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Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Welcome to the fourth Japanese Literature Challenge!

When you have written a review for the work you've read, add it to the review site below by:

  1. entering your name(title of book) in the first bar
  2. then adding the URL to your review in the second

    Example:
    Bellezza (Kafka On The Shore)
    http://dolcebellezza.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/kafka-on-the-shore-2/


I can't wait to see all the books you've chosen and read!
Blessings on your journey,

84 comments:

  1. Here's to all the Japanophiles out there: I hope you have a wonderful time immersing yourselves in the sea of Japanese literature ;)

    My link is just a little taste of what I've been reading since the end of the last challenge...

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  2. I am very glad to see the challenge start again and to read the great posts it will generate.

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  3. Yeaaa...I've been waiting for this challenge (^_^)v

    30% of my read is J-lit so this challenge excited me more than other challenge.

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  4. Yeehaa! June 1st has FINALLY arrived! Starting Silence (Shusaku Endo) today!

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  5. I'm wondering if anyone can recommend some Japanese horror fiction. Something like what Koji Suzuki writes or Koushun Takami (Battle Royale). Thanks!

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  6. Colleen, I assume you've read Out by Natsuo Kirino. I'm not sure it would count as horror, but it is definitely "noir". Personally, I'm loving it now, and I'm about halfway through. Review coming soon.

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  7. Yes, I have read Out and I too loved it. I read Kirino's second book as well, and thought it was awful. I go back and forth on whether or not to read the third...Scared to be so disappointed again.

    But yes, I'm definitely more in the mood for horror than noir. I just found out today how poor my local library's subject heading and key word systems are. All that was listed for Suzuki's Ring trilogy were: Viruses, AIDS, Cancer. Not helpful!!

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  8. Here's a page I found online suggesting some Japanese horror authors.

    Also, it occurs to me that The Woman in The Dunes is a rather scary novel about a man who's kept in a woman's trap. Have you read that book? I'll keep my eyes/ears out for more!

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  9. I just started reading Out, but it may take me a while to review it.

    I love this challenge. I may not read the most Japanese literature (I think that distinction goes to Mel from The Reading Life) but I certainly have enjoyed what I've read in this genre. Bellezza, had it not been for the JLC3 I probably would never have read ANY Japanese literature--thank you!

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  10. Thanks for the link, Belleza!! I will check it out now.

    And yes, I have read The Woman in the Dunes. It is horrifying, but I'm thinking more physical/psychological horror rather than existential horror. Mind, I hate Ryu Murakami.

    Thanks again!

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  11. Colleen, I hope it's helpful.

    Suko, Mel U deserves some kind of Grand Prize for reading more Japanese literature than I'd even dreamed had been written. As for the rest of us, I'm so glad that we're diving into this genre even if it is a bit slower. Thank you for your sweet words.

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  12. Another retrospective post to be getting on with: this is what happens when pets learn to type...

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  13. Dear B, I'm on a blogging break but still reading, so definitely still in on the challenge. I'm starting Silence tonight and excited to be reading more Japanese lit in the coming months. (Is Ishiguro considered Japanese lit??) :) xo

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  14. Claire, I'm so glad that you're coming out of 'hibernation' ( and believe me, I get that!!!) for the JLC4. You would have been sorely missed if you didn't appear from time to time. I'm also going to read Silence for Tanabata's discussion, and yes, let's consider the British/Japanese Kishiguro more than acceptable for this challenge.

    Oh, I hope to read Oe's book for your Non-structured Book read, as well. Will you be hosting that?

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  15. I am participating but do not see where I sign in. I haven't read a Japanese book yet so I can't enter my name above with title/revue of book.
    Can you add me, please :)
    Thank-you Meredith

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  16. I'm adding you right now, Madeleine! So glad you're participating again this year!!

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  17. I just finished "The Elegance of the hedgehog" by Muriel Barbery (french professor who teaches philosophy in Kyoto). It doesn't qualify as Japanese Literature but I think every fan of Japan culture&literature will love this book that I hope to review soon.

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  18. Hi all. I'm new, not having done any of the previous challenges, but I do love Japanese literature (and crime fiction as well). So I'm looking forward to this.

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  19. I've just posted my first review! :)

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  20. How many books am i supposed to read?

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  21. Oh, and I accidentally signed on to the challenge in the review section. Sorry x3

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  22. Hi, Nora, just one book is required. Of course, feel free to read as many as you like! I'm off to add you to the list of participants, glad you're joining!

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  23. this is an interesting challenge I Hope to find loads more writers to checkout

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  24. Hi I apologise the first underground link doesn't work don't know why as the 2nd's fine.
    anyway sorry for that I'm still learning.
    Thanks
    Parrish

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  25. I'm not having much success here no.32 & 33 are no good, my fault just trash them please sorry for the inconvenience. Tho the rest are fine(guess I'm learning)
    love the books here although am waiting impatiently for the next Murakami

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  26. A reflective post preceding my first real review for this challenge :)

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  27. Love this idea,so I have added a button on my blog

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  28. well, I like the challenge and I promise to read more about japanese literature so I'll be here. Enter me please.

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  29. I'm excited to be participating in this challenge for the first time: here is the link to my sign-up post. My first read will be a Banana Yoshimoto novel. Many thanks for hosting.

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  30. Officially number one for this year :)

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  31. Welcome Parrish Lantern, Haku and Buried in Print!

    Tony, I loved your review so much I added Sanshiro by Sosheki (there's a tongue twister!) to the suggested book list.

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  32. Link Number 50 - Just giving a little something back to the challenge ;)

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  33. I've just entered "The Master Key," by Masako Togawa. It was written in 1962, but it's still a very good read.

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  34. Just added Shusako Endo's The Sea & Poison, which reminde me of Murakami's Underground. Not the writing, but the way society treats the individual.
    ps. Love the Bamboo

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  35. ahh Mr Linky! Why are you down when I want to use you!

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  36. #61. Just entered Some Prefer Nettles by Tanizaki Junichirō. It's my first post here and my first book by this writer. I'm now reading his longer novel on the famous Makioka sisters.

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  37. Just added Yoko Ogawa's The Housekeeper & the Professor. Love this challenge, discovering new authors all the time.
    Thanks Bellezza
    Ps. checked out bookmooch, tried Banana yoshimoto, Haruki Murakami, Shusako Endo, Ryu Murakami, etc couldn't find one.

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  38. This is such a cool idea! I'm really enjoying reading through all the awesome reviews!

    I've got a bunch of my own at:
    http://japaneseliterature.wordpress.com/
    And I would be happy to plug and link to anyone else's reviews, if they would like. Cheers!

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  39. Not strictly Japanese literature, I know, but I'm sure plenty of the people here are interested in this one :)

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  40. In a way, a Japanese battle of the sexes...

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  41. Blessing to you Bellezza. My first review and what a way to start the J-Lit with Hotel Iris! many more to come.

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  42. Another really lovely book, full of beauty & cruelty .
    Bellezza hows the new gadget

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  43. 'Quicksand' - simply outstanding :)

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  44. Sputnik Sweetheart, a heartrending, sad romantic story. A different side of Murakami.

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  45. Kitchen - thanks to all who have reviewed it in the past - I loved it.

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  46. Belleza, you are making an addict of me! Asleep was even better than Kitchen. I'm now on to "A Personal Matter," and can't wait to share that review soon. Thanks so much for putting this challenge together!

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  47. Thanks Bellezza for allowing me to have a taste of such enjoyment.... I've just finished Kenzaburo Oe's Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age! and what a poignant book. Just written a review on it and sent it to Mr. Link. I'm a late participant of your JLC, but glad I've finally got on!

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  48. Woo! I have FINALLY entered my first book. I know I'm late I'm just glad this challenge lasts for 6 months. I read The Housekeeper and the Professor a few weeks ago but only just got around to writing the review after some rather troublesome blogger's block.

    The trouble with reading excellent books is that anything I write about them seems to be so unworthy in comparison.

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  49. Three Natsume Soseki books so far this year (and more to come!)).

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  50. This is the second book I've read by Shusaku Endo & I loved it.This writer prods & pokes at my mind & at my heart & just when my facial expression has reached the pinnacle of its seriousness, he introduces- Incredible Voyage, a parody.

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  51. Thanks for adding me to the list! I already got my list of Japanese-lit to read and can't wait to start!

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  52. Friends, I feel so badly that I haven't been commenting on your wonderful blog posts~I promise to amend the situation when I have the year properly begun in my classroom. Right now, twenty-six 8 year olds are consuming all my time and energy, but I'll be by soon! Thanks for the enthusiasm you bring tot he challenge!

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  53. Has anyone read The Silent Cry by Kenzaburo Oe? It's the one I have by him - whim buy as it was the first and only Oe I saw in the bookshop so I snatched it up without looking at it beyond the front cover. (Silly, I know.)

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  54. Just added "Out" to my challenge, having read but not reviewed grotesque & real world (pre-blog). Hi fiona, I've read "The Silent Cry" took me a while to get into it, but was worth it.

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  55. Thanks Parish, it looks quite interesting and the writing within good but also quite heavy. Looking forward to it. I'm enjoying this challenge I've been stocking up on Japanese literature and have enjoyed everything so far.

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  56. Just finished reading Manazuru by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Michael Emmerich,whose previous translations include Banana Yoshimoto and Taichi Yamada,if you like those authors Manazuru is well recommended.

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  57. What a wonderful blog! I found you through Marie/The Boston Bibliophile.

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  58. Thanks to this challenge, I discovered this writer(Yukio Mishima), as well as a host of others.
    Thanks

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  59. Thanks for running this challenge and giving me so many new names to look out for. I've just added a review of Hard-Boiled Wonderland, which looks to have been pretty popular this year.

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  60. #114. The Makioka Sisters by Tanizaki.

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  61. I'm 118- read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. Loving this challenge, hope to find some new authors and do some more reading!

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  62. Finally! I reviewed Real World. I read it several months ago, but had such a hard time reviewing it. I think the nihilism really got to me.

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  63. I think I have just posted about the most popular book in this year's Challenge. So sorry.
    Am hoping the next one will be less so.

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  64. Hellscreen is just one of 17 stories in Ryunosuke Akutagawa's collection "Rashomon & 17 other stories"

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  65. Here's another post of JL, written in English this time, by the great master Kazuo Ishiguro: Never Let Me Go. I've included the movie review as well. Thanks for the chance to share good books and great movies!

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  66. This is Ryunosuke Akutagawa's collection "Rashomon & 17 other stories" translated by jay Rubin with a forward by Haruki murakami.

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  67. Enjoyed the interview of Murakami's translator. Very revealing!

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  68. Yet another catch-up post (three Japanese novels in the past week!) :)

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  69. A last minute entry, on Kakuzo Okakura's The Book of Tea, just linked. I'm going to write more aboutthe book tomorrow, too.

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  70. Kawabata's Snow Country is my last entry to JLC 4 for 2010. Thanks for the opportunity for me to read great books and write meaningful posts. Have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year, Bellezza!

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  71. probably my last of the year. but will continue with next year?

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  72. Bellezza: My contribution is more of an historical account than literature, though it is also a partial memoir of a crucial time in Japanese and American history that I thought readers might be interested in.

    Book Bird Dog

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  73. I justed posted a review of Kitchen by Yoshimoto. Happy New Year!

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  74. I really enjoy japanese literature, this blog is a great idea!

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  75. Number 10 for this year's challenge - I may fit in one or two more before the end of January :)

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  76. In the chaos of the last 8 months or so, I lost track of posting my Japanese reads here. I just added three!

    Thanks again for hosting this, Bellezza!

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  77. My first Oe - superb, as expected :)

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  78. I just posted a review of Yoshimoto's Goodbye Tsugumi.

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  79. I have posted my review of Silence by Shusaku Endo.

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  80. #176. I reviewed Kafka on the Shore by Murakami.

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  81. My Junichiro Tanizaki "Quicksand" review is up!

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  82. My wrap-up post for JLit 4 Bellezza. I look forward for the next one this year.

    arigato gozaimasu for hosting this Bellezza. Love it! :)

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