I’m happy to hear that you are talking about Banana Yoshimoto, I read her in college many years ago -im almost 60, she is only 2 years younger than me and I could totally connect with her stories. Happy that new generations are reading her. ❤️
You are so hard working Booktuber. i finally will subscribe to you, because you always post video and make diverse content about book and i wish to be able to understand you.
Old video, but I love Banana Yoshimoto and my favourite is Kitchen, too! I'm one of those people whose faves are Kitchen and NP, but that might be because those are the ones I read first - they were the only ones translated to Finnish. It might also be that I like her style more translated into Finnish than English. I have read some of her English translations later, but I wasn't really into Goodbye Tsugumi. It might have been because, as you said, Tsugumi is quite a cruel character. The others one I've read are The Lake and Lizard, but can't remember much about those. I remember I liked The Lake and didn't like Lizard. Should try to find the rest.
I loved hearing more about why you enjoy Banana Yoshimoto so much. I haven't picked anything up by her since Kitchen, but you've inspired me to hunt down some more from her!
This is the second time in a week I am hearing about Banana Yoshimoto. I promptly went onto Amazon marketplace and ordered 3 or the books mentions, Kitchen, Asleep and Goodbye Tsugumi. Looking forward to reading these. Thank you for such an informative and fun video.
I read Asleep twice and loved it. I read Kitchen so long ago I can't remember it. Must re-read it. But my favourite Banana Yoshimoto so far was Argentine Hag. I read the same beautifully illustrated bi-lingual edition that you read. It belonged to a café in in Shimokitazawa (a trendy Tokyo neighbourhood). Another customer, an old lady handed me the book. 'There you go,' she said in Japanese. 'You can read that.' I began reading it over lunch and went back once or twice to finish it off.
Agree about Yoshimoto's dialogue. I was quite shocked at first by how stilted it was. But somehow the ambience, the emotional intensity and the mystery at the heart of The Lake propelled me on. Plus I really felt what she was describing though it was quite alien to me. Thanks for talking about this author - new to me but very interesting and talented in a left-hand way.
I'd not heard of Banana Yoshimoto until a couple of weeks ago when somebody suggested I pick up one of her books, and now I'm seeing her name everywhere! I must pick up some of her work soon :)
Really identified with the sensation of reading one of her books and just run to others haha got Kitchen in a small shop in japan, absolutely randomly choosed - just wanted to read something local... this was in the beginning of 2015, and ist still one of the strongest reading experiences I can remember. Sadly, no translations in my country... Thanks for the video!
I went from feeling like nothing in this world could possibly compel me to read any of her books while you were reciting the list of reasons you shouldn't like her to being completely sold on her. I added Kitchen on goodreads -- it sounds amazing.
Yet another author that I cannot wait to check out! I am excited to read Kitchen and see more of what you mean by her ability to "tell" a story well :)
I went to the Kinokuniya in Singapore looking for Banana Yoshimoto's books but sadly Kitchen wasn't there and I really wanted to start with that since I'd heard you talk about it. :D :) I'm so excited to read her stuff it sounds amazinggggg!
Another thing I must point out is that the ages of the lead characters are kept in mystery. In the opening it feels like Mikage & Yuichi are preteens, I mean it seems normal for a preteen to invite an orphaned acquaintance to live with him & his 30-something mother for sometime. But since the introduction of relationships in classes, it seemed they're teenagers in school, of the ages to form relationships & hold jealousies for partners. But in the 2nd chapter it's made explicitly clear that Mikage is finishing her university studies & joining a full-time work. In the writer's ability to blur the character ages, she has expressed Mikage's emotional sensitivity more successfully. She wouldn't feel this vulnerable if we knew from the start that she was just an adult losing a grandparent!
I have to agree with you on most...my 3 faves are Goodbye Tsugami , The Lake and Amrita. And I still can't believe that only around a half of her books have been translated to English. Doesn't there seem to be more than 19 listed at Wikipedia? I know some are listed as essays, but I don't know, of the rest, which are short story collections or novels.
I've only read Hard-boiled, Hard Luck but I really enjoyed although I definitely think Hard Luck is much better than Hard-boiled, which didn't really do much for me. I think I'll re-read it at some point and I'll pick some of her others up too. :)
I do recommend some of her others. I find her work fairly varying and some move me much more than others - if you like Hard Luck, I recommend Kitchen and Goodbye Tsugumi.
Thanks for this video. I loved Kitchen. I'm currently reading Manazuru by Hiromi Kawakami and it is really strange. Not good-strange, but a 'how did this get published?' strange.
@@katiejlumsden I've never read Murakami, but one day I'll delve in seeing he's so highly recommended. As for Kawakami, I enjoy her works so am baffled by Manazuru. I'm almost finished so I'll keep trying with it and see how this particular book pans out. I'm really 'working with it' so if it flops for me if won't be because I didn't do my part, ha! :D
I read N.P. today and I really like it, however I was expecting more suspense and thriller even knowing that isn't the style of the author. But like you, my Yoshimoto Banana favorite book is Kitchen. Soon I will make a small video review (in portuguese, sorry!!!!) of my Y. Banana books I already read.
Hi, have you read any of Haruki Murakami’s books and what do you think of them if you have? I would recommend The Wind Up Bird Chronicle if you have not read his books.
I've never heard of this author before just recently. How? I'm a fan of a Japanese filmmaker named, Shinya Tsukamoto. And he did a 50 min. short film about her story, Tokage (Lizard). A lot of his work is somewhat reflective of how you describe Banana's Yoshimoto's work. I presume that's why Tsukamoto agreed to make the film when he was commissioned to do it. Is Lizard just a collection of short stories? Is it a single story on its own? I feel I'll never get to see his film anytime soon, its hard to find, so, I'm seeking out the story. Can you tell me anymore about it? If I can't watch the film I'd like to hear about the story it's based on.
Lizard is a collection of short stories, and one of the stories within it is called Lizard. It's the Yoshimoto book I know least, but I would highly recommend her work - she's a wonderful writer.
I just started Goodbye Tsugami and I was very put off by the overly simplistic writing. I wondered if it was the translation which prompted me to look for a review. She goes from very lyrical writing to overly simplistic which I find jarring. However, after watching your video I'm going to push through and see if it grows on me.
I hope you do enjoy it. Yoshimoto's writing style is an odd one, and I quite enjoy her unusual style, but it's not for everyone. I do recommend sticking with it though, and seeing what you think of the book as a whole.
:O LOVED Goodbye Tsugumi. So comforting and simple, but beautiful. I guess it does walk the line of sentimental and moving. I was disappointed with the ending (it wasn't horrible or anything). I bought it and started reading it in Japan, and it was so perfect. Now I want to read The Lake and probably Kitchen.
Hi! It's nice that I found this and I get to know a little of Yoshimoto's books. I got interested of them since some reviewers said her works are similar to Murakami's. I really want to read and find out if it really is but it's difficult to find them here in Philippines. By the way, with what you said about Hardboiled Hard Luck, it reminds me of After Dark of Murakami. It resembles to the story.
I'm looking forward to your video about Jon McGregor and all of Emily St. John Mandel's books are now on my wishlist because of you, but I can't share your love for Kitchen. I had to DNF, because it was so boring and like you said nobody talks like that.
can you please slow down a little when you speak? just to pause yourself and make the content more digestible. I have had Kitchen since the 90s in my bookshelf and I have rediscovered it now, going t through the book, it's such an emotional journey.
I’m happy to hear that you are talking about Banana Yoshimoto, I read her in college many years ago -im almost 60, she is only 2 years younger than me and I could totally connect with her stories. Happy that new generations are reading her. ❤️
She's such an amazing writer.
You are so hard working Booktuber. i finally will subscribe to you, because you always post video and make diverse content about book and i wish to be able to understand you.
Cheers :)
Old video, but I love Banana Yoshimoto and my favourite is Kitchen, too! I'm one of those people whose faves are Kitchen and NP, but that might be because those are the ones I read first - they were the only ones translated to Finnish. It might also be that I like her style more translated into Finnish than English.
I have read some of her English translations later, but I wasn't really into Goodbye Tsugumi. It might have been because, as you said, Tsugumi is quite a cruel character. The others one I've read are The Lake and Lizard, but can't remember much about those. I remember I liked The Lake and didn't like Lizard. Should try to find the rest.
Banana Yoshimoto is so amazing. I would recommend the rest of her books :)
I loved hearing more about why you enjoy Banana Yoshimoto so much. I haven't picked anything up by her since Kitchen, but you've inspired me to hunt down some more from her!
I'd recommend Goodbye Tsugumi - I love that one :)
This is the second time in a week I am hearing about Banana Yoshimoto. I promptly went onto Amazon marketplace and ordered 3 or the books mentions, Kitchen, Asleep and Goodbye Tsugumi. Looking forward to reading these. Thank you for such an informative and fun video.
I hope you enjoy them all!
I read Asleep twice and loved it. I read Kitchen so long ago I can't remember it. Must re-read it. But my favourite Banana Yoshimoto so far was Argentine Hag. I read the same beautifully illustrated bi-lingual edition that you read. It belonged to a café in in Shimokitazawa (a trendy Tokyo neighbourhood). Another customer, an old lady handed me the book. 'There you go,' she said in Japanese. 'You can read that.' I began reading it over lunch and went back once or twice to finish it off.
That's such a great story! I do love that edition. Moshi Moshi is actually set in Shimokitazawa, and a lot of it is set in a cafe/restaurant :)
What a great story! Thank you so much for sharing it here in a comment, charming. :)
i like this video sm. thank u for being literally the only analysis video on Yoshimoto
Thanks! She's such a great author.
Agree about Yoshimoto's dialogue. I was quite shocked at first by how stilted it was. But somehow the ambience, the emotional intensity and the mystery at the heart of The Lake propelled me on. Plus I really felt what she was describing though it was quite alien to me.
Thanks for talking about this author - new to me but very interesting and talented in a left-hand way.
Thanks - I do agree. Her books are very different, but just brilliant.
I'd not heard of Banana Yoshimoto until a couple of weeks ago when somebody suggested I pick up one of her books, and now I'm seeing her name everywhere! I must pick up some of her work soon :)
I think you would enjoy her work :)
I also read Kitchen a week ago, got NP at a charity shop and ordered the rest online secondhand, she is very pulling.
She's amazing!
Really identified with the sensation of reading one of her books and just run to others haha got Kitchen in a small shop in japan, absolutely randomly choosed - just wanted to read something local... this was in the beginning of 2015, and ist still one of the strongest reading experiences I can remember. Sadly, no translations in my country... Thanks for the video!
She's definitely one of those authors where once you've read one thing by her, you feel the need to read more!
I saw Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto in my Kindle Deals today and clicked to buy. I have yet to be disappointed by any of your recommendations. 📚
I hope you like it!
I went from feeling like nothing in this world could possibly compel me to read any of her books while you were reciting the list of reasons you shouldn't like her to being completely sold on her. I added Kitchen on goodreads -- it sounds amazing.
She is not for everyone but certainly worth a try - I love Kitchen so much!
Yet another author that I cannot wait to check out! I am excited to read Kitchen and see more of what you mean by her ability to "tell" a story well :)
I hope you enjoy her work :)
I went to the Kinokuniya in Singapore looking for Banana Yoshimoto's books but sadly Kitchen wasn't there and I really wanted to start with that since I'd heard you talk about it. :D :) I'm so excited to read her stuff it sounds amazinggggg!
I really think you'd like her stuff :D
Another thing I must point out is that the ages of the lead characters are kept in mystery. In the opening it feels like Mikage & Yuichi are preteens, I mean it seems normal for a preteen to invite an orphaned acquaintance to live with him & his 30-something mother for sometime. But since the introduction of relationships in classes, it seemed they're teenagers in school, of the ages to form relationships & hold jealousies for partners. But in the 2nd chapter it's made explicitly clear that Mikage is finishing her university studies & joining a full-time work. In the writer's ability to blur the character ages, she has expressed Mikage's emotional sensitivity more successfully. She wouldn't feel this vulnerable if we knew from the start that she was just an adult losing a grandparent!
I have to agree with you on most...my 3 faves are Goodbye Tsugami , The Lake and Amrita.
And I still can't believe that only around a half of her books have been translated to English.
Doesn't there seem to be more than 19 listed at Wikipedia? I know some are listed as essays,
but I don't know, of the rest, which are short story collections or novels.
I really hope more are translated in the future, as I love her books so much.
I’m surprised booktube hasn’t talked about banana yoshimoto as much as other contemporary Japanese authors.
I've only read Hard-boiled, Hard Luck but I really enjoyed although I definitely think Hard Luck is much better than Hard-boiled, which didn't really do much for me. I think I'll re-read it at some point and I'll pick some of her others up too. :)
I do recommend some of her others. I find her work fairly varying and some move me much more than others - if you like Hard Luck, I recommend Kitchen and Goodbye Tsugumi.
Thanks for this video. I loved Kitchen. I'm currently reading Manazuru by Hiromi Kawakami and it is really strange. Not good-strange, but a 'how did this get published?' strange.
Thanks :) Yeah, Murakami is a bit weird, right?!
@@katiejlumsden I've never read Murakami, but one day I'll delve in seeing he's so highly recommended. As for Kawakami, I enjoy her works so am baffled by Manazuru. I'm almost finished so I'll keep trying with it and see how this particular book pans out. I'm really 'working with it' so if it flops for me if won't be because I didn't do my part, ha! :D
I read N.P. today and I really like it, however I was expecting more suspense and thriller even knowing that isn't the style of the author. But like you, my Yoshimoto Banana favorite book is Kitchen.
Soon I will make a small video review (in portuguese, sorry!!!!) of my Y. Banana books I already read.
Hi - glad you enjoyed it! Kitchen is definitely the best one for me :)
Now I'm reading Lizard. And till now it is a nice reading ^_^
Hi, have you read any of Haruki Murakami’s books and what do you think of them if you have? I would recommend The Wind Up Bird Chronicle if you have not read his books.
I've read three of his books. I loved Norwegian Wood, but wasn't as fond of the other two.
I love the cover of argentine hag
It is a great cover!
I've never heard of this author before just recently. How? I'm a fan of a Japanese filmmaker named, Shinya Tsukamoto. And he did a 50 min. short film about her story, Tokage (Lizard). A lot of his work is somewhat reflective of how you describe Banana's Yoshimoto's work. I presume that's why Tsukamoto agreed to make the film when he was commissioned to do it. Is Lizard just a collection of short stories? Is it a single story on its own? I feel I'll never get to see his film anytime soon, its hard to find, so, I'm seeking out the story. Can you tell me anymore about it? If I can't watch the film I'd like to hear about the story it's based on.
Lizard is a collection of short stories, and one of the stories within it is called Lizard. It's the Yoshimoto book I know least, but I would highly recommend her work - she's a wonderful writer.
I just started Goodbye Tsugami and I was very put off by the overly simplistic writing. I wondered if it was the translation which prompted me to look for a review. She goes from very lyrical writing to overly simplistic which I find jarring. However, after watching your video I'm going to push through and see if it grows on me.
I hope you do enjoy it. Yoshimoto's writing style is an odd one, and I quite enjoy her unusual style, but it's not for everyone. I do recommend sticking with it though, and seeing what you think of the book as a whole.
:O LOVED Goodbye Tsugumi. So comforting and simple, but beautiful. I guess it does walk the line of sentimental and moving. I was disappointed with the ending (it wasn't horrible or anything). I bought it and started reading it in Japan, and it was so perfect. Now I want to read The Lake and probably Kitchen.
Hi! It's nice that I found this and I get to know a little of Yoshimoto's books. I got interested of them since some reviewers said her works are similar to Murakami's. I really want to read and find out if it really is but it's difficult to find them here in Philippines. By the way, with what you said about Hardboiled Hard Luck, it reminds me of After Dark of Murakami. It resembles to the story.
Thank you. I highly recommend all of Banana Yoshimoto's work.
I looked her up on Wikipedia. I didn't think Banana was her real name.
No, it's Mahoko Yoshimoto - although I do love the idea that when she picked a penname, she picked the name of a food; it's very fitting.
She actually picked "banana", because of the Bijinsho (red banana flower). At least this is what she claims in her interviews : )
I'm looking forward to your video about Jon McGregor and all of Emily St. John Mandel's books are now on my wishlist because of you, but I can't share your love for Kitchen. I had to DNF, because it was so boring and like you said nobody talks like that.
Ha yeah, she's really not for everyone! I often surprise myself by how much I like her.
Whoops! Predictive text once again making unilateral decisions on my behalf.... LEFT-FIELD
Hello
can you please slow down a little when you speak? just to pause yourself and make the content more digestible. I have had Kitchen since the 90s in my bookshelf and I have rediscovered it now, going t through the book, it's such an emotional journey.