Strangers
17 journalers for this copy...
Blurb on back cover says...
"Middle-aged, jaded and divorced, TV scriptwriter Harada returns one night to Asakusa, the old dilapidated downtown district of Tokyo where he grew up. There, at the theatre, he meets a likeable man who looks exactly like his long-dead father. And so begins Harada's ordeal, as he is thrust into a reality where his parents appear to be alive at the exact age they had been when they died so many years before."
This is a described as a haunting ghost story and I think it sums the book up nicely. I've classified it as horror but if you are expecting blood, gore or to be frightened then no, you won't. This is a quieter, more subtle tale which I enjoyed.
"Middle-aged, jaded and divorced, TV scriptwriter Harada returns one night to Asakusa, the old dilapidated downtown district of Tokyo where he grew up. There, at the theatre, he meets a likeable man who looks exactly like his long-dead father. And so begins Harada's ordeal, as he is thrust into a reality where his parents appear to be alive at the exact age they had been when they died so many years before."
This is a described as a haunting ghost story and I think it sums the book up nicely. I've classified it as horror but if you are expecting blood, gore or to be frightened then no, you won't. This is a quieter, more subtle tale which I enjoyed.
Offered in forum as an international ray.
I've done my best with the order of running for this ray whilst taking into consideration all the shipping preferences expressed - not easy! Here's the order:
Rossella05 - Greater London, UK
nawoo82 - London, UK
madmadge - Bournemouth, UK
pinkydinky - Melksham, UK
themadjock - Glasgow, UK
LindyLouMac - Vetralla, Italy
chich - Perpignan, France
shimi - Oslo, Norway
LeishaCamden - Oslo, Norway
LESEHEST - Trondheim, Norway
kizmiaz - Lisbon, Portugal (Kizmiaz has asked to be skipped)
Goddess-Of-Fire - Missouri, USA
Kimmi - Kelowna, Canada
aunt-sophie - Gatineau, Canada
Izzati - Penang, Malaysia (No response to PM's so will be skipped)
bearyfriend - Garden City, Singapore
silvia-pco, Murtosa, Portugal (silvia-pco has asked to be skipped)
Bookworm-lady - Madrid, Spain *****Book Is Here*****
then into the unknown......
Please PM me if you a problem with this at any time so we can sort it out quickly and amicably. Other than that, all I ask is that you make a journal entry upon receipt, again once finished and posting on so I can keep track of where we are and update this JE as we go along so we can all see progress:-)(Handy when planning what to read next or schedule rings/rays). As the list is quite long and will take some time to reach those towards the end of the list - can we please keep the book for a short a time as possible say, approx 1 month max as a guideline.
Oh, and enjoy reading this (the most important part!)
Thanks.
29/06/07 - Have Rossella05's address but delaying posting as UK has a one day postal strike today and I am wary of this package getting lost in the backlog. Will leave it a few days to let things clear a bit.
Rossella05 - Greater London, UK
nawoo82 - London, UK
madmadge - Bournemouth, UK
pinkydinky - Melksham, UK
themadjock - Glasgow, UK
LindyLouMac - Vetralla, Italy
chich - Perpignan, France
shimi - Oslo, Norway
LeishaCamden - Oslo, Norway
LESEHEST - Trondheim, Norway
kizmiaz - Lisbon, Portugal (Kizmiaz has asked to be skipped)
Goddess-Of-Fire - Missouri, USA
Kimmi - Kelowna, Canada
aunt-sophie - Gatineau, Canada
Izzati - Penang, Malaysia (No response to PM's so will be skipped)
bearyfriend - Garden City, Singapore
silvia-pco, Murtosa, Portugal (silvia-pco has asked to be skipped)
Bookworm-lady - Madrid, Spain *****Book Is Here*****
then into the unknown......
Please PM me if you a problem with this at any time so we can sort it out quickly and amicably. Other than that, all I ask is that you make a journal entry upon receipt, again once finished and posting on so I can keep track of where we are and update this JE as we go along so we can all see progress:-)(Handy when planning what to read next or schedule rings/rays). As the list is quite long and will take some time to reach those towards the end of the list - can we please keep the book for a short a time as possible say, approx 1 month max as a guideline.
Oh, and enjoy reading this (the most important part!)
Thanks.
29/06/07 - Have Rossella05's address but delaying posting as UK has a one day postal strike today and I am wary of this package getting lost in the backlog. Will leave it a few days to let things clear a bit.
Posted today to Rosella05 to start ray off. Hope you all enjoy:-)
Arrived this morning, thanks Jinglefish. This is one of two bookrings I will be taking on holiday with me on Monday. I'll comment on it and send it on to the next participant when I get back at the end of the month.
Sorry for the delay guys, after coming back from holiday I found out I had to move and didn't have access to the internet for a month. I enjoyed this fast-paced, modern mystery/ghost story very much although I guessed the ending half way through the book. I posted it to nawoo82 yesterday. Thanks for sharing Jinglefish!
Received it yesterday. I'm about to finish my current read so I'll start on this one pretty soon.
Thanks Jinglefish and Rossella!
Thanks Jinglefish and Rossella!
This is the story of Hideo, 48 years old and recently divorced, living alone in an offices building. His life takes on a very strange turn the day he meets 2 strangers looking exactly like his long dead parents at the time of their death. Are they ghosts? a trick of his mind, or just an extraordinary coincidence?
I have read this book in only 2 evenings, which is quite surprising for me. But the story is so captivating and fast-paced, quite easy to read, that it's the kind of book one can read in one go.
It's a spooky story but in an entertaining kind of way. I am not much for horror stories (whether they be books or movies) but I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks a lot Jinglefish for organising this bookring and giving me the occasion to read a book and discover an author I would have never known otherwise.
I have madmadge's address so I'll post the book on Monday.
I have read this book in only 2 evenings, which is quite surprising for me. But the story is so captivating and fast-paced, quite easy to read, that it's the kind of book one can read in one go.
It's a spooky story but in an entertaining kind of way. I am not much for horror stories (whether they be books or movies) but I really enjoyed this one.
Thanks a lot Jinglefish for organising this bookring and giving me the occasion to read a book and discover an author I would have never known otherwise.
I have madmadge's address so I'll post the book on Monday.
Arrived today. Thank you jinglefish for including me. I will read it as quickly as possible and pass it on. Looks intriguing.
I just couldn't put this book down. Not at all the type I usually read and it gave me the shivers sometimes but I enjoyed it very much. The way I saw it was that Harada 'saw' his parents because he conjured them up in his mind and, at that particular stage in his life, needed to see them. It was quite a sad story and very readable. I'm PMing the next on the list and will send it on soon.
It's on its way to pinkydinky!
It's on its way to pinkydinky!
An enjoyable read. Like rossella05, I also guessed what would happen in the end. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read it.
I have themadjock's details and will post it when the postal strike finishes next week.
Posted today 10/10/07
Posted today 10/10/07
Arrived today, thank you - should start within the week.
Not the sort of book I normally read, but still very enjoyable. I did however, think the translation in a few bits wasn't perfect, although this didn't detract from the interesting story.
Posted today to LindyLouMac.
Posted today to LindyLouMac.
Arrived safely having taken a little longer than recent parcels. With thanks to jinglefish for including me in this ray and themadjock for mailing to me. I have two titles that I need to read first, however I am not a slow reader so will not hold up this titles travels.
A good read for my 100th title this year. A moving short novel, only 200 pages, translated from its original Japanese.
It is a strangely moving ‘ghost story’ the protagonist is recently divorced Hideo Harada, a scriptwriter for television. Already somewhat disillusioned with life and feeling lonely, he discovers that one of his closest work associates, friend even, Mamaiya is involved with his ex-wife Ayako. Is it therefore his depressed mood that leads him into the eerie relationships with his long dead parents and his young neighbour Katsura, also know as Kei.
As the tale progresses it seems that Hideo's life blood is draining away, but just in time help comes from an unexpected source.
I actually found it captivating and ‘ghost stories’ are not a genre I am normally interested in. Unlike some of the other reviews I have read I did not anticipate it to turn out quite as it did!
This haunting tale is to be recommended.
It is a strangely moving ‘ghost story’ the protagonist is recently divorced Hideo Harada, a scriptwriter for television. Already somewhat disillusioned with life and feeling lonely, he discovers that one of his closest work associates, friend even, Mamaiya is involved with his ex-wife Ayako. Is it therefore his depressed mood that leads him into the eerie relationships with his long dead parents and his young neighbour Katsura, also know as Kei.
As the tale progresses it seems that Hideo's life blood is draining away, but just in time help comes from an unexpected source.
I actually found it captivating and ‘ghost stories’ are not a genre I am normally interested in. Unlike some of the other reviews I have read I did not anticipate it to turn out quite as it did!
This haunting tale is to be recommended.
Journal Entry 18 by LindyLouMac at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Sunday, November 18, 2007
Released 16 yrs ago (11/19/2007 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
En route to France in the next stage of the many thousands of miles this little book is due to travel!
En route to France in the next stage of the many thousands of miles this little book is due to travel!
Journal Entry 19 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Sunday, November 25, 2007
Book received today, thanks for passing it on LindyLouMac! And thanks for hosting this ray JingleFish:-]
Journal Entry 20 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Monday, December 3, 2007
I just love Japanese literature! Everytime I read a book by a Japanese author, no matter what the genre or theme, I'm absolutely enchanted, which was definitely the case here:) I don't what I liked most here, the writing style, the atmosphere, the characters... I just loved it all:) Now I can't wait to read another book by Taichi Yamada, and have already added In Search of a Distant Voice to my wishlist:)
Thanks so much for sharing this book with us JingleFish!!
I'll send the book to shimi as soon as she confirms her address.
Thanks so much for sharing this book with us JingleFish!!
I'll send the book to shimi as soon as she confirms her address.
Journal Entry 21 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Wednesday, December 5, 2007
This book has arrived safely in my mailbox today! Thanks chich, and thanks for sharing, Jinglefish!
I have a couple of books in line before this one, but should get started on it soonishly anyway! :)
I have a couple of books in line before this one, but should get started on it soonishly anyway! :)
I really enjoyed this book! Particularly being able to stroll around the neighbourhoods of Tokyo with main character Hideo, reminiscing the atmosphere I experienced when I was there myself earlier this year. :) The book itself is fast-paced and mysterious, and made me think about dealing with change in life.
Thanks for sharing, Jinglefish!
Off to LeishaCamden shortly, I'll just check if she's ready to receive the book first.
Thanks for sharing, Jinglefish!
Off to LeishaCamden shortly, I'll just check if she's ready to receive the book first.
Mailed to LeishaCamden 24.12.07.
This was in my mailbox when I got home from work today. Yay! :-) I love the look of it (design is important to me in books, may be shallow of me, but there you go) and reading what everyone has had to say about it so far I am quite intrigued. I'll read the book soon and will journal again when I have done so.
I finished this book yesterday (started on Sunday, January 6th). Not sure why such a short book took me so relatively long to read. RL committments got in the way a little, I guess ... because every time I picked it up I was really intrigued by the story. I did not guess how the story would end until right before it actually happened ... but then again I hardly ever guess these things. :-) I enjoyed the book a lot, it was well written (but not too well translated) and in an understated style that I thought was very Japanese :-) and very well suited both to the story and to the main character.I'm not sure how much I can really add to what everyone else has already said. This is a book well worth reading for fans of Asian literature and of understated ghost stories. Horror fans might be disappointed by the lack of blood and gore ;-) but I very much enjoyed this book which demands a little more of its readers than your average horror novel.
Fun factoid not yet mentioned: While this book has the exact same cover picture as the one shown above, it's not in the same color scheme. The one shown is done in blue tones whereas this copy of the book is in brownish yellow tones. I wonder how many other versions they've done ... ? ;-)
Thanks for sharing, Jinglefish! I will get the book off to LESEHEST in Trondheim as soon as I've confirmed her address.
Journal Entry 27 by 
LeishaCamden
at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, February 5, 2008
LeishaCamden at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (2/5/2008 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
*Finally* this book is on its way to LESEHEST in Trondheim!! Jinglefish, I'm so sorry for keeping it so long ... I am so slow sometimes ... I had some other books to send to LESEHEST and also a DVD I had to finish to send along in the package, but it still has taken way too long. :-( Better late than never, I hope ... and I hope that LESEHEST as well as the other readers in this ray will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Thank you again for sharing ... ! :-)
*Finally* this book is on its way to LESEHEST in Trondheim!! Jinglefish, I'm so sorry for keeping it so long ... I am so slow sometimes ... I had some other books to send to LESEHEST and also a DVD I had to finish to send along in the package, but it still has taken way too long. :-( Better late than never, I hope ... and I hope that LESEHEST as well as the other readers in this ray will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Thank you again for sharing ... ! :-)
Journal Entry 28 by LESEHEST from Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag fylke Norway on Monday, February 11, 2008
Thanks for sharing, Jinglefish!!
Will start reading this book right away...
Will start reading this book right away...
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was kind of creapy at the end.
Some people asked to be skipped
PM'd Goddess-Of-Fire for address today
Some people asked to be skipped
PM'd Goddess-Of-Fire for address today
Am sending this book to Goddess-Of-Fire today...
Safe journey!!
Safe journey!!
This book arrived while I was away on Spring Break and I've only just now got it back from the people who picked up my mail. Sorry for the delay, I'll start reading it immediately.
Thanks!
Thanks!
This book was fun, I thought it was a little predictable in parts, but I loved the tone and eeriness of it.
Thanks for sharing! :)
Sent off to Kimmi
Thanks for sharing! :)
Sent off to Kimmi
Received, read and ready to go!
This is the second book by a Japanese author that I have read and I don't think that Japanese writing is my style. I find it very sparse somehow. Probably a gross generalization and it is just the two authors that I have read!
This was an interesting story and a fast read. Thanks for sharing!
This is the second book by a Japanese author that I have read and I don't think that Japanese writing is my style. I find it very sparse somehow. Probably a gross generalization and it is just the two authors that I have read!
This was an interesting story and a fast read. Thanks for sharing!
Received today! It shouldn't be too long before I start it.
It is a slightly eerie, but fascinating story in which the feeling of isolation plays a big part. Yamada is a Japanese author which I did not know before, but now I rather feel like reading more books by him. Thanks for offering it as a ray, Jinglefish!
Edit on Aug. 3 - No reply from Izzati, so I PM'd the next person in line, bearyfriend. Book sent on Aug. 7.
Edit on Aug. 3 - No reply from Izzati, so I PM'd the next person in line, bearyfriend. Book sent on Aug. 7.
2 packages arrived in my mailbox and this is one of them. I'm in the midst of another ray book, will try my best to get this read soonest I can.
Have enjoyed reading this spooky ghost story - about the living's encounter with the spirit world. I don't think it's complete hallucination or even dreams. There are strange things that cannot be explained by Science, so like some people said if one's luck is low then he might see things which others don't see.
This reminds me of a Japanese animation "Spirited Away" I'd watched, about how a family of 3 stumbles into the spirit world during a move to a new town.
Thanks for sharing, Jinglefish. I'm glad I got the chance to read this.
silvia-pco asked to be skipped, so have sent pm to the next person.
This reminds me of a Japanese animation "Spirited Away" I'd watched, about how a family of 3 stumbles into the spirit world during a move to a new town.
Thanks for sharing, Jinglefish. I'm glad I got the chance to read this.
silvia-pco asked to be skipped, so have sent pm to the next person.
Off to Bookworm-lady today. silvia-pco asked to be skipped.
This book was waiting for me last evening, when I arrived home from work...
Quite a surprise, it must have been one of the first bookrays I signed up for... and it is finally here, after a long trip!
Thanks for sending it all the way from Singapore, Bearyfriend!
And thanks for sharing it, Jinglefish... it won't go "into the unknown" :)
Eva
Quite a surprise, it must have been one of the first bookrays I signed up for... and it is finally here, after a long trip!
Thanks for sending it all the way from Singapore, Bearyfriend!
And thanks for sharing it, Jinglefish... it won't go "into the unknown" :)
Eva
I am currently reading it; quite interesting, an eerie atmosphere!
I am last in the bookray, but I am already planning a surprise RABCK... ;)
Thanks for sharing, Jinglefish!
Eva
I am last in the bookray, but I am already planning a surprise RABCK... ;)
Thanks for sharing, Jinglefish!
Eva
A traditional Japanese horror story, I loved it!I read many horror stories, and this one had me guessing until the end...
A quotation:
"During the years of my marriage, everything I did had been influenced in one way or another by my wife. Even when she didn't try to tell me what I could or couldn't do, somewhere in the back of my mind I was forever considering how I would explain my actions to her. That constraint remained with me for a time even after my divorce, and I can still remember the amazing sense of emancipation I felt one day when all of a sudden I realized that what I chose to do was now nobody's business but my own."
A very good translation into English, by the way.
Thanks for sharing it with me, it will soon be on its way as a RABCK surprise for someone who has it in its WishList...
Journal Entry 42 by 
Bookworm-lady
at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Bookworm-lady at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (2/16/2009 UTC) at By Mail, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent last evening as a Surprise RABCK to AliceF, in Coventry, who has this book in her WishList.
Surprise, surprise! :)
Enjoy...
Eva
Sent last evening as a Surprise RABCK to AliceF, in Coventry, who has this book in her WishList.
Surprise, surprise! :)
Enjoy...
Eva
Journal Entry 43 by ARTurner from Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, February 19, 2009
Gratefully received by post today from Bookworm-lady... and my birthday's next week, too! Thank you!
Journal Entry 44 by ARTurner at Coventry, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Fascinating to read a creepy ghost story in the context of a culture where spirits are taken more for granted than in ours. I do love the Japanese voice.
This will be going into a book box I'm setting up of novels by Japanese authors.
This will be going into a book box I'm setting up of novels by Japanese authors.
