#japanese novels

[vraisetzen]

私説三国志 天の華・地の風 | Shisetsu Sangokushi Ten no Hana Chi no Kaze

by Emori Sonae (江森備)

[mypasteluniverse]

🌸⛩️☁️

[minimalist-language-learning]

変な家 — First Impressions

The plot summary seemed simple on the surface but somehow it made me really curious, so I bought this book and the audio book as well. I just finished the first chapter and want to share my first impressions and thoughts with you.

Reading approach

This time I'm experimenting with a different reading approach. Instead of reading mostly extensively and just highlighting unknown words, I quickly jot down words or information in Japanese whenever I feel like it could be important to the story.

My reading progress may be slower, but by taking quick notes my mind is more active. I have to actively think about what to write down and how it fits into the bigger picture. This thinking process is deeper than during extensive reading and helps me to remember not only information but also the used words.

After finishing chapter 1, I also created a mind map based on my notes. On this occasion, I also looked up unknown words.

I feel that the mind map format helps me to remember more of what I've read. Plus, I have an overview of what is important. When in doubt, I can easily look up a person's name and further information about this person, for example. This is very helpful when a story gets more and more complex.

I probably wouldn't do this with every book I read but I think this slower but more intensive approach has its benefits. I’m not only reading a book, I also use the language to a certain degree.

The story

Now to the book itself. As the title 変な家 suggests, it's about a strange / mysterious house.

Chapter 1 introduces a whole bunch of peculiarities during a conversation between the protagonist and other persons. By looking at the ground plan, they notice more and more details you wouldn't find in a normal house. They also share wild ideas for what dark purpose the former residents may have build it that way. At this point, they have no real evidence but then the police finds something that may consolidate what they assumed. At the end of chapter 1, the protagonist can't stop thinking about the mysteries that are hidden in this house and decides to investigate.

This summary may not sound very exciting but chapter 1 made me really curious so far!

The book itself is also a bit unusual. In the first chapter, there is not much descriptive text. It’s very straightforward, compared to other novels.

The great part of this chapter are conversations between the protagonist and other persons. Plus, the names are always written above the dialogue. (Which is great because in some novels I sometimes confuse who is speaking; especially during longer conversations or between more than two people.)

During these conversations, the characters often refer to the ground plan of the house. You always see the ground plan they are talking about next to the text, which makes it much easier to understand.

I don't know how the story will develop but at this point I really like this book so far. I also like the rather straightforward writing style. I can follow the story quite well at my level. I’ll listen to the first chapter of the audio book before I continue with chapter 2.

[xisadorapurlowx]

My Favourite Pieces of Writing

The Prelude: Stealing the Boat - William Wordsworth

I was first introduced to this through my time in school. This Poem is from Wordsworth's book, The Recluse where he muses about life.

This poem makes me think of times where I have been out with people and have seen the lights on the promenade go out at night, leaving the street in near darkness, if it weren't for the street lamp. It really illuminates and reminds me that although the human race is terrible and horrific, there is natural beauty in the world.

But it also reminds me of how small human beings really are. I used to lie in bed as a child and think about how small I am in the grand-scheme of things. How I am just a momentary consciousness in the universe. Most of the time, I'd scare myself thinking about it and roll over, finding something else to distract myself with.

It's a good example of an existential crisis, as at the end of the poem, the man who stole the boat, can never see the world with the amazing awe and beauty he once had for it.

2. The Spider's Thread - Ryuunosuke Akutagawa

The Spider's Thread details a story of how the Buddha is strolling through paradise and gazes into a pond where he sees Hell. There is a criminal in a pool of blood lying at the bottom of the pond. The Buddha sees that this man did one good act in his life, and moved by it, lowers a spiders thread to save the man from Hell.

This was really my first proper introduction into Akutagawa's writing. I'd only heard about him through Bungo Stray Dogs and knew only of Rashomon. The anime/manga was what really sparked my love in classics.

What struck me about this story, was how cruel and vividly I could picture the story playing out as I read the words on the page. I'd heard that in Japanese Buddhism, they believed that women who did bad things in life would be sent down to Hell and forced into a pool of blood and I can't help but be reminded of that in this story.

Akutagawa has also inspired me into writing short stories more recently.

3. Lady Macbeth's Soliloquy - Macbeth

I have spent a lot of time in performing arts. Growing up, I was always excited when my school decided to put on a play - a break from the boring and mundane sitting at a desk and being forced to memorise useless maths equations I would never use.

I've always thought that Shakespearian English is really pretty and I love this whole speech she gives herself. I can't stop thinking about the lines: 'And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty' and 'And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,' This whole monologue is so powerful.

[spilledink-tch]

The Equation of Kindness - The HouseKeeper and the Professor

I read this months ago but couldn't find the right words. And lo and behold, i still haven't. But maybe I can convince you to read this sweet story anyway!

I’d read this a while ago, but I couldn’t coordinate my words to speak about it. Happens like that sometimes. It was something that was so simple yet made me have deep feelings that I couldn’t articulate. Well, now I might have a few. So let’s unpack a sweet novella about memory, numbers, and kindness. The Housekeeper and the Professor is a beautiful little slice of life about a Housekeeper…

[blog-i-carry-your-heart-with-me]

Review : Strange Pictures by Uketsu

Strange Pictures was... well... strange. A who-and-why-dunnit unlike anything else I have ever read, I was expecting a truly unsettling mystery, shot through with intrigue, racing inexorably toward a thrilling climax. Instead...

★★★ Strange Pictures was… well… strange. A who-and-why-dunnit unlike anything else I have ever read, I was expecting a truly unsettling mystery, shot through with intrigue, racing inexorably toward a thrilling climax. Instead, I found an occasionally creepy mystery novel, which named its own frustrations, and shifted between narrators with a sometimes confusing rapidity. Whilst I suspect this…

[kavinjindal]

Casually discussing Norwegian Wood

Norwegian Wood has been the most bizarre fiction I have ever experienced in my existence and even though it has been months since I completed reading the title, I have vivid images of what I felt during the read. Now the reason I picked it up was primarily because of its strong word of mouth. Almost everyone I knew had this in their reading list and I was quite fed up with this book showing up…

[daikon-studies]

[ikenagi]

Shocking fantasy What is the appeal of "Henn na Ie", a work that represents modern Japanese literature?

“Weird House” by Amena

Japanese author Amakura's book "Henn na Ie" is becoming well-known as an illustration of contemporary Japanese fantasy writing. This book has the ability to captivate readers by immersing them in an enigmatic universe while portraying an odd family and their peculiar existence.

The protagonist of the novel first encounters a family one day who reside in a structure known as "Weird House." The protagonist becomes drawn into the everyday lives and mysteries of this family because they have unique talents and secrets that set them apart from other families. The narrative prompts us to consider family ties and the significance of interpersonal relationships via their lives and experiences.

Ameana's deft brushwork deftly blends imagination and reality, drawing readers into an enigmatic realm. The characters' struggles and feelings are skillfully portrayed, giving the narrative more complexity overall. Readers are encouraged to connect with the characters and become fully engrossed in the narrative by their personalities and past experiences.

A work of contemporary Japanese fantasy literature, "The Strange House" is certain to stimulate and provide readers with novel sensations. Readers will be captivated and inspired to use their imaginations by Ameana's distinct worldview and narrative structure. Readers will be left pondering and feeling inspired by their examination of relationships and family.

[verityreadsbooks]

Book of the Week: The Cat Who Saved Books

Making a bit of a change this week, and I’ve got some Japanese fiction in translation for you. I do like to mix it up a little when I can, and today is one of those weeks where I can! Our hero is Rintaro, a high school student whose beloved grandfather had just died and left him his second hand bookshop. The trouble is, Rintaro is also going to have to close it down because his aunt is his new…

[ricardodsanchez]

Favorite novels I read in 2023

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons I am starting the year re-launching my Substack newsletter named “SinAgenda” which translates to No Agenda in English. This is nothing else but another way for me to commit to do more writing and share things I learn and read every week. It’s free, but if…

[mr-bibliophile]

[oumikado]

The Struggle of a Japanese Novelist Kindle Edition

now on sale！

[miakeresu]

A beautiful girl who was supposed to have meant nothing to me once said this:

“We can date, but only under three conditions. First, don’t talk to me until after school. Second, when we contact each other, we keep it short. And third, don’t fall in love with me. Can you do those three things?”

Back then, there was a lot I didn’t understand. On a practical level, how to tell a girl I liked her when I didn’t. On a philosophical level, death. On a poetic level, love.

And then I added another thing to the list. Myself.

For some reason, I told this girl I didn’t know yes.

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This part of "Even If This Love Disappears Tonight" by Misaki Ichijo caught my attention and decided to read it.

Yeah~ I'm still in the middle of reading Gimai Seikatsu (I'm relishing every page ❤️) when this book caught my eyes...

Ain't gonna spoil it.

But, I recommend this. It's a great read.

[sictransitgloriamvndi]

[artof-winter]

The flute sings, the night listens🪈🌙✨️

Happy Birthday Wei Wuxien🪈✨️💘

Hope everyone had a lovely Halloween💙 did this for mxtx October but am a little late🙈 I have emergency commission slots available dm if you like💙