Kindly donated to BookCrossing by Giles, via Freecycle, 24 June 2006.

Keeping this to read before releasing.

I really enjoyed these three novellas, deceptively simple tales of the lives of young Japanese women. Very sparse and modern, but with a good depth of feeling and great descriptions. Quite yearning and there is a lot left unsaid in the gaps between the words. It didn't feel too translated, which points to an excellent writer and an excellent translator. I think this was my first Japanese author, and I'm going to offer it on a BookRing in the future, as I know a lot of people do country or region challenges.

Book Ray!

This book is going on its travels! Please go by the basic rules or let me know if you have a delay or difficulty...

1. Journal the book when you receive it.
2. PM the next person and make a note that you've done so.
3. Read and review the book, preferably within 4 weeks of receiving it.
4. Mail the book to the next person. PLEASE put on a JE or release note when you've done this.

SHIPPING ORDER:

Arturogrande UK (Anywhere)
Mallary France (Europe)
rumble-bee Germany (anywhere)
kihli Greece (Greece)
okyrhoe Greece (anywhere)
scotsbookie UK (anywhere) <----- it's here!

RAY now complete - book is free to go anywhere it wants!

PM'd arturogrande for their address

RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to arturogrande on Saturday.

Arrived safe and sound - I've got one ring book ahead of this one, but I'm planning on getting started on it very quickly.

Thanks very much.

This was a very beautifully written little book, made up of three stories about lonely young women. All three of them had lost someone - and the sense of loss and emptiness was very well conveyed.
There was a lot of sadness running through the three stories, but the language was so beautiful that I didn't find them too depressing.
I'll certainly be on the lookout for more from this author.
Thanks very much for sharing this wonderful book.

It's now on its way to mallary.

Thanks for sending it!
I'm looking forward to starting this straight after a Transita bookring book I am halfway through. Won't be long!

Such a wonderful book, all three stories were beautiful. Thank you for including me in the bookring.
I am still trying to reach rumble-bee so I can send it on. Will try again today.

Book is on it's way to rumble-bee.

It arrived yesterday, thanks Mallary!
I directly took it with me to a park, sat down on a bench and "devoured" one story.
I do already know one book by this author, "Kitchen". So I knew I was in for a treat!
Yes, it really is deceptively simple writing. Dreamlike, sad, and yet fulfilling.

I'll tell you more when I have finished.

Done!!
Well, the thing with Banana Yoshimoto is, you always know exactly what you'll be getting in her books. She has found her unique voice and style, which isn't easy to forget.
I really liked this collection, and was totally absorbed in it.
However, I related differently to each of the three stories - I did not like them all equally much. In my opinion, the first story was best - "Night and Night's Travelers". It gives a wonderfully deep and sensitive account of what it means to grow up, and to come to terms with losses. Sad and beautiful.
The second story reminded me of an ancient German fairy tale - really spooky, and not as gripping as the first.
The third story, then, was somewhere in between the other two. Plus, I had the really strong suspicion that it bears VERY close resemblances to stories and plots by Haruki Murakami. It might equally have been written by him. I just wonder whether the two authors haven't been "inspired" by each other, to put it mildly.
Because of these doubts, I'm "only" giving out 9 points for this book.
Nevertheless, I am reluctant to let it go. These stories have to be read several times. I might even buy the book.

I am going to ask for the next address right away.

just received the book,thank you very much :)

Very simple writing indeed,yet strong in emotions. I liked the first story very much,a bit less the other two. The sense of loss is everywhere,there was so much nostalgia.

Thanks for sharing!

RELEASE NOTES:

going to okyrhoe :)

Found this in my p.o.box today.

Thanks LyzzyBee for including me in the bookray, and kihli for posting it to me! Ευχαριστώ.

Of the three stories in this book, it's a wise choice that "Night and Night's Travelers" appears first, as it is the most complex and subtle narrative. I appreciate this particular piece mainly because the confusion over the loss of a loved one is experienced through several characters - Shibami, her cousin Mari, as well as by Sarah the ex-girlfriend. The death of Yoshihiro affects each of these women differently and Banana Yoshimoto nicely resolves the tension within each character by bring each one into contact with the parallel intensity of the other women's experience of loss, so that in a way one character 'heals' the other, if that can be said.

The other two stories are simpler in structure; the experience of loss and resolution involves one character at a time. "Love Songs" could be improved if we knew more about the 'other' woman, Haru. The last story, "Asleep", although it also has a simple & straightforward plot, I found somewhat disquieting, more 'ghostly' than the previous two tales. Who has not felt drawn to the 'darkness' of sleep, the need to be unconscious or to dream, when the reality of life is not to our liking? But I didn't quite understand this story's ending ---> the evening outing to observe the fireworks and how/why this resolves the issues behind Terako's persistent sleep state.

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On its way to scotsbookie.

Arrived safely this morning,thank you okyrhoe & also for the lovely postcard. #2 on Mount TBR.

A great read! The loneliness of the 3 women just oozed off the pages. The language was beautiful & the translation was seamless.

I'll be looking out for other books by the author.

Thank you LyzzyBee, I'll probably send this to someone else I know enjoys stories told about Japan & Japanese writers.

Found this on the Book Buffet at the London Convention, and took it home with me to the Netherlands.
I enjoyed Kitchen a lot and I will certainly read this, too.

*waves at the previous readers*