Review of Fay's Men

[Alissa Deann Devargas]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Fay's Men" by Perle Besserman.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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There is nothing like a perfect marriage. This is because the two people engaged in such a relationship are not perfect in themselves. This is why I respect people who take their marriage vows seriously, no matter what it dishes out to them. Hence, I respect Fay in Fay's Men by Perle S. Besserman.

In Fay's Men, I read about Fay and her encounters with different men in life. The first of them all was her father. He was a military man who wanted a son but got Fay, a daughter. Disappointed, he and his wife did not hide their feelings, especially Fay's mother. Thus, Fay spent most of her early years proving to her father that she could be the son he always wanted. She accepted all the training her father gave her until she left home. Her mother was also a staunch Catholic who instilled her values in Fay quite strictly. With this beginning, it is no wonder that Fay chose a path that her parents did not approve of.

I would not say that Fay had it easy in life. While reading, I had this thought that most of the men whom she met in life took advantage of her caring and loyal attitude without giving a thought to her feelings. The two I most noted were Ira and Eeikei Roshi. Ira was Fay's beloved husband. I noticed that the choices they made in their marriage were mostly made to please him, as he uses the excuse of not needing a needy wife to influence Fay. When Fay was in a psychiatric hospital, his sadness and annoyance over the situation were not his wife's predicament but because of how it would affect his reputation.

This book was interesting to an extent because I found things that I didn't like. I did not like the setting of the story. I found it too confusing. Several times, I had to recap and pay closer attention to what I was reading in order to understand where the story was heading. Each chapter tells a scene entirely different from the previous one. Sometimes, I would look to know more about what was told in the last chapter, only for the next one to say something different. Also, during Fay's spiritual quest as a Zen, being spiritually enlightened was discussed so much that I was looking forward to the time when she would find it, which I didn't grasp if it happened.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I removed a star because of how the plot's setting confused me and because of my disappointments with the book. I removed another star because I found errors. However, Fay's life has so many lessons to teach women. It was also filled with cultural displays as Fay traveled to many countries in the book, with more information about Japan. I recommend this book to those interested in Zen Buddhism and samurai training.

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Fay's Men
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[obinna Sharon]

Indeed, Fay's story serves as a powerful illustration of the complexities of marriage and the effects of early experiences on our adult choices. Despite her parents' expectations and societal norms, Fay was determined to forge her own path. Yet, her journey proved to be a challenging one, where her kindness was often taken advantage of by the men in her life. Nevertheless, Fay's resilience and perseverance are commendable, reminding us that a perfect marriage might not exist, but a resilient and self-aware person can still find happiness within imperfect relationships.

[Elendu Divine Ugochi]

It's possible that there may never be a perfect marriage, but a strong and self-aware individual can nevertheless find satisfaction in less-than-ideal partnerships, as seen by Fay's admirable tenacity and determination. I really enjoyed reading her character. Nice review

[Esther Unurhie]

The depiction of Fay’s relationships, starting with her father and mother, highlights the influence of parental expectations on individual choices.