I agree about the WInd/Pinball. I think everyone was clamoring for more Murakami and wanting to know more about the Rat character. My favorite part of the book was the introduction and Murakami being inspired to write at a baseball game. He mentioned my all time favorite coach: Charlie Manuel. I didn't realize Manuel had played in Japan.
Yes I agree-- the introduction was interesting! It's cool that those small sensory experiences led him to believe he could be a writer. I'm reading Proust right now and he experiences something very similar!!
The word I would use to describe Life for Sale is "edgy". I loved it. Well, Yukio Mishima is one of my favourite writers, but this book is refreshingly random. If you didn't know anything about his life, I think it'd be hard to believe that he even wrote it. Anyway, I recommend reading The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (a ridiculously long title in English). It's weird and in some places unbearably cruel (especially if you love animals, so be warned). It felt alien... some characters' take on the world is just incomprehensible. Which is what makes it so good. I've also read Thirst for Love and After the Banquet, but it's The Sailor... that has stayed with me.
Thanks for the thoughts on where to go next. I am certainly intrigued to read more Mishima in the future. Good to know about the animal stuff though-- I will need to steel myself up for that!
Awhile back I read two Japanese books which were short and pretty okay. The Key by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki. It is written in diary form of an elderly man who was erotic desires for his like daughter in law. The other one was Kappa by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. A man accidentally travels to the world of the kappa. A lot of satire in this one but fun to read the weird kappa behavior.
You prolly dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me during the covid times then you can watch all the new series on Instaflixxer. Have been watching with my brother recently xD
Hi Alex, two short books by Indian authors you might like: Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai and The Guide by RK Narayan. Love your channel, your reading choices and the passion and sincerity with which you share your reading life.
I really enjoyed this vlog! You always select such interesting titles and it’s a real joy to listen to your thoughts on each book. I think kitchen might be a good recommendation for younger readers (mid to late teens/ early twenties)? I read it when I was about twenty, struggling with depression and I loved it then 🙂 It’s a good pick-me up sorta book. And I agree, I feel like a lot of japanese writing has a kafkaesque tone to it! I am german ( pls excuse my english 😅) and I see a lot of parallels between certain german and japanese authors. Thomas Bernhards writing is also quiet nihilistic e.g. but his prose is unlike anything I’ve ever read. He describes himself as a story-destroyer and that rings true to me, his writing style definitely does do that. You might enjoy his novella the looser. Thanks also for reminding me to finally pick up some Mishima, and some more indian authors your reviews were very encouraging!
I'm glad you enjoyed the vlog-- it was fun to film! I've been meaning to read The Loser for a while, but you have made me ever more interested in reading it after mentioning "story-destroyer".... that sounds intense! And yes I know what you mean about Kitchen. It is very life-affirming in a charming way 🙃
I finished reading On Earth Were Briefly Gorgeous yesterday. Currently reading Small Days and Nights by Toshani Doshi All the Lives We Never Lived by Arundati Roy Pachinko ( 4th attempt to read it)
I agree about the WInd/Pinball. I think everyone was clamoring for more Murakami and wanting to know more about the Rat character. My favorite part of the book was the introduction and Murakami being inspired to write at a baseball game. He mentioned my all time favorite coach: Charlie Manuel. I didn't realize Manuel had played in Japan.
Yes I agree-- the introduction was interesting! It's cool that those small sensory experiences led him to believe he could be a writer. I'm reading Proust right now and he experiences something very similar!!
The word I would use to describe Life for Sale is "edgy". I loved it. Well, Yukio Mishima is one of my favourite writers, but this book is refreshingly random. If you didn't know anything about his life, I think it'd be hard to believe that he even wrote it. Anyway, I recommend reading The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea (a ridiculously long title in English). It's weird and in some places unbearably cruel (especially if you love animals, so be warned). It felt alien... some characters' take on the world is just incomprehensible. Which is what makes it so good. I've also read Thirst for Love and After the Banquet, but it's The Sailor... that has stayed with me.
Thanks for the thoughts on where to go next. I am certainly intrigued to read more Mishima in the future. Good to know about the animal stuff though-- I will need to steel myself up for that!
I adore “My Kind of Girl” - I’ve also read a few of the other titles you’ve featured here. As always, great content! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! And yes, "My Kind of Girl" is a sweet book. I'm glad I picked it up from the bookstore despite knowing nothing about it haha :)
I don´t know if you like Dante Alighieri, but if you do, you have to read In The Hand of Dante by Nick Tosches!
Good to know!
Awhile back I read two Japanese books which were short and pretty okay. The Key by Jun’ichirō Tanizaki. It is written in diary form of an elderly man who was erotic desires for his like daughter in law. The other one was Kappa by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa. A man accidentally travels to the world of the kappa. A lot of satire in this one but fun to read the weird kappa behavior.
I'll keep those in mind-- Kappa sounds good! I enjoyed The Makioka Sisters so I should definitely try more Tanizaki!
You prolly dont give a shit but if you guys are bored like me during the covid times then you can watch all the new series on Instaflixxer. Have been watching with my brother recently xD
@Alvaro Kaison yea, been watching on InstaFlixxer for since december myself =)
Pugs are my favorite small dogs. Lots of great reading. Seems like those two novellas should not be my next Murakami reads.
They really killed my vibe for wanting to read more Murakami this month sadly!! Glad to hear you appreciate pugs 🙃
Hi Alex, two short books by Indian authors you might like: Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai and The Guide by RK Narayan. Love your channel, your reading choices and the passion and sincerity with which you share your reading life.
Thank you for the kind words and book recommendations! I will look into them (always down to read more Indian fiction!!) 😊
I really enjoyed this vlog! You always select such interesting titles and it’s a real joy to listen to your thoughts on each book. I think kitchen might be a good recommendation for younger readers (mid to late teens/ early twenties)? I read it when I was about twenty, struggling with depression and I loved it then 🙂 It’s a good pick-me up sorta book. And I agree, I feel like a lot of japanese writing has a kafkaesque tone to it! I am german ( pls excuse my english 😅) and I see a lot of parallels between certain german and japanese authors. Thomas Bernhards writing is also quiet nihilistic e.g. but his prose is unlike anything I’ve ever read. He describes himself as a story-destroyer and that rings true to me, his writing style definitely does do that. You might enjoy his novella the looser. Thanks also for reminding me to finally pick up some Mishima, and some more indian authors your reviews were very encouraging!
I'm glad you enjoyed the vlog-- it was fun to film! I've been meaning to read The Loser for a while, but you have made me ever more interested in reading it after mentioning "story-destroyer".... that sounds intense! And yes I know what you mean about Kitchen. It is very life-affirming in a charming way 🙃
I finished reading
On Earth Were Briefly Gorgeous yesterday. Currently reading
Small Days and Nights by Toshani Doshi
All the Lives We Never Lived by Arundati Roy
Pachinko ( 4th attempt to read it)
Looks like a good list! Ocean Vuong's novel seems polarizing so I hope you enjoyed it. And I didn't have much luck with Pachinko unfortunately!
Hi Alex! Have you read A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara? It´s a super sad book, but I recommend.
Yes I read it back when it came out. Loved it but it broke my heart! I'm scared to ever reread it 🙈