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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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BrontëParsonage · 22/10/2023 17:40

The Mill House Murders

yodaforpresident · 21/10/2023 21:44

The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a beautiful book and would definitely recommend it. Also Before the Coffee Gets Cold - I’ve just bought the second one. I would add

The Cat Who Saved Books by Sôsuke Natsukawa
and everything by Haruki Murakami

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DesperateADHDMum · 21/10/2023 08:22

I thought it a very touching book

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TwistofFate · 21/10/2023 07:31

I've read a lot of the books mentioned, and wanted to add The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa.

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

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 08/10/2023 09:45

I find the themes of some of her work quite disturbing so haven’t read them yet. I do have the memory police in my ‘to be read’ pile

ive been reading the ‘when the coffee gets cold’ series as a bit of light reading.

the last books I’ve read are

the Master Key by Masako Takagi
strange weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
a quiet place by seicho matsumoto
convenience store woman by say aka murata

enjoyed them all!

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JaninaDuszejko · 08/10/2023 09:04

@cassiatwenty I've read The Memory Police and adored it.

Helpmefly · 08/10/2023 07:13

I haven't yet..the housekandfthe professor is on my TBR. Have you@cassiatwenty

cassiatwenty · 08/10/2023 00:12

Did anyone read Yoko Ogawa?

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 07/10/2023 20:23

Helpmefly · 07/10/2023 17:55

I just finished this....brilliant. absolutely brilliant!

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Agreed - although I wasn’t keen on the ending

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Helpmefly · 07/10/2023 17:55

Manicpanicatthedisco · 03/08/2023 09:56

I live Japanese fiction but I don't know if my taste is the same as yours. My favourite Japanese novel is Out by Natsuo Kirino - it's excellent but rather shocking.

I just finished this....brilliant. absolutely brilliant!

clowniform · 27/08/2023 15:16

Heartily second the Tanizaki recommendation by @highlandcoo
Natsume Soseki, Sanshiro, Botchan and I am a Cat are enjoyable satires on early 20th century social changes in Japan.

Only a few of Keigo Higashino's Detective Kaga series has been translated but they stand alone quite well and are more cosy / slice of life. I think the first English book is Newcomer.

The Aosawa Murders is a recent favourite. Again you could shelve it as 'mystery' but it's very unusual, almost dreamlike. Dark but not in a gory or forced topical-issues-y way.

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 27/08/2023 09:17

I thought I’d revive the thread to add a couple of books

Lonely Castle in the Mirror - I thought it was a really good book to get you thinking and one that would be great for teenagers to read

I’m halfway through Diary of a void by Emi Yagi. Interesting concept of a woman who pretends to be pregnant on the spur of the moment when she’s expected to do the menial jobs at work. So far it’s a good read and will be interested to find out how she gets away with it - if she does!

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Decaffe · 19/08/2023 17:04

Miura

Decaffe · 19/08/2023 17:04

I thought The Great Passage by Shion Midura was endearing. You don’t get books like that in the English language!

Decaffe · 19/08/2023 17:02

Helpmefly · 09/08/2023 22:52

Oh I just read. Before the coffee gets cold...because its a time slip novel...but I enjoyed it and was thinking I should explore more Japanese authors

Loved this and I am just about to start the third in the series!

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 19/08/2023 16:59

So just bought these to read

diary of a void by emi yagi
tokyo express by seicho matsumoto
the sailor who fell from Grace by mishima

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GrethaGoat · 15/08/2023 12:09

Toshikatzu Kawaguchi Before the coffee gets cold

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DesperateADHDMum · 14/08/2023 00:27

Well I’ve just finished Out and thought it was excellent - though troubling!! Will try out some of the other recommendations

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Rivermedway · 12/08/2023 03:42

Immediately thought of “Three Wild Swans”, but a quick Amazon search and discovered it’s set in China not Japan.

YukoandHiro · 09/08/2023 23:03

Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiroma Kawakawi

345s · 09/08/2023 23:02

Yoko Ogawa - Revenge

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 09/08/2023 23:01

thats The last one I read - an interesting read but it did make me think I’ve read better so should find them.

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Helpmefly · 09/08/2023 22:52

Oh I just read. Before the coffee gets cold...because its a time slip novel...but I enjoyed it and was thinking I should explore more Japanese authors

Original poster
DesperateADHDMum · 09/08/2023 22:47

Out is next in my reading pile and I’ve got a few more on my shopping list. Thanks!

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