05/2022 Spark, by Naoki Matayoshi

[Carol]

Our May book selection is Spark (Hibana) by comedian, scriptwriter and novelist, Naoki Matayoshi. Translated by Allison Watts. Matayoshi won the Akutagawa Prize in 2015 for Hibana, which was subsequently adapted into a Netflix series. Watts also translated The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda.

Here's a link to a 2016 Q&A with the author published in Tokyo Weekender. https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2016/0...

Who's planning to participate?

[Henk]

I’ve recently finished the book and am curious to what people think of the book. I gave it two stars so hopefully the rest enjoys it a bit more.

[Alison]

I hated Spark. Like Henk, I hope other people like it more. Maybe their thoughts will help me hate it less?

[Bill]

I haven't bought it yet, due to negative reviews from some people I trust. But I could be convinced to change my mind.

[Jeshika]

I'm 23% in now and it reads super fast but I don't really get the point... It's just a whole load of waffling on. I don't hate it, but I don't really care about any of it so far, it's just a blur of words on a page.

[Jeshika]

I finished Spark. I don't really know what to think. I didn't hate it, it was quick to read (when I could force myself to pick it up) and had some good quotable bits... Like a tiny handful. But for a book about comedy there was an awful lot of "this character is so hilarious" but no actual hilarity... I rated it 3 stars for meh, it was okay...

Edit: Talked myself out of it and gave it 2, for yawn, boring.

[Jeshika]

Hmmmn, not at all Alan. I've been watching and keeping a mental note to come back and reply when I've got a chance.

As for Withnail&I, I would've never thought of that as a connection although it's been a long time since I watched it. What did you think? Is "Japanese Withnail&I" fitting for it? Is it worth a watch while Spark is still fresh in my mind?

[Suki]

I just finished Spark and I really don't know what to think or say about it! I will maybe reread it at some point-- the fact that Pushkin chose to publish this translation over so many other Japanese books out there makes me feel as if I've missed the entire point of the novel somehow, I'm just not sure if I care enough about the characters to go back and give it another chance.