Journal Entry 1 by AgdaAgulina from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Saturday, March 31, 2007

"In these six stories Yoshimoto masterfully explores themes of time, healing and fate, and how her urban, sophisticated, independent young men and women come to terms with them. Her characters find themselves caught in emotional webs that they often fail to understand, but they discover themselves and reinvent themselves through the power of the stories they tell."

I have enjoyed the books by Yoshimoto a lot earlier (and actually I found her only thanks to bookcrossing!!) and here is one more. This is a collection of short stories, maybe not so strong as previous books I have read from her, but definetely still good reading!  

Journal Entry 2 by AgdaAgulina from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Thursday, April 19, 2007

Lizard is going to be my first book-ring! Somehow it feels so exciting to put a book to travel instead of myself - in hope of it returning one day. I offered the book to finnish bookcrossers, and so far the ring looks like this:

marja-leena
Tintti
Aspen72 

Journal Entry 3 by AgdaAgulina at By mail in By mail, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Monday, April 30, 2007

Released 5 yrs ago (4/30/2007 UTC) at By mail in By mail, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

And here the bookring starts... send to Finland, to marja-leena today! Enjoy the Lizard. 

Journal Entry 4 by marja-leena from Oulu, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa Finland on Thursday, May 03, 2007

The lizard arrived today sound and safe (it was registered mail) to Oulu. A cool book marker! Thank you, AgdaAqulina. 

Journal Entry 5 by marja-leena from Oulu, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa Finland on Monday, May 21, 2007

I enjoyed the book alots. Thank you for sharing it! I liked "the Kitchen" as well and i am turning into a fan of Banana Yoshimoto. Or maybe one of the Japanese Culture that I am still not too familiar with. I do not know which part of the strangeness that appeals to me in the book is just regular Japanese and which part reflects Yoshimoto's talent.The stories are really good anyways!

The book is leaving today to Tintti.
 

Journal Entry 6 by Tintti from Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Finland on Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Journal Entry 7 by Tintti from Jyväskylä, Keski-Suomi Finland on Monday, May 28, 2007

I enjoyed there stories, too. I don't know how Yoshimoto does it - nothing much happens in her stories, but they always have that special atmosphere.

I can't name a favourite story from this collection, I liked them all. I love the idea of serializing Newlyweds on posters aboard trains. What a great way to spread literature, and the story is just perfect for a train ride.

Thanks for organizing this tiny ring, AgdaAgulina!

Edit June 4th: Aspen72 asked to join the ring, so I'm sending the book to her next. 

Journal Entry 8 by AspenYard from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Book arrived yesterday.

I've seen couple of times in the kiosk nearby a book of learning Japanese easily. Book has manga-pictures and has quite simple and effective approach; meant for children. I think I should go and buy it, in order to study the front cover "words" :) Actually I've promised myself to buy it if it still exists when I'll drop by next time.

Thanks for this ring, hope to read this soon - luckyly book is quite thin.
 

Journal Entry 9 by AspenYard from Turku, Varsinais-Suomi Finland on Monday, June 25, 2007

I enjoyed these stories and the thoughts the author has been sharing through these stories - I've been thinking issues like intuition, telepathy, healing etc. quite much. All the persons in these stories were independent and different, and stories were kind of "full" - nothing was missing, each thought was logical and had sense. Even though at some point stories were psychologically quite extreme. This book had kind of healing effect on me and made me think - even though I don't find so straightforward meaning of my past as those persons in stories :)
 

Journal Entry 10 by AspenYard at AgdaAgulina in Helsinki, BookCrosser -- Controlled Releases on Friday, July 06, 2007

Released 4 yrs ago (7/6/2007 UTC) at AgdaAgulina in Helsinki, BookCrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Lizard is returning home.
Thanks again for arranging this ring. It was nice to get to know this author. 

Journal Entry 11 by AgdaAgulina from Helsinki, Uusimaa Finland on Monday, July 16, 2007

And the Lizard is back home! I would really like to thank all of you, who participated my very first ring. Kiitos. Now I will read it again, and then let it lizard itself on.

I'm happy to find out that you liked Yoshimoto, there is some more to come... I'll try to release Amrita as a ring or ray in autumn.