Translated by Jay Rubin.

A book whose acquaintance I am very happy to make. Although a translation can only give a faint idea of what these stories' reputation for stylistic mastery is based on, their bitter irony and narrative economy appeals to me. I think the title story will stick in my head for a long time. (A bit confusingly, that's not the one Kurosawa's movie "Rashomon" is based on, but another, "In a Bamboo Grove".) I have read maybe half of the stories; I'm sure I'll return to the book and read more another time. I was impressed by "The Story of a Head That Fell Off", "Green Onions", "The Writer's Craft", and others.

For the 1001 library.

Thanks so much for your donation Vasha!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

Reserved to send to the Netherlands in an m-bag.

Added to a box of books mailed to Europe.

I'm very happy to be able to read this book. I'm very fond of Haruki Murakami and other Japanese authors, so it is a great opportunity to be able to read a work from another famous Japanese author.
Thank you!

Luckily for me, Rashomon is the first story in this book. I can say completely honest now, that I have read the part of the book what it is all about, the story from the 1001-list.
There are, however, another 17 stories to be read, and the comprehensive back ground information. I will get to that too, but will cut it in chunks.

Liked Rashomon: a short story about a servant, whose master let him go and who is now waiting in an uncomfortable shelter until the rain stops. He meets a woman who profanes the bodies that are left nearby. He talks to her and then reaches his own conclusion.

I am making it available again, but will not put it back on the 1001-shelf until I've read the whole book (or as much as I can get through).

I donated this book to soffitta1's EU 1001-VBB. Now it is on its way to Danielle23, who requested it.
It is travelling together with The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. I hope they arrive safe and soon :-)

I liked both books, I hope you do too! And there's two more to tick off the list ;-)

The book has arrived safe and sound. It's such a beautiful book that was awaiting me today when I got in from work and while I was waiting for the laptop to load up I read the title story.

Rashomon was a powerful story about a dismissed servant with no where to go and who is trying to make a difficult choice about how to live his life in the present and the future. The old crone he finds is instantly frightening and abhorrent in what she is doing but she gained my sympathy, and he my disgust, with what followed in the story. Very short but I feel this will stay with me a while.

Like others before me, I won't yet make this available to other library members until I read through the other stories. They seem too unique and powerful to just pass by. Thank you so much for sending this my way Boekentrol xx