Sleeping beauties of another sort in Japan...
by Banana Yoshimoto
Description from the amazon:
The New York Daily News has called Asleep "enchanting, surreal ... Yoshimoto brings readers to another powerful, atmospheric place." Demonstrating again the artful simplicity and depth of her vision, Banana Yoshimoto reestablishes her place as a writer of international stature in a book that may be her most delightful since Kitchen.
In Asleep, Yoshimoto spins the stories of three young women bewitched into a spiritual sleep. One, mourning for a lost lover, finds herself sleepwalking at night. Another, who has embarked on a relationship with a man whose wife is in a coma, finds herself suddenly unable to stay awake. A third finds her sleep haunted by a woman against whom she was once pitted in a love triangle. Sly and mystical as a ghost story, with a touch of Kafkaesque surrealism, Asleep is an enchanting new book from one of the best writers in contemporary international fiction.
*** Book Giveaway ***
Open to all.
Offer ends: August 30, 2010
TO DO (2-parts):
1. Sign guestbook (if you haven't already).
2. Read about Banana and tell me one thing you learned about her.
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Contest has ended - winner is here
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Banana's sister is a well-known cartoonist in Japan! I think that's cool, especially because I love manga (which is a little different, but still!).
ReplyDeleteI absolutely ADORE Banana. I want this book! She aims to win a Nobel Prize, and that is awesome. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is not an entry but I love the cover/concept.
ReplyDeleteOmg ... both my daughter (who will be traveling to Japan in a couple of years) and I are huge fans of this talented Japanese writer!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI learned a few things I didn't already know about her, one being that her father is a famous poet: Takaaki Yoshimoto! And I don't know what the heck a Banana flower looks like, but I'm gonna check that out lol - sounds pretty interesting :)
This book sounds like something I'd truly love to read - good pick (as usual lol) !!
ps - I signed the guestbook, wonder what surprises await ;)
She's written twelve books and seven collections of essays.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds fantastic!
She took banana for her first name because she liked the flower and says is androgynous.
ReplyDeleteCarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Stephen King was one of her first influences =)
ReplyDeleteOHMIGOOOOOOD I LOVE THIS AUTHOR SO MUCH I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU HOLY SCHNOZE!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHer dad's a poet.
danielleeloko78@aol.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a seriously strange young writer !
ReplyDeleteI don't know of any other writer of popular novels who has an aim to win the Nobel but what the hell. If you aim for the stars you may still hit the moon !.
Carol T
A couple of years ago I read "Kitchen" and enjoyed it a lot. The subtle climate of the novel was unforgettable, although the book was rather short. In my opinion Yoshimoto is a very talented writer and I am lookinf forward to her new books.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to read, that Banana is very popular in Italy (she won some prizes. She also seems to be a very modest person.
Warmest greetings from Poland.
lirael@pro.wp.pl
I learned that her works have sold over 6 million copies worldwide!
ReplyDeletetanyainjville(at)yahoo(dot)com
Banana has a poet father and a cartoonist sister.
ReplyDeleteBunnyb
bunnybx at gmail .com
She thinks bananas are cute and purposefully androgynous! And that's why she took the word as her pseudonym!
ReplyDeleteNo need to enter me in the giveaway. I love her books and I have read many in Italian. :)
ReplyDeleteSigned the guestbook.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that she takes a half hour each day for writing, and even keeps an English online journal for English speaking fans. That is terrific!
I love the sounds of this book about these three women. I've never read anything by Banana Yoshimoto, but I learned she's written Her works include 12 novels and seven collections of essays.
ReplyDeleteBanana has written 12 books and has had 3 movies made (from 2 different books).
ReplyDeleteThis book does sound like an interesting book to read.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com
Hmmm... I thought this was pretty neat! She took the pseudonym "Banana" after her love of banana flowers, a name she recognizes as both "cute" and "purposefully androgynous.
ReplyDeleteksg_amg@yahoo.com
She took the pseudonym Banana after her love of banana flowers, because she thought it was “cute” alongside being androgynous. I love that she has the confidence to aim straight for a Nobel Prize in Literature, even though the odds are against her. She’s simple and down-to-earth, and that makes me like her all the more. She says little about her family in public – I like that she’s balancing her fame and managing a private life alongside that.
ReplyDeletei signed the guestbook
ReplyDeletelearned she had a famous father poet Takaaki Yoshimoto and sister cartoonist Haruno Yoiko
thats pretty cool
Signed the guestbook.
ReplyDeleteI learned that she took the pseudonym "Banana" after her love of banana flowers.
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com
I learned she graduated from Nihon University's Art College where she majored in Literature. I haven't read any of her books yet, but I would like to.
ReplyDeleteseriousreader at live dot com
Stephen King is one of Banana's first major influences, especially his non-horror stories.
ReplyDeleteI found it most curious her choice of pseudonym as Banana for androginity!
ReplyDeleteI found that she chose Banana for the flower and not the fruit!
ReplyDelete:)
I discovered that she has sold over 6 million copies worldwide!
ReplyDelete(Portugal included)
I found that 3 movies were made from her books.
ReplyDeleteBut two of the movies came from the same book!
I've learned that her real name is Mahoko Yoshimoto.
ReplyDeletesigned your guestbook
spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com
I see that most of her books is translated in English to share her stories with the rest of the world. That is cool. Not so many Asian author get that.
ReplyDeletedarlyn225 at gmail dot com
stephen king was one of her first major influences in her writing! she's got great taste!
ReplyDeletek_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com
She already wrote 12 books!
ReplyDeleteShe aims for the Nobel but starts with the inspiration of Stephen King!
ReplyDeleteI learn she worte 12 novels but has also made 7 collections of essays!
ReplyDeleteDiversefied author!
wow, I learned she named herself Banana because of her love for banana flowers! Never saw any banana flowers so checked them out and oh, they look weird lol :-)
ReplyDelete