The Boy and the Dog by Seishu Hase: Japanese Literature Challenge 16

 

 

The Boy and the Dog

Seishū Hase, Alison Watts (Translator)

 

Published May 1, 2020

I like this novel that follows the stray dog Tamon into the homes and lives of several different people along his five-year journey to find his original owner. 

The dog stays with successive new owners, a few of whom are connected to the yakuza (mob), until they can no longer keep the dog or are not in a position to look after him. This was a good way to move the story forward.

I also liked the ending when Tamon's true and newfound owner connects with the family of the first person who took the dog in.  There is pathos and true sentiment in the relationships with his owners as Tamon was seen as a gift from the gods and a symbol of good luck.

Older children and adults would enjoy the book without, hopefully, being too affected by some of the sadder and more serious events in the stories. 

 

Hase Seishu ((馳 星周) is the pseudonym of the Japanese yakuza-crime novelist Toshihito Bando (坂東 齢人). 
Bando graduated with a BA from Yokohama City University in 1987.

A few of his novels were adapted into Asian films, such as The City of Lost Souls and Sleepless Town, in 2000 and 1998, respectively.

 

This review has been added to the Japanese Literature Challenge 16  hosted by DolceBellezza

Book Review: Fractured Soul by Akira Mizubayashi

 

An historical novel set in Japan and France. 

Awarded the Prix des libraires by France’s booksellers, a universal story about music and restoring one’s faith in others amid the aftermath of tremendous loss.

Fractured Soul

by 

Akira Mizubayashi,

 

Alison Anderson (Translator)

Expected publication: April 4th, 2023 by HarperVia

My review:

The novel is an anti-war/anti-imperialism novel set in Japan before and during WWII and in France post war. I was overwhelmed by the sorrow of the 11-year-old Rei as he witnessed/heard his father Yu being arrested at a private concert recital and his father's treasured violin smashed by the boots of a Japanese corporal.

The story is moving and yet sentimental; it links classical music, its performance on stringed instruments, and the loss Rei feels when his father disappeared after the arrest. I thought it fitting that Rei becomes a maker/restorer of quality violins in his own shop in France, where he was raised by a French couple who were friends with his missing father Yu.

Rei spends his life trying to overcome the fractured soul he had become from memories of the violence to his father and his father's beloved violin. Rei heals as he connects with others from his past, piecing together what had happened, in an effort to heal all those who shared in his distress.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this amazing historical novel of music, love, loss and restoration.

This review is part of the Japanese Literature Challenge 16  hosted by DolceBellezza

Sunday Salon: Two Japanese Novels with a Message

 

 

 

The Cat Who Saved Books

Sōsuke Natsukawa, Louise Heal Kawai (Translator), February 2017

About: High school student Rintaro Natsuki is about to close the secondhand bookstore he inherited from his beloved grandfather. Then, a talking cat named Tiger appears with an unusual request. (publisher)

 This is a book for bibliophiles, readers, reviewers, and those who collect books. It's also for those who don't read and are sceptical about the value of books.

 Reclusive and shy student Rintaro is led by a mysterious talking tabby cat into labyrinths behind his father's old bookstore to confront and correct these five misusers of books.

 1) The Imprisoner: a hoarder who collects and neglects his books, finding value only in reading as many new books as possible.

2) The Mutilator: who values extreme editing of books to summarize and cut them down to one sentence. 

3) The Seller of Books: who sells and discards without caring about individual books.

4) The Final Labyrinth, in which Rintaro confronts a sceptic and gives the real reason books are valuable, new or old.

Rintaro:

"Books are filled with human thoughts and feelings. People suffering, people who are sad or happy, laughing with joy....(W)e learn about the hearts and minds of other people besides ourselves."

" I think that the power of books is that - that they teach us to care about others. It's a power that gives people courage and also supports them in turn.... Empathy - that's the power of books."

Becoming more confident after his experiences in the labyrinth, Rintaro happily returns to school after being a shy truant.

The book, in translation, would be good for students and new readers. It also reinforces what long time readers already know. 

 

 There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved reading about all the problems that can go wrong in various job situations. A young woman moves into five different jobs before coming to terms with what she can and will accept. 

The different jobs she takes within a year read like separate short stories - surveillance; writing bus advertising; writing random facts to be printed on the backs of cracker packets; putting up posters on storefronts, and working alone in an isolated hut in the middle of a forested park.  

The five jobs were interesting and entertaining to read about -  the dilemma of work with various employees and environments, and  different demands of bosses.

"..what I'd discovered by doing five jobs in such a short span of time was this: the same was true of everything. You never knew what was going to happen, whatever you did..."

You just try to do the best you can, is her final word of advice. 

 

 

 

These reviews are part of the Japanese Literature Challenge 16  hosted by DolceBellezza

 

What are you reading this week?

Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also,  It's Monday: What Are You Reading, and Sunday Salon, Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday