5 Life and Writing Lessons From A World Famous Author
Book Reviews / Japanese / nonfiction / The Artistic Process / The Latest / writing

5 Life and Writing Lessons From A World Famous Author

His latest work though is a very different kind of book. Instead of creating worlds in a well or alternate universes through tunnels, Murakami has released a book about his experiences as a career author, and in it, he details all the highs and lows of what it is really like to write books for over 35 years. In this book, he talks about each section being a speech rather than an essay or memoir, and I feel like that is perhaps the best way to think of this book. It does feel like Murakami is talking to you – delivering a speech at a graduation or event. Considering that Murakami rarely makes public appearances, he does this kind of speech writing well. Continue reading

Review of “The Last Children of Tokyo”: dystopias as social commentary
Book Reviews / Japanese / The Latest / translation

Review of “The Last Children of Tokyo”: dystopias as social commentary

In Tawada’s world, the old don’t age or die, and the young are cursed with ill-health and short life-spans. Learn more about why this dystopian novel haunted me for months after I read it. Continue reading

Review of Sayaka Murata’s “Convenience Store Woman”: fitting into the capitalist ideal
Book Reviews / Japanese / The Latest / translation

Review of Sayaka Murata’s “Convenience Store Woman”: fitting into the capitalist ideal

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. I am a lover of Japanese literature. I studied Japanese in primary school (but it sadly is not one of the languages that stuck in my head), and I have had an … Continue reading

What the self-help book “The Courage to Be Disliked” gets right and wrong
Book Reviews / Japanese / nonfiction / The Latest

What the self-help book “The Courage to Be Disliked” gets right and wrong

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. I bought The Courage to Be Disliked because I was curious to learn more about what the book had to offer. There has been an explosion of self-help literature in the 21st … Continue reading

The question of dignity and being a ‘people pleaser’ in Kazuo Ishiguro’s “The Remains of the Day”
Book Reviews / British / Japanese / The Latest

The question of dignity and being a ‘people pleaser’ in Kazuo Ishiguro’s “The Remains of the Day”

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links. Clicking through for additional information or to make a purchase may result in a small commission. It has already been said that Ishiguro’s novel is a beautiful study of Englishness. The book for me, like all of Ishiguro’s works I have read, is extremely soothing to read. Somehow, … Continue reading