Currently Reading Showing 151-200 of 1,285

[Akylina]

I'm reading The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino and loving it so far.

[Michelle]

I am reading 1Q84 but it is giving me bad dreams. Perhaps I should not read it just before bed.

I think he really stretched the story out. It seems much longer than it really needs to be. Do you think this was a way of selling more books? It came out as 3 instalments in Japan.

[Kevin]

I'm reading Lizard by Banana Yoshimoto ! I've read Kitchen by her and I loved it, now I'm loving this one ! She's an amazing writer.

[Wolfe]

Just finished No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai, and The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. Both beautiful books in their own way.

Now reading Diary of a sixteen year old in an old german translation, the only translation I could find of this collection of stories by Kawabata. It's not on Goodreads I see so I can't post a link here.

[okyrhoe]

Wolfe wrote: "It's not on Goodreads I see so I can't post a link here."

If you know the edition details, you can add it. https://www.goodreads.com/book/new or ask a GR Librarian for assistance :-)

[Costas]

Currently reading Out. I don't usually read contemporary Japanese novels, but it came highly recommended.

[Rin]

I'm reading Kafka on the Shore now, and I'm seriously hooked! I'm so in love with the characters.

[okyrhoe]

Currently reading Strange Weather in Tokyo (a.k.a. The Briefcase) by Hiromi Kawakami.

[Wolfe]

okyrhoe wrote: "Wolfe wrote: "It's not on Goodreads I see so I can't post a link here."

If you know the edition details, you can add it. https://www.goodreads.com/book/new or ask a GR Librarian for assistance :-)"

I have no clue what a GR librarian is, but since I own the book I'm sure I can find the details of it somewhere inside. Thanks.

[Shari]

Finished Lifcardio Hearn's Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan a while back. Now tackling Giles Milton's Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened Japan. Fascinating reads both books. Samurai William is quite engaging. I enjoy reading about how oceanic voyages were done in the 16th and 17th centuries. Captivating narrative. Anyone reading or has read these books?

[Cheryl]

I am reading Spring Snow which is different from all the Murakami books I've read. It's taking some effort to get into it but I am beginning to see the charm behind it.

[Andrew]

Just finished The Woman in the Dunes. There was some interview I read where Murakami mentioned Kobo Abe so I thought I'd check him out. I liked it very much and will be exploring his work more.

[Sean]

I really enjoyed Samurai William Shari. Quite interesting and humorous!!

[Sean]

Michelle, I found the third book to be extremely long and unnecessary. I honestly thought Murakami was writing a long book for the sake of writing a long book and I just don't think he needed to - he should've cut it back to less than 100 pages and incorporate it into his second book. Having said that, I loved the story and so did my wife.

[Shari]

Sean, I liked Samurai William, too. Gave it 5 stars. I'd like to read more of the time period, and Milton's other books.

[sara]

the tale of genji but to be honest its been on hold for like a month because of university midterms < / 3

i would like to ask those who tried banana yoshimoto's books, are they worth reading and which one of her works do you recommend me to start with? and it would help if you'd elaborate a little on what the book's themes are :)

[M.J.]

I have just started Strange Weather in Tokyo, by Hiromi Kawakami, but it doesn't seem to be on goodreads. Bit strange. It is a translated copy. Enjoying it. I'm about half way through.

[okyrhoe]

M wrote: "...Strange Weather in Tokyo, by Hiromi Kawakami, but it doesn't seem to be on goodreads."

You may have not found it because it is also known as "The Briefcase."
Here are all the editions -> https://www.goodreads.com/work/editio...

[Richard]

have just ordered Lake and Lizard by Banana Yoshimoto because I thought Kitchen was amazing. I'm also gradually working my way through Kenzaburo Oe. His 'Silent Cry' and 'rouse up o young men' are still possibly my two favourite books, though I didn't rate 'somersault'

[Courtney A.J.]

Richard - I loved Kitchen also! I read Asleep a few months ago and it was just as good. I've heard good things about Lake and Lizard. Can't wait to hear what you think.

I just preordered Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage... yeah. I'm that person. I will be shamelessly excited to see it in my mailbox on Tuesday.

[Tori]

I just got a copy of Ruth ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being. She's not exactly a Japanese author (she's half Japanese I think?) but it looks interesting nonetheless.

[Scott]

I recently read Body by Asa Nonami. ***

[Clare]

Although not exactly a book, I've recently started reading Monkey Business International magazine that showcases writing from new and old japanese authors (generally short stories but some poetry), I only found them recently so working thorough the back catalogue starting with 3 (as its available on kindle) but really loving these, finding lots of inspiration for authors to read next. I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else has been reading them :)

[M.J.]

Hi Clare thanks for the information about Monkey Business international magazine will take a look see.

[Clare]

Just finished reading Genichiro Takahashi's Sayonara Gangster. Beautifully insane. I couldn't put it down. Would definitely recommend.

[Jibran]

I'm reading Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country. My first novel of his. Heard lots of good things and I'm expecting a great reading experience.

[Avery]

Jibran wrote: "I'm reading Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country. My first novel of his. Heard lots of good things and I'm expecting a great reading experience."
I read this last year. It is a very dream like story.

[Cheryl]

I am reading The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa by Yasunari Kawabata. I have never read anything by them before so I am excited to see where it takes me. So far I am confused but that is probably because I am reading it during overnight work.

[Cheryl]

I am now reading Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata and I really like it so far. But after this I will continue my adventure through The Tale of Genji.

[Jibran]

Cheryl I recently read Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country and enjoyed it. Do tell us how you find him when you have finished with the book.

I keep meaning to read The Tale of Genji. Hopefully soon :)

[Ray]

Akylina wrote: "I'm reading The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino and loving it so far."

What did you think - it is very different to her other books in English

[Ron]

Goddess Chronicle was very different but amazing in many ways. It felt like an epic tale that made me rethink the idea of fables and myths. It isn't an easy read, but well worth it.

[Phil]

Currently reading Kitchen and enjoying it!

[Cheryl]

I am now starting "The Sound of Waves" By Yukio Mishima.

[Benjamin]

Cheryl wrote: "I am now starting "The Sound of Waves" By Yukio Mishima."

I really liked that one. Hope you enjoy it!

[Joanne]

I have been frustrated while waiting for the Woman of the Dunes to come in. Sometimes, I listen to an audiobook while I'm knitting or doing chores and read an actual book in bed or other times. So while I'm waiting, I happened to find a copy ofA Tale for the Time Being A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. It was available free from my library system as a digital download mp3 audiobook.

Has anybody read this book? Maybe I'm not the only one who does two books at once.

So far, I like the book. I'm finding that it is eerie and sweet at the same time. It is about a woman who finds the diary of a Japanese school girl.

[Tori]

That's one of my favorites Joanne! I hope you like it. Ozeki's other novels My Year of Meats and All Over Creation are also very good, her stuff is a lot about the relationships between America and Japan in a global context so most of her characters are Japanese-American.

[Jessica]

Cheryl wrote: "I am now starting "The Sound of Waves" By Yukio Mishima."

The Sound of Waves is next on my list! I plan on starting it as soon as I finish my current book. Please let me know how you like it, I've never read anything by Mishima before!

[Joanne]

I also read the Sound of the Waves. It was my first Mishima book. I loved it! Let's post a discussion thread about it. I think many of us have probably read it or will soon.

[Jessica]

Joanne wrote: "I also read the Sound of the Waves. It was my first Mishima book. I loved it! Let's post a discussion thread about it. I think many of us have probably read it or will soon."

Yes, please, I'd love that! I'd love to hear other people's thoughts, as I am always worried that I am missing some nuances of Japanese literature when I read the books on my own. I'll plan on starting the book next week then! Catch-22 is taking me a lot longer than I expected.

[Adrienne]

At the moment I'm reading Osho I pick him up and put him down and then come back to him again months later.
I'm quite busy with work at the moment so poetry and short stories are ideal. I picked up 'Lips too chilled' by Matsuo Basho and 'A Cup of Sake Beneath the Cherry Trees' (from the Penguin Little Black Classiscs range)anyone else read these?

[Praj]

The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa - Yasunari Kawabata. My last one in the Kawabata complete list. Also, mid-way through Naoya's The Paper Door And Other Stories.

[Sean]

Got Murakami's 職業としての小説家 to read next in Japanese. Drowning in work right now and am in the middle of three other books so might be a while. Looking forward to reading it.

[J]

Currently working through Miyabe Miyuki's Ico: Castle in the Mist. Didn't realise it was a novelisation (though non-canonical) of a game, but so far pretty interesting.

[Bill]

Started Nonami Asa's "The Hunter" today. "Now You're One of Us" was so disturbing I just had to try more of this author's works.

I'm always looking for signs while starting Japanese novels in English for how much to trust the translation. The translator in this case is well known and award-winning, but often there are issues outside the translator's control, such as a post-translation editor who doesn't consult with the translator. In this case, the title has been changed rather than translated (original: kogoeru kiba, "Frozen Fang") has been released as "The Hunter." The names have all been flopped, which while bog-standard for translations from Japanese, doesn't bode well. But other cultural details in the first couple of chapters are left intact, like 119 instead of 911 for emergency calls, and the naming of Japanese police units. It's probably okay.

[Bill]

Just finished Another, which was a suggested reading for July, and which I bought before we made our final decision.

There are plenty of reviews of Another on goodreads already, so there's no reason for me to comment there.

The main comment I'd like to make is there are no significant differences between the novel and the anime series made from it. The only things that come to mind are that Akazawa's role in the anime has been enlarged to try to make her a main character from the beginning when she's little more than a classmate in the novel. And the anime added a 'battle royale' ending to up the bloodiness.

Other than that, what I found the most annoying plot element from the anime is fully in the novel: Reiko. Sakakibara is the viewpoint character of the entire novel and we follow his thoughts, yet something key to the novel that he knows from the very beginning is hidden from us until the end. That's both unfair and unrealistic.

As I was reading this 500 page novel, at quite a few times I felt it could have used tighter editing because information and background points were stated repeatedly. 'Almost like it was a magazine serial' I thought. And in the afterward we find out it was a magazine serial. I wish the author had gone through it again before the book release and edited it down to a tighter read. I took off a star for this, bringing the novel down to a 3.

[Bill]

If only we'd chosen Isle of Dreams for a book club selection! There is so much to discuss in this short novel. Vivid imagery, a chance encounter, and journeys outside our world.

[Carol]

@Bill, I didn't even realize this thread existed in our group! Thanks for reviving it. I'll have to check out Isle of Dreams.

I started The Case of the Sharaku Murders by Katsuhiko Takahashi. It does indeed, as some reviewers have noted, require that the reader have a strong interest in ukiyo-e and academic conflicts amongst art experts/professors. The author's enthusiasm for the topic has brought me along with him, so far.

[Kamakana]

i have not been here for a while, i have just recently read some japanese science fiction: Genocide of One: A Thriller by Takano Kazuaki which is different Japanese thriller rather than American, All You Need Is Kill by Sakurazaka Hitoshi which is military SF made into a Tom Cruise movie 'Edge of Tomorrow', Orbital Cloud by Fujii Taiyo which is contemporary 'hard sf', Yukikaze by Kambayashi Choei which is again military sf, Harmony by Project Itoh which is utopia/dystopia sf, a couple Miyabe Mizuki more fantasy than SF The Sleeping Dragon, Crossfire... but of all recent Japanese work i prefer Realm Of The Dead by Uchida Hyakken which is modernist lit...

[Carol]

I am reading The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, my first Mishima. I'm not sold so far. OTOH, it may just be the horror of the unanticipated kitten scene that has me angry and annoyed...