(Fushimi-Inari Shrine, image by Kazunori Yokoi)
The incomparable Dolce Bellezza is hosting her third annual Japanese Literature Challenge, which begins…Today!!!
(Do Not Disturb, by Yoshitomo Naro)
Much to my own shame I did not participate in the first Japanese Literature Challenge, but I made up for it last year by finally listening to Bellezza and my friend Cameron and picking up a book by Haruki Murakami. I was hooked. Since then I have read two of his short story collections and one of his novels and have listened to his recent autobiography/running memoir. He is a treasure and it is unlikely that I would have picked up his literature at this point if not for those two very important influences in my life. Thank you both!
I am excited about this years challenge for the simple reason that I plan on reading more of Murakami’s work! I have one book already on my shelf that I have read a couple of chapters of already, Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. I’m really looking forward to getting back into that. My subconscious must have known that the challenge was coming soon because a few days ago I began getting a real urge to re-read After the Quake, my very first sampling of Murakami and a wonderful book (review here). I think it is because we went and watched the children of our friends James and Julie compete in a swim meet. One of the stories features a character who likes to swim and that story and others started tugging at me the other day, saying, “Come back to us, we will be every bit as good the second time around!”. And so I shall!
I also read Out by Natsuo Kirino last year and it was a page-turner of a book (review here).
This year my plan is to stick entirely to Murakami.
Bellezza’s challenge is a simple one:
“This year, all you have to do is 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.
I have set the time frame between July 30, 2009 and January 30, 2010.”
What could be simpler? There are prizes and there is a review site set up, and of course there are banners. One features the wonderful image of the dog reading, pictured earlier:
The other lovely image was created by Tanabata.
My tentative plan, subject to my ever-changing whims, is to:
1. Re-read some or all of the 6 short stories in After the Quake.
2. Finish Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World.
3. Read a special Murakami gift that I will soon be posting about. 🙂
Alternate plans include:
1. Reading Norwegian Wood in the autumn/winter. Everyone says that is the time to read that book.
2. Read Sputnik Sweetheart. I re-watched Paris, je taime the other day and had forgotten that one of the characters is seen reading that book to his terminal wife. I love when books are dropped into films that way, and thus am curious about that book.
Whatever actually happens, I know that I will enjoy sampling Murakami over the course of the next several months and will be keeping an eye on other people’s reviews to perhaps discover something unexpected.
Thanks for hosting this again Bellezza, it is sure to be fun!
After reading this post, and all the while wondering, “Who is he talking about?” 😉 I must say that I want to join you in more Murakami. I’d love to read Norwegian Wood in the fall; I’ve actually bought a copy of each book he’s written (except for the running one, ’cause truthfully? Running and I are not friends) from eBay. Once you start, you can’t get enough.
Thanks for writing such a beautiful post, Carl.
Carl, I’m glad you are participating in this challenge too and look forward to reading your Murakami experiences! It is my first time as I wasn’t blogging this time last year and have consequently posted an ambitious and diverse list including Murakami and Out.
The Murakami I am planning on reading is Norwegian Wood so I’ll bear in mind you suggestion of reading it later in the year.
I read Sputnik Sweetheart earlier this year and really enjoyed it (although it is a reworking of an earlier short story, I think, and basically just frames it with another story). I also loved After Dark, After the Quake, and The Wind-up Bird Chronicles.
Enjoy!
Claire: Everyone I know who loves Norwegian Wood says it is a fall/winter weather read and I am trusting them on this one.
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed Sputnik Sweetheart.
Nothing wrong with being ambitious on challenge lists, that is part of the fun of joining and participating in challenges!
After Dark is my favorite so far and I will get to Wind-up Bird Chronicle at some point.
Bellezza: The running book is about running, to a degree, but it is much more about being proactive in maintaining health and in reaching goals throughout all phases of life. It is really good and the parts where he shares about how he started writing are great. It didn’t make me want to go out and start running, but did remind me of the importance of maintaining my physical health goals.
Just before deciding to be more invested in debt elimination and severely cutting back on book purchases I was standing in the Murakami section of Barnes and Noble and had the hardest time resisting the urge to buy a couple of his books. I kept telling myself that until I finished Hard-boiled I didn’t need any other Murakami books looking longingly at me from my shelf. They have such great covers though and look so inviting!!! My resistance is much better now…I just stay out of the bookstore! Ha!
You’re welcome, and thank you for hosting the challenge again!
I didn’t participate in the first year either but I did last time around and it’s one of the few challenges I was able to complete so I’m definitely joining again. Like you, I’m planning to read something by Murakami!
Have fun!
Iliana: I’m glad you are joining in, I’m sure we’ll both have fun. How can you resist one book only challenges? 🙂
My Murakami books are here at work along with my Gaiman books and Tolkien books so the first thing I did when I got here was grabbed After the Quake to take home with me. Yay!
Glad you’re joining in again this year. It’s one of my favourite challenge, along with yours of course! (I’ve already been thinking of R.I.P. reads). 🙂 I have so many Japanese books I’d like to read but I’m sure I’ll end up reading another Murakami as well. Happy reading!
Tanabata: I have been thinking about R.I.P. reads all month as well, thanks to the unseasonably cool weather. I can hear the whispers of Poe and Lovecraft short stories…
I liked Sputnik Sweatheart. I plan to read all of Murakami’s books. I have read a lot of his short stories online although most have disappeared from there.
As I write haiku, haiga and tanka amongst others, I also plan on reading books on those. And not only for the challenge!
I fare poorly in challenges..:D
Gautami: Challenges should all be about having fun and not trying to meet some arbitrary reading goal, so I just say enjoy yourself and don’t get caught up in the whole ‘completion’ part of the challenge. Of course Bellezza made it easy for us by making it a one book in 6 months challenge. 🙂
Glad to see you’re joining in, Carl! The only Murakami I’ve read is Kafka on the Shore. Might try The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle this time, if I can get to it, as my list is kind of long ha ha.
Thank-you for visiting my blog 😀 I have several Haruki Murakami lined up. I’ve been eying them this whole year but refrained from reading them knowing Bellezza’s wonderful challenge was coming up.
Glad you’re joining :))))
Thanks for visiting too, Carl. I love your post. It should inspire us all to finish what we promise! I’ve pledged to read two Murakami, plus a horror- mystery which you should like! and a book by Banana Yoshimoto. Happy reading!
Love the picture at the top of your post! I have a lot of other books lined up right now to read so I’m going to have to skip this challenge this year but I look forward to reading your reviews.
Jeff: I hear you! I’ll definitely be sharing the ones I read at the shop with Cameron so you’ll get a dose of it that way. 🙂
Book Bird Dog: I’m a bad one for sticking with reading commitments, which is why I’m thrilled this is ultimately only a one book challenge! Gotta love someone whose first name is Banana!
Madeleine: I imagine it was hard to refrain from reading them. I know the first Murakami I read was one I got a jump on before Bellezza’s challenge officially began last year because I just couldn’t wait.
Claire: The English translations of Murakami’s books have the greatest titles, don’t they? Kafka on the Shore, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle…I just love that.
I’m doing this challenge too. I was too late joining last year to read more than two books. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Norwegian Wood, any time you read it. It’s the only Murakami I’ve read so I look forward to your thoughts on others you read. I’m going to try to stick to those on my shelves for the challenge and not get anything new. We’ll see how that goes. Happy reading.
Beautiful site! I love the layout Carl 🙂
I’m glad to find yet another Murakami fan. I’ve only read a few but my very first one, After Dark, was enough to convince me. I really hope you enjoy Norwegian Wood.
Happy reading!
By the way, that nice picture of a shine you have there. Is that the one from the movie Memoirs of a Geisha? The one where Chiyo ran after meeting the chairman? It’s quite a lovely picture; something so lively and yet so peaceful about it.
Mark David: Honestly it is an image I got off of flickr and I went ahead and credited the photographer under it. I assume he actually took a picture of the location himself, but I don’t know. I liked it though…love the rich red color.
After Dark was fantastic. And thanks.
Sandra: I’m trying to stick to books I own or books from the library as well. Must be good! 🙂
Your plan to stick entirely to Murakami sounds like a fun one! I’m sure I could do that too. I haven’t yet read After Dark, and am planning to do so very very soon.
Will be looking forward reading your thoughts. 🙂
This sounds like fun, but I’m too bogged down with other reading at the moment to join in. I love the little dog reading, though and just want to snag the image! 🙂 And I really need to read some Murakami at some point…
I am starting out with Murakami’s After Dark-Like others, If I like it a lot will read more of him-I am looking forward to getting lots of good ideas-great pic
Mel: After Dark is a good place to start, in my opinion. It is short and it is very good.
Danielle: It is an adorable picture, isn’t it? Bellezza did good in picking that one out. I certainly understand, you have quite the tbr pile!
Michelle: I’m sure there are many, many other wonderful Japanese authors out there, but since I have so many Murakami books that I want to read, there is no sense in me not just going ahead and indulging in them.
Hmmm…will this be the year I actually join and manage to read a book for this challenge? Let’s hope so. It’s fun to hear you so excited about it!
Debi, you can do it! I believe in you! It’s only one…plus, I’d be sad if you didn’t join. 😉
I have sucked really bad at this challenge in past years! and yet, there are so many book I would like to read. I’m definitely going to commit to reading one this year.
Other than that, I’m biding my time until RIP!! As you have noted, I’m “stocking up” on potential reads!
Stephanie: Yes, you have been stockpiling R.I.P. books! I don’t blame you, I can’t wait either. You need to track down a Japanese horror book and then you could kill two birds with one book, as it were.