Japanese June

(Source)

Japanese June was created on Youtube by LittleGhostCreations. I decided to participate in this
"challenge" because one of my goals for 2015 was to read more diversely. Actively seeking books written by Japanese authors was challenging, but not impossible.  I was able to locate a variety of literature from classics to contemporary, and I've discovered some authors that I'd love to read more from.

Here's the breakdown of what I read, the format I read it in, and a brief review of each item.  I did not include summaries, but I've included links to the goodreads page for each book.

Fiction:
Never Let Me Go (Format Read: Paperback)
I really wanted to like this one.  I really did.  It didn't live up to the hype that I've seen surrounding it.  It felt like the story wanted to go somewhere, but it didn't.  It painted some beautiful pictures, but something was just missing the entire time I read this oI'd ne.

Botchan (Format Read: eBook)
I never realized how sarcastic and funny Japanese literature could be.  This novel was written in the early 1900s.  It was a quick read, and absolutely hilarious.  I enjoyed this reading, immensely.  I'd have rated it higher, but there were several translation issues in this edition near the end that bothered me.

Rashomon (Format Read: eBook)
I read one of the stories contained in this collection during a Film and Lit class back in college.  The famous Kurosawa film Rashomon was actually based on the story In a Grove, told by unreliable narrators.  This was by far my favorite of all the stories included in this book.  Akutagawa is a favorite in Japanese literature, and there is even an award named for him.  I can understand why.  I'd definitely read more of his work.

The Elephant Vanishes (Format Read: Paperback)
 A few of these stories were hard to get through, but overall, I really enjoyed the experience.  I even bookmarked a quote, which I don't do very often.

"What a wonderful thing it is to be found by your 100% perfect other.  It's a miracle, a cosmic miracle."  - from On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning

From "slice of life" stories to magical realism, there are a variety of experiences in this collection of short fiction.  The best part of this type of writing is that you're not stuck reading through hundreds of pages if you're just not that into a story.

The Diving Pool (Format Read: Paperback)
These stories had a hidden darkness in them. In this collection, Ogawa seems to be exploring the darkness just below the surface of each individual.  I enjoyed these stories, but they take you into the darkest corners of your mind. This was not a light happy read, but one that I'm glad that I took the time for.

Manga:
Android Angels (Format Read: eBook)
Cute, weird, nothing special.
Anomal (Format Read: eBook)
The first story was the best.  The rest were just ordinary. 


Overall Experience:  I really enjoyed opening up my reading world.  I hope to continue to do this throughout the year.  I really feel that 2015 has been a wonderful reading year, and I'm looking forward to reading more from Japanese authors in the future.

Top 5 Books I will Never Read

I recently joined a goodreads group called Top 5 Wednesdays created by gingerreadslainey, and I love to read lists like these, so I thought I'd jump in and make my own.  This weeks topic was "Top 5 Books I Will Never Read."

There are many books in my life that I will never read.  Many of those will go unread because life just passed me by. I'm not generally one to outright avoid specific books, but I am selective when it comes to what I choose to read. I honestly believe that life is short, and we should read good books.  We should read the books that make us happy.  Who cares what other people think.

Fifty Shades of Gray Trilogy - Do I really need to explain this?  Fifty shades of never going to read these books.  EVER.

Twilight Series - No.  Just.  No.   I've read some of Meyer's other writing, and it hurts my brain.

A Tale of Two Cities - I can't get through anything Charles Dickens writes without throwing it against the wall.  I read some of his work in school, and while I liked most of what I read in my classes, Dickens never did it for me.  Sorry, Charlie, I'm not reading anything else you have written.  We're done.  It's not me, it's you.

Moby Dick - To be honest, I've never been interested in this one. I'm okay with that.  I heard there's a nice chunk of the book devoted to whale anatomy though.

Go Set a Watchman - This is a bit controversial.  The reason I'm not going to read this is because I'm not 100% sure that Harper Lee really wanted it released.  Until I can be certain that she agreed to this without coercion, I can't, in good faith, read it.  I'm sorry.



Honorable Mentions:

Harry Potter Series - This came out when I was 18 years old.  I read the first book, and it felt like a children's book. It wasn't a worldwide phenomenon at the time.  It was just a weird book that I picked up at the bookstore.  I never jumped on the bandwagon.  I understand the way a lot of young people feel about it, and sure, I'll let my kids read it, should I ever have children.  However, I will probably never read it myself.  I do enjoy the films and the stories.  Hate all you want, but it just wasn't part of my canon.

The Fault in Our Stars - The last time someone tried to get me to read this one of my friends was in Hospice dying from cancer.  Telling me to read a book about sick kids dying from cancer is NOT OKAY.  My friend's little sister was also battling a brain tumor at the time.  Telling me to read this book is NOT OKAY.    That being said, I don't want read a book about sick kids.  I just don't.  Okay? Okay.


That wraps up my very first Top 5 Wednesday!  Hoping that I keep my blog alive this time!

Review: Morning Phase

(Beck Official Site)

More than a collection of songs, Beck’s Morning Phase seamlessly transitions from one beautifully crafted piece to another.  It begins like the first rays of light filtering through the windows, picking up momentum as the album proceeds.  From start to finish, it was just like waking up.  I honestly didn't want it to end. 

I've been a fan of Beck since “Loser” hit, back when I was a precocious adolescent.  His music has evolved and grown.  From his experimental roots in lo-fi to his expertly layered pieces, Beck has matured as an artist.  His talent is impressive, and deserving of accolade.  I, for one, am glad that he won a Grammy for this effort above the trite manufactured sounds of the Pop Machine.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip through Beck’s Morning Phase.  If you’d like to give it a listen, the full album is available on Spotify.   I plan to purchase this one; it deserves a place with the rest of my collection.