest-selling book in Vintage Books' (the publisher that picked up the novel's paperback rights) history. Overseas, the novel also enjoyed best-selling status; Snow Falling on Cedars has been translated into fifteen languages. The success of the book enabled Guterson to quit his teaching job and focus on writing. In addition, the novel won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award and the prestigious PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 1995.

Snow Falling on Cedars Summary

Snow Falling on Cedars opens in 1954 in the small town of Amity Hill. The fictitious island of San Piedro in Washington's Puget Sound is the setting of a trial. Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with the murder of a fellow fisherman, Carl Heine Jr.; Carl's body was discovered in his nets by the sheriff and his deputy. A fracture in Carl's skull cast suspicion on his death. Evidence points to Kabuo.

In addition to fishing, farming (especially strawberries) is a major industry on San Piedro. Many Japanese worked these fields and became members of the community. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, however,... » Complete Snow Falling on Cedars Summary

Join eNotes

Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!

Navigate

1. Snow Falling on Cedars: Introduction
2. Snow Falling on Cedars: Summary
   1. Chapters 1-11 Summary
   2. Chapters 12-22 Summary
   3. Chapters 23-32 Summary
3. Snow Falling on Cedars: David Guterson Biography
4. Snow Falling on Cedars: Themes
5. Snow Falling on Cedars: Style
6. Snow Falling on Cedars: Historical Context
7. Snow Falling on Cedars: Critical Overview
8. Snow Falling on Cedars: Character Analysis
   1. Ishmael Chambers
   2. Hatsue (Imada) Miyamoto
   3. Kabuo Miyamoto
   4. Other Characters
9. Snow Falling on Cedars: Essays and Criticism
   1. A Tale of Two Ishmaels
   2. Interview and Essay about David Guterson and Snow Falling on Cedars
   3. Problems in Snow Falling on Cedars
10. Snow Falling on Cedars: Compare and Contrast
11. Snow Falling on Cedars: Topics for Further Study
12. Snow Falling on Cedars: Media Adaptations
13. Snow Falling on Cedars: What Do I Read Next?
14. Snow Falling on Cedars: Bibliography and Further Reading
15. Snow Falling on Cedars: Pictures
16. Copyright

Tell a friend about Snow Falling on Cedars at eNotes.