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Original poster

Japanese fiction

64 replies

DesperateADHDMum · 03/08/2023 09:55

I’ve worked my way through the new translations of Seishi Yokomizo books this year and picked up a couple of other Japanese fiction books when browsing the bookshop. Has anyone any recommendations for other good translations? I like reading translated fiction but some of the translations can be really poor - it’s definitely an art form in itself!

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SanFranBear · 11/03/2024 17:53

Might be a bit brutal for some but:

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami is an absolute classic and one of the best books I've ever read!

Sbishka · 11/03/2024 17:46

The Little House by Kyoko Nakajima is wonderful!

Deathraystare · 11/03/2024 17:36

@Manicpanicatthedisco

Thanks to you and others who recommended the book Out. It is fantastic! What a page turner! It is my book club book and I am really enjoying it.

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 25/02/2024 08:50

Nice to see the thread resurrected.

I’ve been reading some darker Japanese fiction recently which I’ve enjoyed
the box man by Kobe abe
anything I can find by seicho matsumoto (pro bono was really good)
My annihilation by fuminori nakamura
no longer human by osamu dazai

some others I really enjoyed
there no such thing as an easy job by kikiko tsumura
the woman in the purple skirt by natsuko imamura
child of fortune by Yukon Tsushima
Tokyo ueno station by yu Miri

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Rosieposy89 · 20/02/2024 22:20

Convenience Store woman by Suyaka Murata

FlibbedyFlobbedyFloo · 20/02/2024 13:26

OMG , this thread has just sent me down a rabbit hole.
We're off to Japan next month and I finished Days at the Morisaki bookshop last night.
On the basis of your recommendations, I've just ordered Sweet Bean Paste, The housekeeper and the professor and one I didn't see mentioned here I don't think called Pachinko.
Before the coffee gets cols is already on my bedside table

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 09/11/2023 08:06

I really loved that book. Looking back I don’t know why but I guess it was the right book at the time I read it! I will be interested to hear what you think!!

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BrontëParsonage · 09/11/2023 08:01

My teen, who has autism and ADHD, has a hyper-interest in Japanese culture. I raided her bookcase last night and found a copy of The Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura so I’m starting it today.

heldinadream · 29/10/2023 12:54

BusinessClass · 29/10/2023 11:52

The housekeeper and the professor is 99p today on kindle if anyone is interested! loved that one

The Guest Cat is £4.99 sadly op and seeing as I have hundreds of books waiting to be read I will probably be divorced if I buy it. 99p ones I can sneak in 🤣🤣🤣

Thank you just whizzed over and bought it! Sounds right up my street. Like you I mostly stick to 99p deals as I already own about a bazillion unread books...Grin

clowniform · 29/10/2023 12:43

@BusinessClass I thought The Vegetarian was memorable and excellent but.... extremely not-lovely 😁Human Acts v. good too.

I'm currently reading Days at the Morisaki Bookshop which is easy, cosy and similar to but less twee than the Before the Coffee... series.

During my last bout of Covid I lapped up Bullet Train which was utterly ridiculous but fun.

infinityminusone · 29/10/2023 12:12

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto is a decent read, Also, a lovely book in its own right, although a children's book, is Totto-chan by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi.

BusinessClass · 29/10/2023 11:52

The housekeeper and the professor is 99p today on kindle if anyone is interested! loved that one

The Guest Cat is £4.99 sadly op and seeing as I have hundreds of books waiting to be read I will probably be divorced if I buy it. 99p ones I can sneak in 🤣🤣🤣

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 29/10/2023 11:45

BusinessClass · 29/10/2023 11:43

Just finished sweet bean paste as recommended by @Kaamos

lovely book

Me too! It is a nice read

also read The Guest Cat which was ok but not sure it spoke to me

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BusinessClass · 29/10/2023 11:45

Oh also yes yes I know it's not Japanese it's Korean but anyone read the vegetarian by Han kang? It's next on my list

BusinessClass · 29/10/2023 11:43

Just finished sweet bean paste as recommended by @Kaamos

lovely book

BrontëParsonage · 29/10/2023 10:11

My teen, who is obsessed with Japanese culture, recommends The Beast Player series by Nahoko Uehashi.

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 28/10/2023 06:23

Before the coffee gets cold is a light quick read. I think it’s a book to make you think a bit and disagreeing is part of that! I read the next 2 but found them a bit too formulaic. I’m not mad keen on the translation (or the original writing style) and he makes the cafe staff a bit holier than thou.

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JaninaDuszejko · 27/10/2023 20:30

cassiatwenty · 08/10/2023 20:08

@DesperateADHDMum, @Helpmefly, @JaninaDuszejko I have read a little bit of the Diving Pool but I found it a tad dark for the time being.

I much prefer Banana Yoshimoto as it's lighter and more gentle, Amrita and Kitchen

Kitchen is fabulous, I loved it.

I did hate Before the Coffee Gets Cold though, I thought the decision one character made was completely unrealistic.

I've just bought, at great expense, Places by Jakucho Setouchi thanks to a BB4 documentary. Lets hope it's good.

OhMargaret · 27/10/2023 13:59

Seconding Mieko Kawakami especially All the Lovers in the Night

breadonabread · 27/10/2023 11:10

This reply has been deleted

This user is a troll so we've removed their threads and posts.

MaggieBsBoat · 27/10/2023 11:08

Ah yes Kobo Abe is fabulous.
Everything by Haruki Murakami.

Although US Japanese I think Ruth Oseki deserves a mention (she won the Booker a few years ago). Tale for the Time Being is masterful. A work of great beauty.

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 26/10/2023 20:42

Just started The woman in the dunes by Kobo Abe and realised I’d read another by him(The Ark Sakura) which I really enjoyed

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Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 22/10/2023 19:06

I just read beast in the shadows by Edogawa Rampo which is a pen name taken from the Japanese transliteration of Edgar Allen Poe which I thought was delightful!! And a good book. Certainly get you thinking!!!

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BrontëParsonage · 22/10/2023 17:47

How Do You Live

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