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I had to read the book immediately Meg! And it was worth it.

A young girl starts a darkly sexual relationship with a much older man. It might be SM or abuse and it‘s very explicit. Yet it never feels vulgar because of the way Ogawa portraits each character. So much is left for interpretation an it will linger with me for a while. Unsettling!

(Photo: Barolo vineyard, Piemonte, Italy)

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This darkly erotic novel is a great place to end my #AuthorAMonth journey this year. I 💯 prefer Ogawa in print.

Late one night, a sex worker comes screaming out of a man‘s room. The daughter of the hotel owner becomes entranced by this and seeks out the man. What follows is a dark sexual relationship that crossed the line into abuse at times, imo, but left me with space to consider why each party acted the way they did. Thought provoking!

Helen many thanks for these 2 lovely books... I love both authors 👍🏻❤️... and my favorite chocolate salted butterscotch & and maple syrup.. already open .. I appreciate your kindness, thanks so much friend XXX Cathy.

#3books #thatmademeuncomfortable

I won‘t say why here because it‘s best you dive into these books without prior knowledge. But you may want to check out reviews for trigger warnings.

Now I see how this novel is not for everyone. I‘m still trying to come to terms with how I finally feel about it. The story of a repressive young girl who found herself in an abusive-sadistic relationship with a much older man. Warning, some scenes are explicit, degrading, and uncomfortable to read but never vulgar. It‘s like you can‘t turn your eyes away from an accident scene. Ogawa‘s writing is evocative. 👇

Creepy, disturbing yet interesting. I liked the storyline and the pace. But especially how it ended. It's a weird story of an affair between a 17 year old girl and a mysterious 67 year old Russian translator. The things he makes her do are pretty disturbing although she seems to like them. And then she meets another person who is important to the translator and things take a turn. If you like weird stories do read this one! 3.5/4

"Hotel Iris" is a novella that's opened a whole world of literature to me. Translated from Japanese, Ogawa tells a difficult story in a beautifully simply way. It may not be for everyone, & I know that this kind of book is always going to receive mixed reviews due to its tricky subject matter, but the writing style is right up my street & I personally can't wait to read more.

As usual you can see more of what I thought of this book on my blog ?

#riotgrams #shelfie #DiverseBooks #librarybooks
Some of my choices for #Poc prompt... Finally decided to read Ogawa as part of my #readingresolution to read own books. But I didn't include this title for #Booked2018

I had tweeted my musing about labels & categories. Just me thinking aloud & would love to know your view.
https://twitter.com/k_santhi/status/958601297749409793

Not as appealing as her heartwarming, The Housekeeper & The Professor. The erotica that derives pleasure from pain was tastefully written, with atmospheric details.
Glad to have completed this #novella (2+1 own book #readingResolution ), which included silhouettes of infidelity as well for
#LitWorld2018GB - Japan #LitsyPassport
Also suitable for unconventional romance for #Booked2018 #readingWomen

Have you read this book? Your thoughts on it? #bookblog #hoteliris #bookish #booklover

Mantel is right.

So...I picked this book up without knowing anything about it, because I read and adored The Housekeeper and the Professor. I finished it because I still have a hard time bailing, and because the writing is incredibly beautiful and evocative. But...whoa, was that disturbing. I'm rating as so-so because I honestly don't know how I feel about it yet!

@BookishFeminist @LitsyFeministBookClub I think my favorite Asian author so far is Yoko Ogawa, and favorite book Hotel Iris. It was weird in all the good ways, and not easily forgotten.

#somethingforseptember Here are a few of my books by #poc. The Chinese language books actually belong to my husband, but I like the look of them so they are included even though I can't really read them myself.