Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Dec 28, 2008

Barky rated it:

Kate Williamson spent a year living in Kyoto, Japan. She went there to study, and kept a journal – both of her thoughts and experiences, and of artwork she created to capture some of those experiences. The result is very Japanese. It combines watercolors and sketches with prose that enriches both. In spare language, almost like haiku, and simple paintings of everyday Japanese objects and life, Williamson manages to convey a real sense of place and culture.

Excerpt:

Mo More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 06, 2009

Book rated it:

This book reads like a journal though it's clearly written for you, Williamson's audience.

The many watercolors are stunning in their simplicity, yet it's clear the author's paid great attention to every detail.

This makes a great gift -- especially if you're buying it for yourself.

~Kate, The Book Cellar bookseller

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 31, 2009

Princeton rated it:

The Land of the Rising Sun is shining brightly across the American cultural landscape. Recent films such as Lost in Translation and Memoirs of a Geisha seem to have made everyone an expert on Japan, even if they've never been there. But the only way for a Westerner to get to know the real Japan is to become a part of it. Kate T. Williamson did just that, spending a year experiencing, studying, and reflecting on her adopted home. She brings her keen observations to us in A Year in Japan, a dramat More...

0 comments like

Mar 26, 2009

Andy rated it:

Editorial Reviews

Publisher's Weekly:
"Williamson's watercolors are playful, bright and spare, and each section illustrates a theme or topic that has inspired the artist/author over her travels to a country devoted to attention to detail. . . . For travelers to Japan, and those who treasure their visit, this is a splendid record." (December 12, 2005)

Best Postcollege Memoir, Glamour:
"An insightful journal with text and illustrations of the wonders More...

0 comments like

Oct 13, 2010

jess rated it:

I can't remember where I found out about this book, but I'm glad I did.

This chronicles some tidbits of life during a year that Kate spent in Japan for some kind of learning about textile making. There are fragments and slivers of her life, ranging from the sock varieties available in Japan (many) to cold floors and the changing of the seasons. There's a gesture toward a story, but not much of a narrative. The book is mostly pictures and sparse words, and the stories are told with wa More...

0 comments like

Mar 28, 2011

Jeeyon rated it:

Lovely drawn vignettes, unobtrusive text. As I read more illustrated travelogues and comics this is one I'm keeping in mind to come back to for reference.

Reread as of 3/28/11: Revisited the book as a reference on how to color and ink my own travel journals. Reminded again of how lovely her watercolor is, simple and to the point, used as a complement to her strong, clear line work. I also have a renewed appreciation for how, for the most part, Williamson avoids centering her voice and h More...

0 comments like

Feb 13, 2009

Laura rated it:

Essentially, this is a picture book for adults. Williamson describes and illustrates snippets of Japanese culture she experienced during her year in Japan on scholarship. There were some pictures I wish she described more fully with text, but I like the mysterious nature of just evoking an image for a reader and you have to figure out the details yourself. I will be poking around on the internet or in other books on Japanese culture to discover more. I really liked the graphic quality of her wat More...

0 comments like

Dec 16, 2009

Maré rated it:

An even higher 3 than Kate T. Williamson's other book, "At A Crossroads". A 3.99 out of 5 stars.

My only criticism is that her cursive took some decoding. And I'm not too into reading paragraphs of handwriting unless they're broken up into panels.

It's been over a year since Lola and I went to Japan. And I think that was one of the reasons we broke up. I'm nostalgic for that summer, though. I miss Kyoto. I miss Shibuya. There's a Lost in Translation-y loneliness i More...

0 comments like

Mar 23, 2009

Mikejencostanzo rated it:

Think of a scrapbook, blog, artist's notebook, traveller's journal, all tied into one. Kate T. Williamson's A Year in Japan is a colorful, yet quaint documentary of one woman's experience as a foreigner entering into the beauty & quirkiness of Japanese culture.

The author takes us past the forest to look at the trees: red school backpacks, rice balls, sequinned shirts, heated carpets, Christmas cakes, argyle socks, bento lunches... all the minute details that captivate a foreigner More...

0 comments like

Jan 10, 2009

Becka rated it:

This illustrated journal was very informative about "the little things" in Japan, like the hobby of moon-viewing, the plethora of sock designs, and electric heater rugs. The watercolor pictures are for most part lovely, but I had some trouble reading the cursive font chosen for the text, which distracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. But I liked the focus on more mundane aspects of Japanese life, because I think it's more often than not "the little things" that mak More...

0 comments like

May 02, 2007

Kate rated it:

This is a series of beautiful watercolors and short text blurbs, created by a woman who lived in Japan for a year. It's not a travelogue, but rather tiny portraits of random things that capture what it's like to live in Japan. This is a book written by a person who knows what Japan is like for the long-term ex-pat, but who doesn't get trapped by the tendency to define the country with all the usual cliches. Living in Japan for an extended period of time is so much more down-to-earth than tre More...

0 comments like

Jan 29, 2009

OneWorldLibrary rated it:

�Alia Johnson: I received this book for Christmas from OWLP board member Annie. It was a prep gift for Gailer's trip to Japan. I immediately fell in love with it and read through it in one sitting that night. It ofers wonderful pictures and cultural fact for any age. ----- Library Description: Memoir: An insightful journal with the author's drawings, watercolors, and quirky essays on interesting aspects of Japan including it's "sock" culture.�

0 comments like

Apr 05, 2011

Kerry rated it:

I loved this book! The illustrations were fantastic and all the themes reminded me of my terrific trip to Japan in February. Especially since I spent time in Kyoto, I found that a lot of things I noticed were touched upon. It's a graphic novel, a cultural snapshot, and a Kyoto time capsule all rolled up into one. It illustrates precisely why I found Japan to be a quirky, lovely and endearing place.

0 comments like

Jan 07, 2010

Kate rated it:

In contrast with "Tonoharu," which I thought was incredibly depressing, this book is filled with pleasant observations of Japanese life and culture through the seasons of one year, by an outsider. Her observations and illustrations brought back memories from my year in Japan. It appears that we had many of the same experiences. I particularly enjoyed the entries on Takarazuka and bicycles.

0 comments like

Jul 15, 2009

Vicki rated it:

This is a really lovely book, simply organized, but in the way that Real Simple Magazine is simply organized. It's enticing, and elegant, and lovely. Williamson obviously has such an affection for the country, and all of the elements in the book are the sorts of things that westerners would find interesting, or intriguing. A really cool, pretty book.

0 comments like

Dec 06, 2009

Staci rated it:

I loved this book. Even if you haven't been to Japan and just want to immerse yourself in their culture for an hour this would be the perfect book to read. The paintings/drawings are gorgeous and I loved the informational, yet personal paragraphs that the author included. Reading this brought back some memories of my time as an exchange student in Japan. It was interesting to note how different Niigata (northern Japan) was from Kyoto (southern) by way of traditions and food! A very fun way to sp More...

1 comment like

Aug 18, 2011

Jennidy rated it:

Lovely illustrations. Excellent balance of text and images. Handwriting might be a challenge for some, but I had no problem. I appreciated the focus on Kyoto; her stories reminded me of my visit there. Recommended to Americans who have visited Japan but are not already well versed in Japanese culture.

1 comment like

Aug 01, 2010

Marceline rated it:

Such a beautiful book. Kate Williamson is an illustrator who drew scenes from her year long stay in Kyoto. If you’ve been to Japan, it will make you very nostalgic but either way it’s a fascinating and lovely look into the patterns and traditions and quirks of Japan.

0 comments like

Feb 15, 2009

Rae rated it:

Completely delightful, beautifully designed, and full of wit - I don't know if I've ever really read a published artist's journal before, but this one really touched me. The perfect thing to keep on the bedside table for those nights when you're worked up and can't sleep. The watercolor-and-ink drawing drawing of the koi pond and cherry blossoms is so sweet I have to look at it multiple times every day.

0 comments like

Oct 30, 2009

Chili rated it:

Excellent excellent book, although its not really a book, but rather a journal of bits and pieces of the author's favorite things about her year in Japan.
The illustrations are gorgeous. Really, they're art work on their own. Beautiful!

0 comments like

Aug 23, 2010

Emily Anne rated it:

Kate T. Williamson spent a year in Japan studying socks. As one might expect, this travel log is a bit quirky. The drawings are lovely, and take precedence over the text. I finished reading it days ago, but I can't stop flipping through it.

0 comments like

Dec 31, 2008

Cathy rated it:

Excellent excellent book, although its not really a book, but rather a journal of bits and pieces of the author's favorite things about her year in Japan.
The illustrations are gorgeous. Really, they're art work on their own. Beautiful!

0 comments like

Feb 27, 2010

Malorie rated it:

I didn't really learn anything about Japan from this book, but it was fun and interesting to look through. I liked the brightly colored illustrations and was generally pleased throughout.

0 comments like

Sep 07, 2009

Clara rated it:

This is a perfect rainy day book. It's a very quick read, a two cup of coffee at the bookstore coffee shop kind of read, but that's just enough time to disappear into the random loveliness of Williamson's Kyoto.

0 comments like

Mar 08, 2010

Ruth rated it:

I bought this book simply for the illustrations to have something lovely to look at when I miss Japan. Even if you've never been, it's a wonderful visual feast.

0 comments like

Dec 16, 2009

Pauline rated it:

A lovely collection of watercolors and bits of writing done by a young woman who spent a year in Japan. Beautiful and charming to look at. I love how she focuses on quirky details..for example, amidst goregous little watercolors of Kyoto gardens, she will insert a carefully painted apple in excessive styrofoam wrap (as lovingly painted and delicately gorgeous as the garden) and then write a little description of how the fruit is way over wrapped in Japan and how hillarious it is. Other observ More...

0 comments like

May 20, 2010

Odette rated it:

I really enjoyed this. Reading it is like visiting Japan with an artist friend who helps you notice all the small, beautiful details you might otherwise miss. I loved the socks drawings as much as the Washi (paper) patterns. I loved how the detailed illustrations of humble objects alternated with full-page paintings (the moon-viewing pages were a particular favorite). There's no grand theme or point being made - it is simply a lovely book of "here's what I noticed & here's what I love." More...

0 comments like

May 24, 2009

Bridget rated it:

Sweet and light, with charming sketches and drawings. I enjoyed the little bits of text, and just about all of them left me more curious than I was at the start. Super quick read, even if you linger over some of the art.

0 comments like

Feb 04, 2011

Kat rated it:

Really enjoyed the drawings as well as narratives. You can really get a nice feel as to living in Japan.

0 comments like

Jun 24, 2008

caitlin rated it:

I thought this book would have more of a narrative, but instead, it was very sparse, with simplistic pictures on one page and a handwritten anecdote (sometimes a few sentences) on the next. There wasn't much explanation as to why the author was in Japan, or how. I was also annoyed by the fact that the author writes of all the beautiful sock stores in Japan - and then draws a couple of checkered socks. Really? That's it?

I look forward to reading her second book, which I hope will have More...

0 comments like

reviews