From Goodreads: After an old college buddy persuades him to guide a group of Americans traveling through Japan, Phil Fletcher’s debut as a tour guide takes his life in unexpected directions. The group includes a high-powered career woman who finds far more than historic sites in the Land of the Rising Sun; a man who discovers a hidden interest in Japanese erotica; a neglected wife and a Southern belle vying for attention on Phil’s futon; and a retired couple facing their deepest fears on the much-anticipated trip of a lifetime. Private dramas provoke crises and life-changing decisions during this twelve-day tour of Japan, as the group travels from the serenity of the ancient Kyoto temples to the towering heights of Tokyo skyscrapers.

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I have always had a love for Japan.  It’s the one place in the world I really want to visit, and one of the places I haven’t yet had the chance to see.  I don’t know if I’ll ever get there, but reading Wood’s novel, Getting Oriented: A Novel About Japan got me there vicariously.  This is a beautifully written novel depicting both old and new Japan as Phil Fletcher guides a group of tourists throughout the land, visiting with people and monuments alike.  However, this novel isn’t really about Japan, per say.  Rather, it’s about relationships and the breakdown of humanity.  The group Phil is guiding is diverse, to say the least, and though they have their ups and downs, watching them grow together was quite interesting.  Even Phil has his own set of problems, and watching him connect with others while managing his own demons was fascinating.  I really want to go on a guided tour, having read this novel, because I think it would be exciting to meet a random group of strangers and find connections with them over the course of the tour.

Now, reader beware, this novel does deal with sex a bit.  I wouldn’t say that it’s erotica, far from it, but the people in the novel do seem a bit obsessed with the concept of sex, though, again, as this novel deals mainly with relationships, some of this can be expected.  On the tour are some couples that are falling apart, couples that have fallen out of love, couples that are looking for rejuvenation, etc., and while some of those on the tour find their connections, others do not, creating a very interesting read as we watch the story unfold.  Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and recommend it to those looking to learn a little about other cultures while learning a lot about humanity.  Four stars.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.