As the name suggests, An I-Novel is a semi-autobiographical novel told in the confessional manner that characterizes the Japanese literature genre of the same name. Given the author and protagonist Minae’s fascination with the Meiji period of Japan’s history, it is only fitting that the book’s title would harken back to that era. Reminiscent of… Continue reading An I-Novel
Author: LB
Travelling in a Pandemic
While I love the ability that literature has to transport you to a different world, there is also certainly something to be said for actual travels. I was very fortunate to spend this past weekend up north visiting my family. Even just a few hours of driving provides such a delightful change in scenery and… Continue reading Travelling in a Pandemic
A Man
Have you ever wished to switch lives with someone? This is the question at the center of A Man by Japanese literary writer and philosopher Keiichiro Hirano. Told from the perspective of Akira Kido, a divorce attorney with his own struggling marriage, A Man investigates the spiral of lies that is uncovered when a former… Continue reading A Man
Paperbacks
Musings I have a special fondness for paperbacks. A new paperback book feels sacred—the crisp pages and unbent spine contain an entire world, yet the book itself is vulnerable and fleeting. When finding an unscathed softback on the shelves of a library or hidden in the nooks of your favorite used bookstore, it feels like… Continue reading Paperbacks
Disoriental
It’s rare to find a book whose title sums it up so perfectly, and perhaps rarer still that the exceptionality of this title was preserved in the process of translating it from French to English. The title “Disoriental” can be interpreted in a myriad of ways, yet it would be difficult to find a meaning… Continue reading Disoriental