JapaneseLiterature

The Kamogawa Food Detectives: The Heartwarming Japanese Bestseller | Hisashi Kashiwai

pick

One of my new favorite books! I found this book touching and beautiful, but I can see where maybe some of the translation didn‘t catch the nuance for people who aren‘t Japanese/very familiar with Japanese culture.
A retired detective runs a restaurant with his daughter. They also run a special agency that will recreate a meal.
5/5 read this for lovely descriptions of food and the power it has to change people.

AnnCrystal 😍💕🐕‍🦺💝. 9h

21 likes1 stack add1 comment

MicheleinPhilly

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

Camping supplies coming in. And a couple of extras just because. #CampLitsy #bookmail

TrishB Good choices 👍🏻 13h

Librarybelle I loved Watermelon! 13h

AmyG Ha, I went shopping too…e-shopping. 12h

See All 6 Comments

Ruthiella You have to be prepared for all eventualities! 11h

BarbaraBB Camping supplies 🤣🤣 10h

squirrelbrain Well, you need books to read at camp under the covers with a flashlight! 🔦 10h

45 likes6 comments

yourfavouritemixtape

The Kamogawa Food Detectives: The Heartwarming Japanese Bestseller | Hisashi Kashiwai

pick

Found this in search of #Camplitsy nominees. It‘s also this month‘s #bookspin.

Despite the title, this is not a crime story. People go to this restaurant to find that one special meal from their life. It felt very japanese. I liked the pace and found the detuction fascinating. I would have enjoyed it even more if I knew more about japanese food.

12 likes

Lesliereadsalot

The Master Key | Masako Togawa

pick

Finally got around to this little gem of a Japanese mystery written in 1962. Lots of neurotic old ladies living in the K Apartments for Ladies in post-war Japan, many with secrets. Really interesting twists at the end that I didn‘t see coming. A little hard to keep all the names straight as they all sound similar!

vivastory

vivastory Glad that you liked this one. I also really liked Togawa's other book also pub by Pushkin

The Lady Killer

batsy I really enjoyed this one, too! 7d

20 likes2 comments

Chittavrtti

The Master of Go | Yasunari Kawabata

2 likes2 stack adds

BarbaraJean

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

Waaaait, not yet!! I need this for June, not May!! #CampLitsy24 #LibraryProblems

monkeygirlsmama I've been stuck on hold for this one myself. Better get it while the gettin's good. LoL 1w

BarbaraJean @monkeygirlsmama Hahaha—I know, right?! The same kind of thing happened with Clear—I already had it checked out when it was picked for Camp Litsy. I went ahead and read it because the odds of it coming around again in time are too slim! 1w

Kitta I might not get my library hold for this in time!! I think last I checked it said 20 weeks 😬 I might have to buy a copy. 1w

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BarbaraJean @Kitta The hold lists were VASTLY different between print copies and digital in my library system. The ebook and audio versions both had a 20-ish week wait, but when I put a hold on the print copy I was 3rd in line! Wish I could lend this library print copy your way 🙃 (edited) 1w

Ruthiella Just take good notes! 😂 Holds are insane - you never know when a forecasted 10 week wait turns into to pick up tomorrow! 1w

BarbaraJean @Ruthiella I know, right?! So often, I put a book on hold expressly because the wait is so long and I'll have time to clear some other holds before it arrives. Then it's suddenly ready before I am!! 6d

36 likes6 comments

Abailliekaras

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

so-so

I liked this but didn‘t love it as much as I wanted to. It was sold as a novel of food & murder but it‘s really about journalist Rika navigating work, friendships and society‘s expectations of women in Japan. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of food & her life in Tokyo & the unexpected turns the characters take. But it became repetitive & was more a coming of age than a suspenseful mystery. Authentic & thought-provoking but too long.

BarbaraBB Oooh that‘s disappointing. We‘re going to read this for #CampLitsy24 and my expectations are high - just like yours. We‘ll see! 2w

sarahbarnes What @BarbaraBB said - I‘ve been looking forward to this one, too; disappointed to see it didn‘t meet your expectations. 2w

Abailliekaras @BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes we did it on the podcast and Annie loved it, so I might be in the minority! 1w

Cathythoughts Oh dear, I just got this one. Fingers crossed… 1w

Abailliekaras @Cathythoughts I‘m sure you‘ll love it! The food is 🔥 1w

29 likes5 comments

Sace

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

I got so excited when I saw Butter was on Hoopla. I‘m so disappointed. I wish I understood the workings of Hoopla and my library. I don‘t know that we have enough…ANY German speakers in my area for there to be the German language audio.

Will I be forced to buy a copy so I can pretend to participate in #CampLitsy2024?

Prairiegirl_reading 😲 I would be sooo mad!!!! 2w

Sace @Prairiegirl_reading and it‘s the only option. The library doesn‘t even have it. How odd that this random German language audio book is the one offering. 2w

TheKidUpstairs I did the same today! It's so weird... 2w

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Sace @TheKidUpstairs Wait…so your hoopla only has the German version too? 🤔 2w

TheKidUpstairs @Sace yup, mine too! 2w

Sace So unfair! *pout* I‘m probably going to end up buying it. It sounds so interesting. 2w

TheKidUpstairs @Sace I'm thinking I'll end up buying the digital copy (hardcover is just too expensive!). One of the libraries o belong to has a physical copy, but I'm 7th on the list so I doubt it'll get to me in time. 2w

Sace @TheKidUpstairs I‘m torn between kindle and paperback. The kindle is less expensive but I do love reading physical books. 2w

CBee I just looked at my Hoopla and the one I found is in German too 😂😂 2w

BarbaraJean Same here--my Hoopla only has the German audio version. It must be something to do with what rights are available where at this point (and for how much)! My library does have audio and ebook versions available (through Libby/Overdrive)--but there's a 24-week wait on the audio and a 22-week wait on the ebook. 🙄 I'm 2nd in line for the print version, though! 🎉 (edited) 2w

Sace @CBee Really wishing I had taken more German classes in college! (edited) 2w

Sace @BarbaraJean it‘s funny how physical copies have shorter wait times. My daughter has had similar experiences with her library. 2w

Chelsea.Poole Hi all @CBee @Sace @TheKidUpstairs @BarbaraJean — librarian here 👋 the way hoopla works for most libraries: there‘s an Instant Borrow catalog which borrowers have access to: anything at all on the platform (unless your library suppresses certain titles/formats/$/etc) Certain publishers work with hoopla to allow their titles to be sold there. Libraries do *not* select certain titles for that platform like Libby/the physical library. More ⬇️ 2w

Chelsea.Poole So there ends up being random stuff there that wouldn‘t be of local interest to your library system, but since it‘s a part of the offerings from the publishers hoopla works with, it shows up in the catalog. Theres really great titles there but also some low quality content that comes along with it. Also, there is a new program hoopla offers called “flex titles” where libraries can purchase titles but users have to wait for them like Libby. 2w

Sace @Chelsea.Poole thanks for the explanation! 2w

CBee @Sace my hubby speaks German. I‘ll have him read it and translate 😂😂 2w

CBee @Chelsea.Poole thank you ♥️ 2w

Sace @CBee I am jealous! 🤣 2w

Chelsea.Poole @CBee record him—audio for us English speakers lol. 2w

CBee @Chelsea.Poole haha he would look at me like I was crazy if I asked him 😂😂 He isn‘t much of a reader these days. 2w

CBee @Sace he‘s pretty cool ♥️ 2w

julesG I should get hoopla. 😬 2w

Sace @julesG yes. And then record a translation for us 🤣 🤣 🤣. 2w

Suet624 Thanks for the explanation @Chelsea.Poole 2w

julesG It would be easier to just read the eBook out loud. 😉😉 2w

42 likes25 comments

peanutnine

The Goodbye Cat | Hiro Arikawa

pick

If the title doesn't warn you, bring out the tissues 🥹 Our bookclub loved the Travelling Cat Chronicles and decided to read this book of short stories by the same author. It was nice to visit with a few cats and their families, including some familiar faces. The POV switched between cats & humans and each story had a unique premise
🐱💖

38 likes1 stack add

pdxannie

Tokyo Ueno Station: A Novel | Yu Miri

so-so

This book is beautiful when you get accustomed to the cadence. I think it‘s going to stay with me a long time and at some point, I‘m sure I‘ll flip this to a pick.

3 likes

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