Japanese Literature and Suicide: Is There a Correlation?

Mel, of The Reading Life, has read fourteen books for the JLC3 already. We're barely half way through, and I think he's devoured more than anyone so far.

He asked a question today, though, for which I have no answer. I'm posing it here in case someone else does:

I have read works by 14 Japanese writers for the challenge-it seems about 1/3 of
them have died by suicide-any thoughts on this?

If you know the answer, or think you have an idea, please leave your thoughts in the comments. It's an intriguing question, and one suitable for this time of year when ghosts and ghouls and ideas about death seem to abound.

Comforter

If I cannot have

the wind as my comforter,

I will choose a book.

© 2009 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Welcome!

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!