When my husband and I were in Kyoto, in 2018, one of the many photographs I took were of the beautiful flower arrangements in the hotel. They were so elegant, and so simple at the same time. I have chosen one of the photographs to represent the upcoming Japanese Literature Challenge 18.
It won’t officially begin until January, but if you choose to participate again, or for the first time, you have several weeks in which to choose what it is that you will read. I am compiling a list myself, which includes such titles as these:
- Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami
- Palm of the Hand Stories by Yasunari Kawabata
- Harlequin Butterfly by Toh Enjoe (speculative fiction, winner of the Akutagawa Prize)
- Mina’s Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa
- We’ll Prescribe You A Cat by Syou Ishida
- Invisible Helix by Keigo Higashino
- The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki
- Marshland by Yotohiko Kaga
This list is comprised of short stories, classic authors, and newly published works. I hope you find something which encourages you to consider joining us, as we read for the Japanese Literature Challenge 18. (Review site to come.)
I was thinking about it myself, dear friend. And I'm glad to see you share your list with us, readers, for I desperately needed recommendations and inspiration. I'll be joining on my favorite month!
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad to hear from you, Silvia! This is only the merest few from a long list I have on my kindle and my shelves…let me know if you would like more! Also, you can refer to reviews left for previous challenges if you look on my sidebar under Japanese Literatuee Challenges.
DeleteSo excited about this!
ReplyDeleteI've so loved the latest Murakami (https://wordsandpeace.com/2024/10/23/book-review-the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls/). In contrast, We'll Prescribe You a Cat was a waste of time.
I have Invisible Helix, but I may have time to read it this month.
I need to start looking at my Japanese list, maybe I'll go classics, we'll see
I just finished The City and It’s Uncertain Walls last night, taking a long time to finish it as I stopped so many times to record notes and passages. But, I am planning a review today or tomorrow, and then i will come to read yours.
DeleteI’m not terribly surprised We’ll Prescribe You A. Cat was a disappointment. As Brona and I said to each other in a comment once, “Japanese literature and cats are getting a little overdone.” Although we might not have said that as nicely. We can never go wrong either way a classic.
I forgot to ask, how many months will the challenge last in 2025?
ReplyDeleteI think it should be January and February, don’t you?😉
DeleteYes please
DeleteAs has happened many times, I thought this was the year I would read The Tale of Genji as part of your event, but then I started reading, and am in the middle of, a 2,500 page Chinese novel, so no Genji, again. Maybe next year!
ReplyDeleteTanizaki and Kawabata novels are sensibly short, so as usual I will read one of those, or maybe one of each.
I, too, have meant to read The Tale of Genji many times…maybe we should make it a group read sometime? Or, just read Kawabata.
DeleteGenji is in some ways a great readalong kind of book and in other ways the worst. I would hate to impose, or even suggest, a pace for anyone.
DeleteMaybe a preparatory Ivan Morris readalong would work.
I'm reading Morris's book first, I know that.
M, I am in :) I would never skip JLC - it's my favorite reading challenge. I'm not sure what I'll be reading, but I'll be looking to see what I have sitting on my shelves waiting to be picked up. I read the Murakami a few months back and didn't like it. I found that I couldn't engage with it, especially in the beginning. I didn't mind the familiarity of The Town, it was the story itself that just didn't seem to read to me like Murakami. I'm not sure if it was the translation, but there was something amiss with the story. I do plan on rereading it at some point, so we'll see what happens then. I'm glad that you seem to be enjoying it :) Wishing you a lovely holiday season my dear friend. xx
ReplyDeleteNadia, I am so thrilled to hear you say it’s your favorite challenge. You have been a faithful participant lo these many years!! I think I’m one of the few who was wrapped up in The City of Uncertain Walls, which I plan to write about soon. It has been a busy month either way my father in the heart hospital (again!) and my son’s birthday. But, I always look forward to discussing books, especially Japanese books, with you.
DeleteI’ve already put myself on the wait list at the library so that the books I’ve chosen will become available just in time!
ReplyDeleteI’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve put on hold, Jinjer, and I’m so glad you’re participating!
DeleteI am so glad to see this announcement. I have so many Japanese books to read. Two by Higashino, some other Japanese crime fiction, plus other genres. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHigashino is a great favorite of mine. Do you have his latest book, Invisible Helix? That is one I plan to read in January, and I look forward to seeing all that you’ve chosen. So glad you’re joining in!
DeleteAhhh wonderful. I have so many unread Japanese books on my (brand new) bookshelves. One hot day this week, I will have fun going through the shelves to pick a couple of contenders :-)
ReplyDeleteI have so many unread Japanese books on my (older, IKEA) bookshelves. 😉 I tend to accumulate possible contenders, as you say, and then they pile up. It’s not too bad of a problem to have, is it? So happy to have you along, Brona.
DeleteI just started getting into Japanese literature this year, and suspect I will be continuing!
ReplyDeleteOh, please do! It is such a delightful arena in which to read.
DeleteI look forward to this each year! We'll Prescribe You a Cat is top of my list.
ReplyDeleteMe, too! Sometimes those “quick” reads can be tiresome, such as The Full Moon Coffee Shop, too, but maybe after the hectic rush of Christmas (despite my best intentions) it will be a welcome respite.
DeleteThe GR Japanese Literature and the Harumi Murakami Fans forum groups are both reading The City and Its Uncertain Walls for January. (We thank Bellezz for this annual event!) Tokyo Ueno Station is also a group read for the j-lit forum. In addition, a number of us decided to read nonfiction for Jan-Feb starting with Confessions of a Yakuza and then working down a list from there. In Feb, there looks like a small group plan to read or reread Izumi Suzuki works. A forum friend and I are planning to read an Enjoe book together. Last year’s January in Japan was a lot of fun and I know that plans and actuals may change we dig in.
ReplyDeleteI eagerly devoured The City and Its Uncertain Walls when it was first published. I have taken extensive notes, as I always make an effort to effectively grasp what Haruki Murakami is saying. Although I didn’t see a plethora of positive reviews, I enjoyed it very much, and I will publish my thoughts on it in January. It will be wonderful to see what you and your friends on Goodreads think of it as well.
DeleteI have never read Enjoe before, I wonder which one you’ll choose?
Thank you for keeping me up to date, and well informed, of the Japanese literature being read where you “dwell.” I should really dig into Goodreads more often than I do. For that matter, I should get around to the blogs in my sidebar and beyond as I used to do!
I’m looking forward to the Japanese Literature Challenge and whatever it is we can read and discuss.
I think the Enjoe selection will be “Self-Reference Engine” but I will update during the event. Regards/Jack
ReplyDeleteYes I'd like to read Mina's Matchbox too. I have enjoyed her books The Memory Police and The Housekeeper & the Professor. Both are excellent! And I finally got to my Norwegian read Brightly Shining by Ingvild H. Rishøi. It's a short book with a Christmas backdrop, while I liked it okay I didn't overly love it so I hope to read another Norwegian novel on the horizon. Thanks for hosting these ... reading more translated works is one of my goals in 2025.
ReplyDelete