“The Ten Loves of Mr Nishino” is another great piece of Japanese literature that I really enjoyed. This is another quirky romance by Hiromi Kawakami that's unique, thought provoking and very well written - 5 stars!
Tag: Translated Books
Book Review: Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
"Sweet Bean Paste" is a wholesome story of unlikely friendship. I loved the simplicity of this Japanese tale, but I didn't finish this book with a any strong feelings for it. This was a 3 star read for me.
Audiobook Review: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo
I listened to Kim Jiyoung's story in audiobook format and for me it was just okay. The author Cho Nam-Joo uses this story to illustrate a really important message though and I think this is worthwhile read, especially as it's so short. This was 3 stars for me, but I'd definitely still recommend it and may try reading, rather than listening, to this one again soon.
Blog Tour: A Hundred Million Years and a Day by Jean-Baptiste Andrea
It's my stop on the blog tour for "A Hundred Million Years and a Day", a passionate adventure novel following one man on his quest to find the bones of a dinosaur. I didn't feel completely immersed in the story but I found this to be an enjoyable read with a really good translation.
Book Review: An Advertisement for Toothpaste by Ryszard Kapuściński
Despite it's intriguing name, "An Advertisement for Toothpaste" really isn't a book I can recommend. I didn't understand a lot of it and felt confused until the final story. I'm sure this will be enjoyed by many, but sadly it's not for me - 1 star.
Blog Tour: Two Lives by A Yi
It's my stop on the blog tour for "Two Lives" by A Yi. "Two Lives" is an original collection of Chinese short stories for open-minded readers. It's dark, twisted and a little odd, so I'd recommend taking these stories slowly rather than all in one go.
Book Review: Wild Dog by Serge Joncour
“Wild Dog” is a unique and interesting story about switching off and going back into nature. I'm rating this book 4 stars and I'd definitely recommend checking it out once published next week.
Book Review: A River in Darkness by Masaji Ishikawa
Despite being short in length, "A River in Darkness" is a really heavy and difficult read. This is an educational story of one man's journey to and from North Korea, following propaganda offering paradise when they arrived. If you're not up to speed with this aspect of history and (even more sadly) the current political climate, I'd recommend picking this up.
Blog Tour: The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda
It's my stop on the blog tour for 'The Aosawa Murders'. This is a complex whodunnit story, trying to uncover the truth behind a poisoning that wiped out a whole family. This story has a unique format that I really enjoyed. I'm giving this one a big thumbs up with 4 stars.
Book Review: Spark by Naoki Matayoshi
"Spark" is a fun, slightly strange Japanese story of a comedian on a quest for success. While I didn't always understand the comedy, I still really enjoyed this one. It's 4 stars from me!
