I got this book from a generous Brooklyn FreeCycler specifically to share
with others through BookCrossing.com.

Welcome and Congratulations!
You've not only found a book, but also a wonderful community of readers and book lovers who think our books should be "out there," not gathering dust on our shelves. We register our books at BookCrossing.com so we can keep up with where they go, who reads them, and what people think of them. We release books "into the wild," trade books, and discuss all things bookish on our forums.

If you like the BookCrossing concept, you might want to register a screen name (no one is ever given your e-mail address), so that you can keep up with this book, and maybe release others. Or you can journal this book as Anonymous Finder. It's all perfectly safe, confidential, fascinating, and fun. If you do join, please tell the BookCrossing powers that be, that MarysGirl sent you their way.

This book is now yours to do with as you wish, but I hope choose to pass it on.

Thanks and Happy “Crossings!”
MarysGirl

"Snow Countryis a work of beauty and strangeness, one of the most distinguished and moving Japanese novels to have appeared in this country." --New York Hearald Tribune

"Beautifully economical....The haiku works entirely by implications; so, in this novel, using the same delicate glancing technique, Mr. Kawabata probes a complicated human relationship." --The times Literary Supplement (London)

From the back:

"With the brushstroke suggestiveness and astonishing grasp of motive that won him the Nobel Prize for Literature, Yasunari Kawabata tells a story of wasted love set amide the desolate beauty of western Japan, the snowiest region on earth. It is there, at an isolated mountain hotspring, that the wealthy sophisticate Shimamura meets the geisha Komako, who gives herself to him without regrets, knowing that their passion cannot last."

My review: This is a highly stylistic book, beautifully written. It was originally published in installments and shows in its episodic nature. Kawabata paints a poignant picture with spare words, so it's a quick read. But it's also difficult read. If you skim over the surface of the text, not much happens. You have to read deep and think about the word pictures for the true genius of the work to shine through.

This book is not for everyone, but I enjoyed it.

This book is going on a journey. Here's the line up so far:

1. Rosella05 - UK
2. PepeLePew - Bosnia-Herzegovina
3. Bug2004 - US <--HERE

The usual ray etiquette applies:
1. journal when you receive the book, again when you’ve finished and when
you send it on
2. because this one is short, please try to keep the book no longer than 2
– 3 weeks
3. check the list posted in the journal before asking for the next
person’s address – there might be changes, but that will always have
the most up-to-date line up
4. if the next person on the list doesn’t get back to you in a timely
manner, contact the person after that for their address and let me know of
the change
5. the last person in the ray gets to dispose of the book as they wish
6. Enjoy the book!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This is on its first leg of the ray - off to the UK. Hope you enjoy it!

Arrived this morning, thank you MarysGirl. The bookcrossing postcard is lovely, I'll use it for wild releases. I'm half way through my current read, yours is next. It will be my first book by this author, I'm looking forward to it.

An intense and challenging read, I sometimes found myself reading the same page three or four times, but the book was so beautifully written that I didn't mind at all. I knew the word pictures were significant, I wasn't always sure of what, and I felt I 'owed' it to the author to try to interpret them as best as I could. I also wasn't familiar with the haiku style of writing and it took me a while to get used to it. I want to read this book again in the near future, I sense there is much more there to appreciate and discover. Despite these difficulties I still consider this first reading a rewarding experience. Thank you for sharing this great novel with me, I really loved it. One of my favorite lines from the book: The labor into which a heart has poured its whole love–where will it have its say, to excite and inspire, and when? (page 157). I have Pepe's address and will be going to the post office at the end of the week.

Arrived safely today. I'll start reading this on weekend, I have to much to do right now. Thanks for sending it so quickly, Rosella and thanks for sharing MarysGirl :)

Very challenging read, but highly satisfactory. The book reads almost like a poem and the descriptions were enchanting - you could see every scene in front of you, like a painting. Beautiful. I agree with Rossella, this book deserves more than one reading. Thank you for sharing MarysGirl.

I'm still waiting for the Bug2004 to contact me and then the book will be on its way :)

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to Bug2004 today :) Hope it gets there all right.

Arrived safely.