Welcome to Litsy!

A slightly bittersweet story of companionship and love. Written in the quirky, quiet style that I love about Japanese fiction. Great descriptions of food and lots of great non sequiturs and frank dialogue. And a lovely story as well. I really enjoyed it. Book 2 for #10BeforeTheEnd.

Got to 70%. I guess, with such a short book, I could have carried on but, you know what, I just didn‘t care. Across 3 pages in this dull romance, a scene was, I think, set on a beach, then suddenly they were in a room. I either missed the transition because I was bored or it went surreal. That made me think it was going to be “all a dream” or the narrator is in a coma or some such rubbish. If it‘s neither, I predict the novel fizzles out.

#12Booksof2023 #November

This is not my normal type of read. There isn‘t really a plot. It‘s just quiet and lovely and I‘m glad I read it.

This was my pick for author from Japan for my IRL book club for November. I loved it. A former student, 37 years old now, runs into her teacher and companionship and love blossoms between them. This was just such a quiet and lovely read.

That‘s a wrap for November reviews. 🙂

An easy, simple, genuine, kind of love.

#MayMontage Day 13: These two books fit the #150To225Pages prompt - while I own tagged book, I have yet to find the other one. @bookriot actually did a pretty good job curating a list of books under 200 pages here: https://bookriot.com/best-books-under-200-pages/amp/

On my 3rd book for this year's Asian Readathon. 🙌🏻 I hope I'll love this a lot more than The Nakano Thrift Shop. 🤞🏻

I am posting one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join in if you want!

#ABookADay2023

#TemptingTitles #April2023
Day 4: #WithAWeatherWord

#photochallenges #weather #Japan #Tokyo #Japaneseliterature #translatedliterature
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

At times, I thought the relationship between Tsukiko and Sensei was one sided (Tsukiko putting in most of the effort). I very much enjoyed this placid novel, and enjoyed the quirky relationship between the unlikely couple. I really loved the vivid imagery the chapters set (reading about foraging mushrooms in the mountains was such a delight). Would recommend 👍🏼

Just started reading this one last night :) pretty interesting so far. I‘m loving the relationship development between Tsukiko and Sensei.

So there's an exception: I don't like Japanese contemporary romance. (But I do like romance in my manga.)
Maybe it's the translation but I also didn't like the writing style. It's a short book but I had a hard time getting into it. The long chapters didn't help.
This was a little funny, though—that, I liked.

In loneliness I have drifted this long way, alone. My torn and shabby robe could not keep out the cold. And tonight the sky was so clear it made my heart ache all the more.

I, on the other hand, still might not be considered a proper grown-up. I had been very much the adult when I was in elementary school. But as I continued on through junior high and high school, on the contrary, I became less grown-up. And then as the years passed, I turned into quite a childlike person. I suppose I just wasn‘t able to ally myself with time.

Picture Credits: literature and trees on tumblr

A re-read which is rare for me but loved it as much as the first time

Such a quick read, msybe sitting in the sunshine helped 🕶🕶⚘🌷.
Liked this a lot and found the oddness strangely rewarding.

Wanted to read this for ages, then, found a copy!

A will they or won't they tale of an ex student and her teacher (sensei).

I found myself not really caring whether they got together or not.

I also found myself picturing Martin Kove from Karate Kid as the teacher (the only sensei I know) 😄

In the end, a forgettable book.

Enjoyable read exploring the friendship, later in life between a teacher and student as it develops into love. Beautifully written with genuine, flawed characters.

I just can't stay away from @suvata 's #LMPBC. I love this book club. And I am partial to #GroupW.
I started a new Round 14 group for books by a Japanese author and/or set in Japan.
Is anyone interested in joining me?

Details and sign up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080444AEAD2CA0FF2-litsy14

2022 Read Harder Challenge
#7: Read a romance where at least one of the protagonists is over 40

Book mail! Excited to read these three books in translation.

“It grows because you plant it....That‘s how love is. If the love is true, then treat it the same way you would a plant—fertilize it, protect it from the elements—you must do absolutely everything you can. But if it isn‘t true, then it‘s best to just let it wither on the vine.”

"I find something quite carefree about the days around the winter solstice, when the daylight is so brief it seems like it‘s chasing you."

"A person can learn all manner of things, no matter where he finds himself, provided his spirit is determined."

I requested this digital book from my library in August and just got it on Libby today! Looking forward to reading it.

It was an interesting quick read, a little quirky love story between Tsukiko and her former Sensei. I read it in a day and I enjoyed the writing style. I'm sometimes can't quite 'get in' to some Japanese authors English works, even though it's fine in the original. I would like to read more by Kawakami-san.

This is a quirky little love story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also love this cover.

#BookSpinBingo square 7
@TheAromaofBooks

I haven't liked anything I've read this week. 😭 The two on the left are finished: SWIT was OK; Descent was not. I'm halfway through the two on the right but I'm not enjoying either one. Please please, book gods, let my next reads be good ones. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Being used to strong protagonists who are either likeable or dislikable, Tsusiko and Sensei were such refreshing characters. The story of them just sitting and drinking felt very new and interesting.

I‘ve been in reading slump for quite a while, so I picked up this short novel in hopes that I‘d actually finish it. It was a great choice. Not a typical love story but I enjoyed how their relationship developed. Now, I want to try to make the yudofu that was mentioned so many times.

This one was a short, strange and quirky read.

Took me three days to read it though because my last read made me slumpy!!

I liked it though, there isn't much of a plot going on though but the characterization is very good and they were likeable characters at that!

Now to join in on the #LosersClub2021 read of Desperation by Stephen King 💫

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3775835132 ↩full review

I saw a post by @RaeLovesToRead reviewing this book and thought it myself that it looked interesting, so I popped over to Amazon, and apparently ..... 🙄😂😂😂

An understated romance between an older man and younger woman. Cute and frustrating. Kept making me hungry with all its descriptions of food. Gets "Pick" status for leaving an impression on me.

Not read a love story in a while. Hope this is as "enchanting, moving and funny" as it promises on the cover. So far I just want to eat everything described!

‘If the love is true, then treat it the same way you would a plant - feed it, protect it from the elements - you must do absolutely everything you can. But if it isn‘t true, then it‘s best to just let it wither on the vine‘

I read this book in one sitting, what an absolutely enchanting story ❤️

A gentle love story reaffirming that love has no age or limit
"If the love is true, then treat it the same way you would plant - feed it, protect it from the elements - you must do absolutely everything you can. But if it isn't true, then it's best to just let it wither on the vine."

Initial thoughts after the first two chapters:
🔵 an unusual but nice friendship;
🟠 beautiful writing;
🟢 I should try edamame with beer sometime;
🟣 I have to order some Japanese food tonight❗

“Would you consider a relationship with me, based on a premise of love?” May/December romance between two awkward people. This is my third translated Japanese novel, to date, and I find them so calming and unassuming.
I kept craving Japanese food bc they talk about food a lot, so yesterday I got Tofu teriyaki and lemon avocado rolls. I needed the total experience. #Japan

Sunday morning reading soundtrack #readingsoundtrack

I love Japanese literature!!! Definitely a pick #japaneseliterature

“In the forest, Sensei seemed quite different from his usual self. He was like a woodland creature who had lived among the trees since ancient times.”

This is just the book i needed for a rainy Saturday afternoon. A quiet and calm read. 🌸 #Japan

I wasn‘t crazy about the plot but the setting and language were great.

I am not a fan of relationships, real or fictional, with such glaring social inequity. I didn‘t like the narrator. I didn‘t like the story. Some of the writing was very pretty.
I am looking for something more substantial next.

Book recommendation from Book Riot Newsletter loved it