Thursday, July 30, 2009

Japanese Literature Challenge 3

Button by Tanabata!


I've been waiting for Japanese Literature Challenge 3 since I finished reading for Japanese Literature Challenge 2 last year ... and it is finally here! Bellezza is our host and her challenge is as follows:
"... read one work of Japanese origin. It can be literature of course, but don’t feel confined to that. You may choose to read poetry, biographies, short stories or even manga. If you are willing to read one such piece, you’ve met the challenge. If you read more, all the better."
The challenge runs from July 30, 2009 through January 30, 2010.

For more details (including a list of prizes!) read Bellezza's post.

My interest in Japanese literature began a few years ago when I picked up a book by Haruki Murakami and found myself in a whole new world. I then sought out works by other Japanese authors. I've got quite a list of books I would like to read for this challenge and will be choosing from the following:

I am a Cat by Soseki Natsume
Black Rain by Masuji Ibuse
Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata
Tales of Moonlight and Rain by Ueda Akinari
Japanese Gothic Tales by Izumi Kyoka
Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Coin Locker Babies by Ryu Murakami
South of the Border, West of the Sun by Haruki Murakami
The Wind-up Bird Chronicles by Haruki Murakami
Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino
Real World by Natsuo Kirino

The next few months should be a lot of fun!


14 comments:

  1. Terri, you have such a great list: what an inspiration! I was deeply moved by Coin Locker Babies last year, and I clearly remember Tales of Moonlight and Rain (which you might want to read for Carl's RIP Challenge this Fall ;). I can't wait to read Wind-up Bird Chronicle with you, and I'm so glad you joined.

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  2. Bellezza: Thanks for the suggestion to use Tales of Moonlight and Rain for the R.I.P. Challenge!

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  3. You have a great list - quite a few books I've never heard of.

    I loved Out, so look forward to hearing about the other Kirino books.

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  4. I'm so excited this is here! I've been waiting for months. :) I read Snow Country last year and thought it was a really beautiful book, and I have Wind-up Bird on my list, so we'll have to compare notes (although I'm a little intimidated by the size!).

    Enjoy!

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  5. Sounds like you have some great reading ahead of you! I'm going to pick mine as I go along, but one of them will probably be Alseep :D

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  6. farmlanebooks: I like Out too and didn't realize that Kirino had a new book available until last week. I've got some catching up to do!

    Trish: I'm intimidated by the size of Wind-Up too! Can't wait to compare notes :o)

    Nymeth: Asleep ... fantastic choice! ;o)
    I totally understand wanting to pick titles as you go.

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  7. What a great list! I just signed up, too, and will start with After Dark.

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  8. Have fun with the challenge! I have I am a Cat in my TBR. :D

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  9. This is a great challenge-I think I will add "I am Cat" to my TBR for the challenge list-love the title.

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  10. Great list! I'm reading The Housekeeper + The Professor by Yoko Ogawa just now. Have you read Mistress Oriku -Stories from a Tokyo Teahouse by Matsutaro Kawaguchi?

    Greetings,
    Tiina

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  11. Oh, I forgot. Thanks for the link for the page you've been working on for your library! That looked very helpful for the students. Here's a link to our city library's home page in English: http://www.lib.hel.fi/en-GB/ I think, I gave you the Finnish link earlier...

    Greetings,
    Tiina

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  12. Your comment Murakami has pushed me over the edge and while the men in this house all go to the baseball game today, I'm headed to the bookstore for Murakami. I may not get to it for a week or two (or three) but soooo looking forward to it.
    And really enjoy your site (and title!)

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  13. I am really curious about I am a Cat; it's been on my list for a while but I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy. Never mind though, I have enough other books on Fuji TBR to read for the Japanese Literature Challenge :) It's my first time around ;)

    I can't remeber when my interest in Japanese Literature started... It is so long ago! I'll be back when I've thought of it! :))

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  14. Tiina: I haven't read Mistress Oriku, but thanks for the recommend. It's going on my TBR list! And thank you for the link to your English page. I like the Modern Finnish Writers page!

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