The New York Daily News has called Asleep "enchanting, surreal . . . Yoshimoto brings readers to another powerful, atmospheric place". Demonstratin...
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Jul 24, 2007
Angela
rated it: 
I don't really know what to say about Asleep. It was my first Banana Yoshimoto book and while I didn't dislike it, I didn't necesarily find anything in particular to like about it.
It was weird in that way that Japanese literature is usually weird, and usually I'm okay with that. Asleep consists of three short stories (or maybe novellas?) and none of them really have any ending to them. Normally, I'm okay with the ambiguous ending that Japanese authors like so much, but having thr More...
It was weird in that way that Japanese literature is usually weird, and usually I'm okay with that. Asleep consists of three short stories (or maybe novellas?) and none of them really have any ending to them. Normally, I'm okay with the ambiguous ending that Japanese authors like so much, but having thr More...
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Nov 03, 2011
Roberta
rated it: 
In apnea
In apnea sono stata io durante la lettura di questi tre racconti, in apnea sono i personaggi che, come spesso accade nei libri della Yoshimoto, si trovano in una specie di limbo dal quale devono cercare di "svegliarsi".
SONNO PROFONDO
La protagonista, una giovane donna autoesiliatasi a causa di una storia d'amore, comincia ad avvertire sempre più forte la fascinazione per il sonno, fino a che questa sconfina nella narcolessia. La metafora del s More...
In apnea sono stata io durante la lettura di questi tre racconti, in apnea sono i personaggi che, come spesso accade nei libri della Yoshimoto, si trovano in una specie di limbo dal quale devono cercare di "svegliarsi".
SONNO PROFONDO
La protagonista, una giovane donna autoesiliatasi a causa di una storia d'amore, comincia ad avvertire sempre più forte la fascinazione per il sonno, fino a che questa sconfina nella narcolessia. La metafora del s More...
Jan 11, 2010
Asleep contains three stories of young women who are somehow bewitched into a spiritual sleep. Night and Night's Travelers is the first story where it features the connection between Shibami (the narrator) and her cousin Mari after the death of Shibami's brother, Yoshihiro. Mari has developed feelings for Yoshihiro before and ever since his death, she goes into a withdrawal stage where she sleepwalk. It is also at this time that Shibami began to discover a secret of Yoshihiro's previous relation
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Jul 22, 2011
Albert
rated it: 
La perspectiva es intrínsecamente diferente. Nos adentramos a un universo distinto, acaso ni siquiera fronterizo al nuestro (o mejor dicho al Mío), en el que el sueño deja de ser vislumbrado como la mera recompensa que se obtiene al dormir y/o descansar después de horas de trabajo intenso durante el día. En su lugar, se percibe al sueño como otra alternativa que se nos presenta para sanar las heridas que poco a poco va rasgando la vida de 3 japonesas inmersas en sus cavilaciones banales, y de ah
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Nov 14, 2010
Gracey
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Sep 02, 2010
Susanne
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Jul 27, 2009
okyrhoe
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Of the three stories in this book, it's a wise choice that "Night and Night's Travelers" appears first, as it is the most complex and subtle narrative. I appreciate this particular piece mainly because the confusion over the loss of a loved one is experienced through several characters - Shibami, her cousin Mari, as well as by Sarah the ex-girlfriend. The death of Yoshihiro affects each of these women differently and Banana Yoshimoto nicely resolves the tension within each character by
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Jan 07, 2011
Sergio
rated it:
Ritrovo la giapponese Yoshimoto. Lessi Kitchen secoli addietro, quando venne scoperta questa nuova scrittrice in Italia. Poi praticamente più nulla.
Ora, in un marzo per me pieno di lutto familiare e di sonno farmacologico, leggere tre racconti in ciascuno dei quali si parla di persone che dormono e di ricordi di persone morte avrbebe potuto essere una scelta non proprio azzeccatissima. Invece il libro e lo stile (ben tradotto) della giapponesina hanno un effetto rilassante. Per finire il libro, More...
Ora, in un marzo per me pieno di lutto familiare e di sonno farmacologico, leggere tre racconti in ciascuno dei quali si parla di persone che dormono e di ricordi di persone morte avrbebe potuto essere una scelta non proprio azzeccatissima. Invece il libro e lo stile (ben tradotto) della giapponesina hanno un effetto rilassante. Per finire il libro, More...
May 31, 2009
Najibah
rated it:
Kalau tidur anda terganggu, cuba susuri sebabnya ke akar umbi. Mungkinkah ada seorang musuh-tapi-teman lama yang baru sahaja mati dan cuba berkomunikasi dengan anda? Dan apabila ada trauma atau sekatan hidup yang telah menukar tidur yang indah menjadi suatu ketagihan, atau derita sleepwalking, maka apakah peleraian yang paling mujarab?
Inti kisah hidup tiga insan antara tidur dan jaga, serta bersulam kematian, unik terhimpun dalam tiga novela yang disatukan dalam buku Asleep karya Ba More...
Inti kisah hidup tiga insan antara tidur dan jaga, serta bersulam kematian, unik terhimpun dalam tiga novela yang disatukan dalam buku Asleep karya Ba More...
Feb 13, 2011
Carla
rated it:
Lo amé. Me gustó tanto que hasta me tomo la molestia de escribirle una reseña... Prosa simple, pero maravillosa (supongo que así será también en el original en japonés, pero la traducción al español me gustó). Theme: el título lo dice todo. El sueño como conciliador, consolador (sin albur) y hasta místico. Sobre el amor, conocer la tristeza más profunda y ser capaz de recuperarse y seguir adelante (eso tenía un nombre que me enseñaron en mis clases de la universidad, pero... ah, ¡¡epifanía!!, co
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Oct 14, 2011
Kristin
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This was a quick read and I really liked it. As someone who oversleeps when stressed, I related a lot to the character's experiences of sleep and difficulty adjusting to life circumstances.
I love magical realism, and the little twists on reality which the author uses to lead you through the character's dreamy experiences. Sleep is a perfect metaphor for the unreality of dealing with a traumatic life event. If you've never experienced a great loss or depression, think twice before wr More...
I love magical realism, and the little twists on reality which the author uses to lead you through the character's dreamy experiences. Sleep is a perfect metaphor for the unreality of dealing with a traumatic life event. If you've never experienced a great loss or depression, think twice before wr More...
Jan 07, 2012
Isabel
rated it:
When exactly did I give myself over to sleep? When did I stop resisting . . . ? I used to be so lively, I was always wide awake - but when was that? So long ago it felt like ancient times.
* Night and Night's Travellers
* Long Songs
* Asleep
A short book whose 177 pages contain three stories about women who have problems with love, death and sleep. I'm not sure which of the first two I liked best, but the third was definitely my least favourite.
I have read a b More...
* Night and Night's Travellers
* Long Songs
* Asleep
A short book whose 177 pages contain three stories about women who have problems with love, death and sleep. I'm not sure which of the first two I liked best, but the third was definitely my least favourite.
I have read a b More...
Jan 11, 2012
Tina
rated it:
Though I often like novels that focus on introspection and/or choose speculation over action, this was not the best choice during my current Skyrim addiction. Because, and I'll admit it, I was more interested in fighting Draugr than reading about women sleeping. My "it was ok" response could also be linked to the fact that almost all the characters were unlikeable or I couldn't relate to them. The last woman was the worst. "I'm so sleepy because all I do is mooch off my boyfriend
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Aug 04, 2011
Amanda
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Included in Asleep are three longer short stories by Banana Yoshimoto, translated from the Japanese by Michael Emmerich. Each in some way deal with sleep (whether physical or metaphorical). This is my first read by Yoshimoto, and I’m delighted to be reviewing the book with Kelly of The Written World.
Amanda: Hi Kelly! Well I suppose I’ll just start this thing by asking what your overall thoughts are on the whole book before we split into talking about individual stories.
Kelly: More...
Amanda: Hi Kelly! Well I suppose I’ll just start this thing by asking what your overall thoughts are on the whole book before we split into talking about individual stories.
Kelly: More...
Jan 29, 2009
Terri
rated it:
Asleep is a collection of three short novellas, all of which focus on some aspect of death and also a sleeping, either literal or psychic, born of trauma.
"Night and Night's Travelers" is a tale of the literal death of one and the resulting temporary emotional death of another. The narrator is Shibami and she tells the story of her "vibrantly charismatic" brother Yoshihiro and her dreamy cousin Mari. Yoshihiro and Mari are not only cousins, but lovers. After Yoshih More...
"Night and Night's Travelers" is a tale of the literal death of one and the resulting temporary emotional death of another. The narrator is Shibami and she tells the story of her "vibrantly charismatic" brother Yoshihiro and her dreamy cousin Mari. Yoshihiro and Mari are not only cousins, but lovers. After Yoshih More...
Sep 10, 2008
Lois
rated it:
How could a book about sleep be so interesting? Asleep, by Banana Yoshimoto, is one of the best books I have ever read. Her writing style is a marvel. Reading Asleep was an experience the like of which I never before had. I plan to purchase this and every one of her other books, something I have never done before with any writer.
Asleep contains three novellas all dealing not only with sleep and the other side of that coin, insomnia, but sleep as a border between dreams and reality, More...
Asleep contains three novellas all dealing not only with sleep and the other side of that coin, insomnia, but sleep as a border between dreams and reality, More...
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Mar 14, 2010
Christy
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Asleep ties together three novellas through the themes of love, sleep, and death. While each story has a distinct plot, it is interesting how the stories share a similar atmosphere. Much like Yoshimoto Banana’s other works, the novel feels ‘young’ and is a very interesting insight to the minds of trouble ones in Japan’s younger generation. Her writing distinctly tells three different stories that seem so unique yet so alike. Like her other writing, Asleep is a bit quirky. I recommend reading wit
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Oct 22, 2010
Kerry
rated it:
This book just didn't have the same appeal for me as "Kitchen" (one of Banana's former works) did. It felt loosely written and a bit disjointed, leaving you with a slighty unsatisfying feeling. In the second story the term "midget" is thrown around. Not in a negative way, but I view it as a negitive term, so I was still offended. Out of all three stories, I have to say I liked "Asleep", the best. It had a good premise, but towards the end it lost me. I suppose I wa
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May 23, 2011
Nancy
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Three novellas make up this book that are all about women who manifest depressed lives by sleeping their lives away. The last two, "Asleep" and "Love Songs" seem to be particularly similar in nature although I preferred "Love Songs". All the women characters seem similar, too. Perhaps it is the translation from Japanese; perhaps it is the nature of the personalities of Japanese women, but not too impressed by the book.
Jul 02, 2010
Timothy
rated it:
Three amazing stories -- novellas, really -- about women and sleep -- sleepwalking, sleeplessness, and haunted sleep. Yoshimoto has one of the most delicate touches in fiction, layering implications and textures into dream landscapes that don't resemble the work of any other writer I know, although this particular book has been compared to Haruki Murakami. But Yoshimoto is her own writer.
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Dec 23, 2009
jeje well, I'm reading this book in Spanish (Sueño Profundo) and so far is great ^.^. Thanks Gaby!!!
Warnig, this book is not "wow" because the story and characteres get you to another dimension/world but precisely because is "normal life" with some fantasy on it.
I first liked this author when I read a tale named "Moon ligth shadow", and strongly recommend it.
Warnig, this book is not "wow" because the story and characteres get you to another dimension/world but precisely because is "normal life" with some fantasy on it.
I first liked this author when I read a tale named "Moon ligth shadow", and strongly recommend it.
May 06, 2011
Mark
rated it:
moody flighty woman talks about herself and weird people in her life. 3 stories in one book. this is the second time i've read this book. if you like weird stuff and weird people read Banana Yoshimoto. For example ... "I felt like I'd just woken up a moment ago, and everything looked so clear and beautiful it was frightening. Everything really was gorgeous. Those crowds of people walking through the night, the light from the paper lanterns dotting the arcade, the line of my boyfriends foreh
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May 19, 2011
Etna
rated it:
истории о трёх женщинах, их любимых людях (немного мёртвых, временами, да). не успеваешь переключиться с одного человека на другого, как-то смазано местами..не лучшее её произведение
Mar 09, 2011
Tancredi
rated it:
"Chissà perchè la notte, come la gomma, è di un'infinita elasticità e morbidezza, mentre il mattino è così spietatamente affilato."
Tre racconti onirici, scuri come la notte e profondi come l'animo umano. Molto azzeccata mi è parsa la dimensione del sonno (e del sogno) per una intima trattazione dell'animo femminile, supportata peraltro da uno stile leggero e raffinato, com'è tipico dell'autrice.
Tuttavia, la Yoshimoto continua a non convincermi del tutto, a non coinvolger More...
Tre racconti onirici, scuri come la notte e profondi come l'animo umano. Molto azzeccata mi è parsa la dimensione del sonno (e del sogno) per una intima trattazione dell'animo femminile, supportata peraltro da uno stile leggero e raffinato, com'è tipico dell'autrice.
Tuttavia, la Yoshimoto continua a non convincermi del tutto, a non coinvolger More...
Mar 16, 2011
Frank
rated it:
Lettura piacevole e a tratti migliore delle mie aspettative.
Tre racconti che pur presentando situazioni completamente diverse, hanno in comune la notte come filo conduttore.
Un genere, quello dei racconti, di certo non tra i miei preferiti; nonostante questo il libro non mi è dispiaciuto e tra i racconti quello che mi ha coinvolto maggiormente è stato il primo.
Nel blog dettagli ulteriori: http://ferdori.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/...
Tre racconti che pur presentando situazioni completamente diverse, hanno in comune la notte come filo conduttore.
Un genere, quello dei racconti, di certo non tra i miei preferiti; nonostante questo il libro non mi è dispiaciuto e tra i racconti quello che mi ha coinvolto maggiormente è stato il primo.
Nel blog dettagli ulteriori: http://ferdori.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/...
Mar 06, 2009
Emily
rated it:
I loved this! Gorgeous prose, simple yet haunting. It's amazing to me that modern Japanese culture still has such strong ties to the spirit world. I loved these depictions of people drifting in and out of reality, fighting their addictions and demons.
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Oct 24, 2011
Mónica
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Me ha gustado mucho. Siguiendo un poco la línea de Kitchen con estas mujeres que de una u otra forma han experimentado una pérdida dolorosa así como relaciones extrañas y complicadas. La traducción ha sido mejor que Amrita y no cayó tanto en los paulocoelhismos de esta obra ¬¬
May 23, 2011
Amina
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I picked up this book because Banana Yoshimoto seems to be sold as the international counterpart to Haruki Murakami, and I wanted more of the quaint and sentimental Japanese prose Murakami is so good at. Quaint and sentimental I got, but the problem with this book was that it was simply poorly written. The prose was flat, the dialogue tin-like, and it read like the book of an amateur, not a national best-seller. I'm not sure whether this is Yoshimoto's fault or if this is simply a poor translati
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Feb 18, 2009
Jill
rated it: 
My favorite thing about this book is the author's first name. Asleep is a very fitting title; the book is so sleepy. slow. Interesting concept - different states of consciousness -- and yes, I did wake up in the middle of the night after i finished it with a nightmare (very appropriate.)
