Showing posts with label Koji Suzuki. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Koji Suzuki. Show all posts

Friday, June 29, 2018

Dark Water by Koji Suzuki

Dark Water
by Koji Suzuki
translated by Glynne Walley

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon
Goodreads

Published: 2004
Publisher: Vertical
Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Japan
Hardback: 279
Rating: 5

Stories included:
Floating Water
Solitary Isle
The Hold
Dream Cruise
Adrift
Watercolors
Forest Under The Sea

A haunting collection of short stories from Koji Suzuki, author of the smash thriller, Ring, which spawned the hit film and sequels. The first story in this collection has been adapted to film (Dark Water, Walter Salles), and another, "Adrift" is currently in production with Dimension Films.

My two-bits:

A good dose of horror with a water theme. Most of these had subtle and not-so-subtle ghosts creeping about and creating havoc.

~*~

* part of World Reads challenge - Japan pt 2 (here)


Monday, June 25, 2018

Blog All About It: Growl


CRAFT:

Added this growling piece to my embroidery works this year.


READ:

The Friend
by Sigrid Nunez
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 4

There's sure to be a growl or two in this one.


GROWL SIGHTING:

Dark Water
by Koji Suzuki
-Horror, Short Stories, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review

I am currently reading this these Japanese horror short stories and came across this...

Throwing his head back with a growl of defiance, he fought the murderous urge.
-Adrift, page 194



WATCH:

Ginger Snaps (2000)
Director/Writer: John Fawcett
Writer: Karen Walton
Stars: Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle, Kris Lemche
-Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Werewolves | imdb | my rating: 5

Two death-obsessed sisters, outcasts in their suburban neighborhood, must deal with the tragic consequences when one of them is bitten by a deadly werewolf.

A friend has recommended this one which includes growls galore.

My two-bits:

Underlying girl power and strong coming of age messages in this one.


LISTEN:



One of my favorite Kpop bands, EXO, growls ;-)

~*~

* part of the Blog All About It Challenge (here)

Sunday, May 6, 2018

World Reads: Japan part 2

World Reads
hosted by Stephanie Jane
details | my world posts

World Reads blog series challenge is to encourage and promote the reading of global literature. On the 5th of each month Stephanie Jane highlights five books. Everyone is welcome to join in by reading one or more books from a different country each month, write a post about them and include the World Reads banner.

My reading list:

Going for a dark side of Japan with these...

Dark Water
by Koji Suzuki
-Horror, Short Stories, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

Grotesque
by Natsuo Kirino
-Mystery, Horror, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

I Am A Hero
Omnibus, volume 2
by Kengo Hanazawa
-Graphic Novel, Zombies, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 4

I Am A Hero
Omnibus, volume 3
by Kengo Hanazawa
-Graphic Novel, Zombies, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

I Am A Hero
Omnibus, Volume 4
by Kengo Hanazawa
-Graphic Novel, Zombies, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

I Am A Hero
Omnibus, Volume 5
by Kengo Hanazawa
-Graphic Novel, Zombies, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 4

A Quiet Place
by Seicho Matsumoto
translated by Louise Heal Kawai
-Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

These are not so dark...

Just So Happens
by Fumio Obata
-Graphic Novel, Contemporary, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads | my review | my rating: 5

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Lovely Books and Things - 4.7.18

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

Linking up with:
Stacking the Shelves (details)
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~

HAPPY THINGS:

1. Easter Egg salad sandwiches ;-)

2. I just got a spam comment on a post that went up back in 2012. The post was titled Zombie Pets and featured zombie cats. I found it hilarious considering the post was pure silliness.

Original post (here)

Hi choco has left a new comment on your post "Keep Calm: Zombie Pet":

On the off chance that you are extremely apprehensive about your home and furniture, and you don't feel whatever else yet declawing will be sufficient, it may be that a feline isn't the best sidekick for you. Albeit most felines are entirely cautious with their condition, mischances can happen. Furthermore, what you see as your prized new cowhide couch may be viewed as a brilliant new toy to play with, that you more likely than not purchased just to engage your feline! They are not human, all things considered.
cat gift ideas

3. Stationery - craft journal, mini notebooks, stickers and an issue of Flow magazine (paper craft theme)


~*~

Bought:

Mad Country
by Samrat Upadhyay
-Short Stories, Asian American
Amazon | Goodreads

STARTING another self challenge by reading the Aspen Words Literary Prize short list (here). Breaking out of my usual reading pattern with this one as I rarely read short story collections.


For Review:

It Ends With Her
by Brianna Labuskes
-Mystery, Thriller
courtesy of Amazon Kindle First -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads

THRILLER has been a genre on my radar these past couple months. So, I gravitated to this one.


Friend's library: Thanks Bethany!

Grotesque
by Natsuo Kirino
-Mystery, Horror, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads

Dark Water
by Koji Suzuki
-Horror, Short Stories, Japan
Amazon | Goodreads

BOTH of these will fit right into my self challenge Japanese binge later this month.


UNBOXING:

From Deep Readers Club (website & instagram):


The Deep Readers Club is a new monthly book box for the #bookworm who wants to be moved by the books they read. Each box follows a theme around a certain feeling and includes a literary novel and 3-5 bookish goods.


YES, a new book box subscription to try!

I was introduced to this book box subscription via @bluestockingbookshelf instagram feed. Both the premise and the March box theme grabbed me.

March box includes:
theme: Anxiety

- The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis (paperback)
- Lavender scented candle by Bow & Arrow Company
- Woolf quote notebook by Obvious State
- 2 Anxiety themed art prints by Typologie Paper
- London Fog and Mellow Mediterranean sample loose tea blends from Harlow Tea Company
- AfterGlow dead sea bath salts by Slow North
- Clay cleansing mask by Anitako Organics

The Wolf Road
by Beth Lewis
-Thriller, Dystopia
Amazon | Goodreads

Elka barely remembers a time before she knew Trapper.

She was just seven years old, wandering lost and hungry in the wilderness, when the solitary hunter took her in. In the years since then, he’s taught her how to survive in this desolate land where civilization has been destroyed and men are at the mercy of the elements and each other.

But the man Elka thought she knew has been harboring a terrible secret. He’s a killer. A monster. And now that Elka knows the truth, she may be his next victim.

Armed with nothing but her knife and the hard lessons Trapper’s drilled into her, Elka flees into the frozen north in search of her real parents. But judging by the trail of blood dogging her footsteps, she hasn’t left Trapper behind—and he won’t be letting his little girl go without a fight. If she’s going to survive, Elka will have to turn and confront not just him, but the truth about the dark road she’s been set on.

The Wolf Road is an intimate cat-and-mouse tale of revenge and redemption, played out against a vast, unforgiving landscape—told by an indomitable young heroine fighting to escape her past and rejoin humanity.



AND watched: in theatre

Isle of Dogs (2018)
Director/Writer/Screenplay: Wes Anderson
Writers: Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Kunichi Nomura
Stars: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton
-Animation, Adventure, Comedy | imdb | my rating: 5

Set in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy's odyssey in search of his lost dog.

LOVE Wes Anderson film making style and aesthetics. From the taiko beats to the dog quirks, this was an entertaining bit of animation.

Best F(r)iends: volume one (2017)
Director: Justin MacGregor
Writer: Greg Sestero
Stars: Greg Sestero, Tommy Wiseau
-Comedy, Thriller | imdb | my rating: 5

When a drifter befriends a quirky mortician, an unlikely business partnership is formed. Paranoia soon develops, however, and both men are forced to come to terms with the fragility of friendship and loyalty.

AFTER falling for this duo in The Room and The Disaster Artist, this was a must-see. And now, I must-see volume two in June!

What Will People Say (2017)
Hva vil folk si (original title)
Director/Writer: Iram Haq
Stars: Maria Mozhdah, Adil Hussain
-Drama, Norway, Pakistan | imdb | my rating: 5

Sixteen year-old Nisha lives a double life. At home with her family she is the perfect Pakistani daughter, but when out with her friends, she is a normal Norwegian teenager. When her father catches her in bed with her boyfriend, Nisha's two worlds brutally collide. To set an example, Nisha's parents decide to kidnap her and place her with relatives in Pakistan. Here, in a country she has never been to before, Nisha is forced to adapt to her parents' culture.

SOME painful moments to watch but a peek into this culture and family dynamics vs. self.

AND watched: on Netflix

The Crown (2016)
tv series
Creator: Peter Morgan
Stars: Claire Foy, Matt Smith
-Drama, History | imdb | my rating: 5

Follows the political rivalries and romance of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.

WOW. What took me so long to watch this. Fascinating to watch the making of a queen and the adjustments of the players that surround her.

~*~

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Ghosts: Sadako

G H O S T S

This Character Connection post is part of Helluva Halloween Character Connection hosted by The Introverted Reader whereby one must...

The challenge:
Write a post (non-bloggers can use each week's comments) about any character from a horror/thriller type novel OR a villain from any type of book. I'm talking about the real baddies on that villain thing. I know horror/thriller is a gray area, so if you think it's appropriate for Halloween, I'll count it.

You too, can join this contest which ends Oct 30, 2010. Enter here for week 2.

Sadako Yamamura

My pick this week is the scariest girl ghost I've come across both in a book and in film.

Unlike ghosts that stay in the TV like in Poltergeist, this ghost comes out of it! Eek!

Sadako Yamamura: The book's unseen antagonist who vanished thirty years ago; also the person behind the incident of the cursed tape. She was, in fact, a hermaphrodite with special powers similar to ESP. Due to, and despite her hermaphrodism, she was said to be extremely beautiful.

Apart from the way she looks, the mystery behind her story is what is so creepy. The flashbacks and story reveal draws you in.

This Japanese ghostie gal can be found here...

Ring
by Koji Suzuki - my review

Description from the amazon:
The novel, which tells the story of a journalist investigating the apparently simultaneous deaths of four teenagers, begins as a traditional mystery. But it glides smoothly into horror when the journalist discovers that all four victims watched a videotape that guaranteed their deaths in one week if they did not do a certain thing (details are missing from the tape).

If the journalist can't figure out what happened, he, too, the tape prophesizes, is doomed. Told with a minimum of horror cliches, the novel creates a sense of slowly mounting dread, as though something unpleasant is inevitable, and we are powerless to stop it.

Ring Trilogy:
Ring
Spiral
Loop

Per Wikipedia, Ring can also be found in these formats:

Film:
Japanese version (1998): Ringu
South Korean version (1999): The Ring Virus
American version (2002): The Ring

~*~

The Ring in 30 seconds
re-enacted by bunnies

~*~

* image source from Ring 2002 film, Poltergeist TV

* source for Sadako description

* for Misty's event...

-+0+o+ October Trix-n-Treatz schedule +o+0+-


Friday, October 30, 2009

Ring by Koji Suzuki

Ring
by Koji Suzuki

Published: 2003 (American edition)
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Paranormal
Hardback: 288 pages
Rating: 5

Description from the amazon:
The novel, which tells the story of a journalist investigating the apparently simultaneous deaths of four teenagers, begins as a traditional mystery. But it glides smoothly into horror when the journalist discovers that all four victims watched a videotape that guaranteed their deaths in one week if they did not do a certain thing (details are missing from the tape).

If the journalist can't figure out what happened, he, too, the tape prophesizes, is doomed. Told with a minimum of horror cliches, the novel creates a sense of slowly mounting dread, as though something unpleasant is inevitable, and we are powerless to stop it.

My thoughts:
In-a-word(s): psychic energy

I was exposed to both movie versions of Ring before reading this. Both the Japanese and American versions were horrifically terrific and different in their own ways.

The book is no different. The pacing is slower but lots more sleuthing and character development goes on in the book.

The book also gets into describing and breaking down the meaning of the individual scenes that flash by in the infamous video. The movie versions explain some but not all of the scenes.

And, lots more interesting info about psychic paranormal activity.

What it is comes down to is a human need. You'll have to read the book to find out which. We humans are so needy... even in the afterlife.

OMG, there's more to the ghostie Sadako than meets the eye... literally.

Yes, so lots to uncover in the book version.

Ring Trilogy:
Ring
Spiral
Loop

*check out my book fashion dress for Loop

*read the first part of this review which includes a bit of trivia on Japanese Female Demons

*part of my R.I.P. challenge

*part of my Hello Japan! challenge

*part of my Helluva Halloween challenge

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Loop dress

If books were dresses...

(a weekly post where I create fashionable wear with book cover art)

Loop
by Koji Suzuki

Published: 2005

I just finished reading the horror-paranormal-thriller Ring by Koji Suzuki (review will be up soon). The Ring is so eerie and just right for the Halloween season. I was so impressed with it that I'm going to continue with the trilogy and read Spiral next. But, today's book fashion is featuring the last of the storyline, Loop.


Description from amazon.com:
The conclusion of Suzuki's Ring trilogy is a highly cerebral metaphysical thriller--one that once again turns the story inside out in a self-referential swirl not unlike the one that gives rise to consciousness itself.

Ring Trilogy:
Ring - my review
Spiral
Loop

*source for silhouette
 
Imagination Designs
Images from: Lovelytocu