Welcome to the Japanese Literature Challenge 3!
It is with great anticipation that I have been waiting for this day. I've been collecting prizes, collecting literature and even collecting queries as to when it will start. Three years ago, when I began the first Japanese Literature Challenge I had no idea that it would continue with such interest for subsequent years. Yet, here we are, eager to read the works of famous Japanese authors such as Murakami and Mishima; eager to discuss the impact they have on our lives.
I thought that this year I would have you leave a link to the review on your own blog, rather than post it there and then again here. All you have to do is type your name (book you reviewed) in the first box, and the link to that review in the second box.
Example:
Bellezza (Kafka On The Shore)
http://dolcebellezza.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/kafka-on-the-shore-2/
Then, we can click on your link to easily reach your review.
Also, I am hoping the Magical Mystical Teacher, haiku writer par excellence, will leave us a haiku from time to time on this review site. So, check back often for reviews and haikus!
Happy reading!
I'm happy to join the challenge! Thanks for the opportunity to read, post, and possibly win a prize!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining!
ReplyDeleteOh lovely Bellezza--thank you for hosting again. I've been waiting for this since...um...February when the last challenge ended. :)
ReplyDeleteDo we sign up here or is this linky for reviews?
This is supposed to be a linky for reviews; some of us just got over-excited, I guess. Your words thrill me, Trish, that you like this challenge so much!
ReplyDeleteI think I too was over enthusiastic!! Just remove my link!
ReplyDeleteAnd my name is spelled GAUTAMI. A comes immediately after G, not U!
Sorry for pointing this out!
Bellezza, can I ask why you decided in favour of links instead of a group blog like last time?
ReplyDeleteGuatami, I'm sorry I spelled it wrong. Spelling correctly is VERY important, so I'm glad you pointed it out. I'll fix it immediately.
ReplyDeleteColleen, I thought I'd try links this time because many people were posting reviews on their blogs last time instead of the Review Site I'd set up. I was worried we were missing reviews because there wasn't a central posting place. I hate to disappoint, though, so I should take a vote and see what participants prefer for the Challenge 4.
Thanks so much for hosting, Bellezza! I just put up a link to my sign-up post.
ReplyDeleteI think I've posted a link to my blog (already a few posts of Japanese books there for this year!), but I'm not sure if I've actually signed up...
ReplyDeleteYou're so welcome, JoAnn.
ReplyDeleteTony, it's nice to have you! I'll add your name to the participants' list.
Count me in on the mystery front—I've been reading Andrea Camilleri's Sicilian series and I need a switch!
ReplyDeleteOh, and it's nice to meet you.
I posted my first review of a short story by Kij Johnson to get me started.
ReplyDeleteYou can erase my first link if you want (it was just the general link to my blog): I have left a link to the Mishima review on the second link (currently number 12!).
ReplyDeleteCount me in. This is my first time participating.
ReplyDeleteStrictly speaking, not one for the challenge (I read it at the start of July), but I thought some of you people might be interested anyway!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to post a comment after linking...I've just reviewed Kobo Abe's The Face of Another. Not for the existential faint of heart!
ReplyDeleteAnother retrospective post as I'm still waiting for the Book Depository to send me my copy of 'The Housekeeper and The Professor'!(and I don't think I can pass 'Oliver Twist' off as having anything whatsoever to do with Japan...).
ReplyDeleteI put 2 links at one :). the 1st one is my reading plan and the other one is a book I finished in the end of July.
ReplyDeleteI ish I can put Battle Royale in here...but it as read months ago
PS. I put 3 links accidentally...please erase it :) thx
ReplyDeleteI think the review is almost as long as the book ;)
ReplyDeleteHi, Bellezza. I just posted my review of After Dark. I must say that after reading this, I just became one of Mr. Murakami's newest fans! I loved After Dark! I hope to read more. Also what beautiful Japanese pictures you posted!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing them.
Helen
For all who want more background about what Murakami is talking about, this 'Time' article is very revealing...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1917631_1917629,00.html
I'm not sure if I signed up properly. Please count me in!
ReplyDeleteI read "What I think about when I think about running" but I feel like I sort of cheated since it's a memoir and not fiction... So I plan on reading another one of Murakami's works of fiction. Maybe Kafka on the Shore? Can't wait to check it out!
ReplyDeleteWhat I Think About When I Think About Running is not cheating! Still, I'd love to hear your thoughts of Kafka...one of my all time favorites!
ReplyDeleteReview number five for this book (which probably says more for its popularity, availability and brevity than about its quality!).
ReplyDeleteA nice book to finish on the first real day of spring!
ReplyDeleteI finally received 4 Books for my Japanese challenge. I do have other books but wanted to read these 4 first.
ReplyDeleteI posted a photo of my reads
The link for #76 seems to be misdirected - it doesn't lead to a post on Shipwrecks.
ReplyDeleteIt does, but only a very brief paragraph in the middle of the post.
ReplyDeleteYay, I have accomplished my mission! Just told Mr. Linky where to find the post on my Japanese Literature Challenge review of Butterfly in the Wind! It is a 'biographical novel' about Okichi Saito, concubine to the first American Consul in Japan in the mid-1800's.
ReplyDeleteBut I am not going to stop... I will probably read The Pillowbook for this challenge as well! Will let you all know when I've done so.
The last time I cheat: promise! :)
ReplyDeleteI just added my Kitchen link! : )
ReplyDeleteMy little review of Futabatei Shimei's Ukigumo or Drifting Clouds just went up. Short version: This 1887 novel is thought of as the first "modern" Japanese novel, so it has some special historical interest. It's pretty good, but it won't make anyone's Twenty Favorite Japanese Novels list.
ReplyDeleteI just posted First Snow on Fuji which was the only book I had planned to read for this challenge...but it became the third book. Hmmm...I guess I'm enjoying this challenge more than I thought I would be.
ReplyDeleteThat comment just made my day! I'm so glad you're loving it, Helen, and now we're tied for number of books read: I've only read three, and I wanted to be so much farther along by now! First Snow is waiting for me, too...
ReplyDeleteI was so sure tat i had posted my link... until i couldn't find it :(
ReplyDeleteMy first challenge! Just one question, how do I post a button on my page? Please and thankies.
ReplyDeleteAnother Murakami review (I suspect there may be more to come...).
ReplyDeleteThis is my 4th post for the JLC-3!
ReplyDeleteYour comments are always welcomed!
as far as I can see...no one has posted a review on Manga. since I love both novel and Manga...I decide to start the 1st review on an old Manga from Michiyo akaishi
ReplyDeleteMy plan is to read the final section of 'The Sea of Fertility' and the unofficial fourth part of Murakami's 'The Trilogy of the Rat' by the end of 2009!
ReplyDeleteYeaa I finally had time to go to the library and borrowed my fav J-Author, haruki Mirakami :)
ReplyDeleteMy first review for the challenge is posted (at last!) - Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto.
ReplyDeleteThe (four-book) 'Trilogy of the Rat' is complete!
ReplyDelete'The Sea of Fertility' finale is coming soon...
Owari :)
ReplyDeleteOne more ;)
ReplyDeleteI've added my review of The Housekeeper and the Professor.
ReplyDeleteMy review link is not showing up on Mr. Linky so I will leave one here too. I read After Dark. http://abookloverforever.blogspot.com/2010/01/short-sleek-novel-of-encounters-set-in.html
ReplyDelete