Japanese Light Novel Book Club discussion
Recommendations
>
Recommendation Request: Not Too Descriptive or Slow
date
newest »
newest »
I don't think I've heard of On Parole before, but if he wants more crime-related novels, I'd recommend anything by Fuminori Nakamura, his novels are awesome.
Surprisingly, the majority of the Japanese literature I know about doesn't have much to do with samurai. Some of the best stuff I've ever read or heard about was written by Yukio Mishima, but I don't think that has the style your coworker prefers because it's often very poetic and descriptive. While I've never read anything of it, judging by the reviews I think The Bamboo Sword and Other Samurai Tales by Shuhei Fujisawa is more of the thing he's looking for.
Just for the sake of mentioning it, a long time ago I also briefly looked at a book called Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. The style is pretty good and is certainly not boring, although it's a giant book composed of multiple volumes (it's around 1000 pages). One problem with it was that I learned the original Japanese version was 26,000 pages (Yoshikawa must have had a lot of hand cramps writing so much). Although if I remember correctly, that was also heavily abridged to something shorter (in another Japanese publication), and then that was translated into English and abridged even further to 970 pages. Knowing that turned me off, so I never bothered to go buy it.
Surprisingly, the majority of the Japanese literature I know about doesn't have much to do with samurai. Some of the best stuff I've ever read or heard about was written by Yukio Mishima, but I don't think that has the style your coworker prefers because it's often very poetic and descriptive. While I've never read anything of it, judging by the reviews I think The Bamboo Sword and Other Samurai Tales by Shuhei Fujisawa is more of the thing he's looking for.
Just for the sake of mentioning it, a long time ago I also briefly looked at a book called Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. The style is pretty good and is certainly not boring, although it's a giant book composed of multiple volumes (it's around 1000 pages). One problem with it was that I learned the original Japanese version was 26,000 pages (Yoshikawa must have had a lot of hand cramps writing so much). Although if I remember correctly, that was also heavily abridged to something shorter (in another Japanese publication), and then that was translated into English and abridged even further to 970 pages. Knowing that turned me off, so I never bothered to go buy it.
Cris N. wrote: ... if he wants more crime-related novels, I'd recommend anything by Fuminori Nakamura, his novels are awesome... judging by the reviews I think The Bamboo Sword and Other Samurai Tales by Shuhei Fujisawa is more of the thing he's looking for."Thanks so much, Cris!
I passed on your recommendations. I'll let you know what he thinks.
Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa is quite an interesting book. Lots of samurai stuff as it takes place during the time of feudal Japan. Kind of a history book written like a novel.
C.R. wrote: "Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa is quite an interesting book. Lots of samurai stuff as it takes place during the time of feudal Japan. Kind of a history book written like a novel."Thanks C.R.!
I passed on your recommendations. I'll let you know what he thinks.
Alex G wrote: "Thanks so much, Cris!
I passed on your recommendations. I'll let you know what he thinks."
You're welcome. I'd be curious what his impressions of Fujisawa are. Btw, he should check out Mishima whenever he's in the mood for something more classic; you can't miss his novels if you're into Japanese lit.
I passed on your recommendations. I'll let you know what he thinks."
You're welcome. I'd be curious what his impressions of Fujisawa are. Btw, he should check out Mishima whenever he's in the mood for something more classic; you can't miss his novels if you're into Japanese lit.
Recently he read On Parole. He doesn't want something too descriptive and slow. He mentioned samurai as a subject of interest. ; )