Japanese Literature Challenge 18

Japanese Literature Challenge 18
hosted by Dolce Bellezza (details)
January 1 to March 31, 2025

Kanazawa
by David Joiner
Contemporary Fiction, Kanawawa, Japan | Published: 2022 | my rating: 4

Nails and Eyes
by Kaori Fujino
translated by Kendall Heitzmann
Horror, Short Stories, Japan | Published: 2013 (first) | my rating: 4

Lonely Planet Journeys: Lost Japan
by Alex Kerr
Travel, Memoir, Japan | Published: 2013 | my rating: 5

Under the Eye of the Big Bird
by Hiromi Kawakami
translated by Asa Yoneda
SciFi, Speculative, Japan | Published: 2016 (first)

Bout of Books 22

Bout of Books 22
read-a-thon
hosted by Bout of Books
May 14 to 20, 2018
signup | details | daily
#boutofbooks @boutofbooks
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 14th and runs through Sunday, May 20th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 22 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

~*~
TBR pile:

Brave New Girl
(Brave New Girl #1)
by Rachel Vincent
-Dystopia, YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

Strange New World
(Brave New Girl #2)
by Rachel Vincent
-Dystopia, YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5
~*~
CHALLENGES:

Monday 5/14
Introduce yourself #insixwords

adventurous, curious, whimsical, foodie, bibliophile, cinephile


Tuesday 5/15
Year of You
Share a book that was published the year you were born. If you don't wish to disclose your age (that's fine; you'll get no judgment either way here), pick a book that was significant to your childhood.

Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger series)
by V.C. Andrews
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
I've said this before...
This is the ONE that hooked me to reading. It was a book I found in the library in the adult section of the library. At the time I was a tween. What got me first was the super cool keyhole cover on the paperback version. And then, the story about the forbidden.


Wednesday 5/16
Show Me Your Precious
Everyone has a book that they love; now is your time to bring out your precious and shine. Share your favorite book (in whatever format you choose)! You know the one that has that beautifully illustrated map, or gorgeous writing, or whatever it is that draws you to it. Share with the world what makes that book your precious!

I am currently loving these whimsical Pushkin Press Japanese Novella paperback covers.


Thursday 5/17
Read Alikes
If you liked a particular book, then recommend a book(s) similar to the one you liked. If you've played our "If you like . . . try . . . " challenge before, you've got the idea!

Eileen
by Ottessa Moshfegh
-Historical, Mystery, Thriller
Pen/Hemingway Award 2016
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
IF you like Hitchcock thrillers, this may be one for you!

Friday 5/18
Space Scavenger Hunt

Mercury - Favourite short story/novella:

Strange Weather in Tokyo
by Hiromi Kawakami
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Mars - Favourite book with a red cover:

The Handmaid's Tale
by Margaret Atwood
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Jupiter - Favourite tome over 500 pages:

A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Venus - Favourite book with female protagonist:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Uranus - Favourite book set in winter:

Secrets in the Snow
by Michaela MacColl
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Space - Favourite book set in space:

Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Moon - Favourite book set anywhere other than Earth:

Alienated
by Melissa Landers
-aliens, YA
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Sun - Favourite book set in summer:

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour
by Morgan Matson
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Saturn - Favourite book with circle/ring on the cover/in the title:

Ring
by Koji Suzuki
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Neptune - Favourite book set at sea, on a boat, or under water (for the most part)

Manhattan Beach
by Jennifer Egan
-Historical, Literary
Amazon | Goodreads | my review
Pluto - Favourite books featuring a dog/with a dog on the cover (twist... this is one I want to read)

The Friend
by Sigrid Nunez
Amazon | Goodreads
Earth - Favourite book about nature/nature word in the title (twist... this is one I want to read)

The Overstory
by Richard Powers
Amazon | Goodreads

Saturday 5/19
Share Your Favorite Bout of Books Moment

I like being introduced to books to add to my tbr pile.


Sunday 5/20
Stretch Goal

Almost done with the second book I have slated for this challenge. The review link should be active later this evening. So, yeah - will be reading most of today ;-)

Twitter Chats
(chats last approximately one hour)

Monday: 6pm PST
Saturday: 8am PST

Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami

Strange Weather in Tokyo
by Hiromi Kawakami
translated by Allison Markin Powell

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads

Published: 2012
Publisher: Counterpoint
Genre: Literary, Romance, Japan
Paperback: 179
Rating: 5

First sentence(s):
His full name was Mr. Harutsuna Matsumoto, but I called him "Sensei." Not "Mr." or "Sir," just "Sensei."

Tsukiko, thirty-eight, works in an office and lives alone. One night, she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, "Sensei," in a local bar. Tsukiko had only ever called him "Sensei" ("Teacher"). He is thirty years her senior, retired, and presumably a widower. Their relationship develops from a perfunctory acknowledgment of each other as they eat and drink alone at the bar, to a hesitant intimacy which tilts awkwardly and poignantly into love.

As Tsukiko and Sensei grow to know and love one another, time's passing is marked by Kawakami's gentle hints at the changing seasons: from warm sake to chilled beer, from the buds on the trees to the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Strange Weather in Tokyo is a moving, funny, and immersive tale of modern Japan and old-fashioned romance.

My two-bits:

LOVED this love story! Loved how Tsukiko bumbles along into falling in love. And Sensei and his ways are somewhat adorable.