Book Haul

A while ago, I went back to Japan to do some urgent errands. In addition to the Haruki Murakami Library, there was another place I really wanted to go to. Sushi restaurants? No. Although I went there of course (3 times). Driving License Center? No. Although I did go there. It was bookstores (Kinokuniya, Maruzen, and Tokyodo)! I had literally been dying for bookstores. As soon as I entered Kinokuniya, I was mesmerized by the books there. It was 18 months’ worth of books. So many books I wanted to buy. In the end, I purchased about 50 books. Of the 50 books, 3 (or 4?) books (in Japanese) I particularly look forward to are as follows.

“Hono” (which literally means “Flames”) & “Ore Ore” by Tomoyuki Hoshino

They got the Tanizaki Prize and Oe Prize respectively. “Hono” is a collection of short stories including my favorite story “Pink”. “Ore Ore” is about a telephone scam.

“Palm-of-the-Hand Stories” by Yasunari Kawabata

111 short stories are in this book. The stories was written over 40 years. I read “The Silver Fifty-Sen Pieces” a year ago and was strongly impressed by it. I’ve always wanted to get a copy of this. Another 110 to go.

“The Unwomanly Face of War” by Svetlana Alexievich translated by Midori Miura

This is a nonfiction written by a Belarusian journalist (Novel Prize laureate).

Another 3 books (in English & French) I particularly look forward to are..

“Granta Vol. 127: Japan”

Finally I got this book!

“The Turn of the Screw” by Henry James

Yes, I will read Henry James this year!

“La Douleur” by Marguerite Duras

This was totally a serendipitous encounter. I was unconsciously drawn to Duras.. (what does it signify?)