Season of the Cicada : River Ventures : 9780615899145 : 0615899145 : 23 May 2017 : After a decade of living in the United States, ELISE ENGLE returns to Japan to intersect a parallel world from which she diverged years ago. Now a woman in her early forties, faced with the dissolution of her marriage, she seeks safe harbor in a Zen Buddhist temple, outside of bustling Tokyo. It is from this backdrop that she will begin to reflect on the journey to her mid-life. The story unfolds through reflections of Elise as a younger character, one who embraces adventure, love and longing. Zen Buddhist principles are interwoven with Elise's journey, to tell the story of a soul seeking peace and a sense of self again. "She touches the splintering timber and the smell of tar fills her nose. Her eyes follow the heavy doors to the place where they intersect the blue sky. A few abandoned snowflakes fall, brushing her cheeks. Elise squints at the light above and breathes deeply. She has arrived. In some wa