Welcome to Litsy!

Months ago I filled out a questionnaire in the New York Times that would pick out a perfect book for me and this is the one I got. It‘s a short story collection, interconnected in odd ways, telling a futuristic story about mankind, AI, cloning and survival. I really liked the way the stories tied together at the end, hopeful and thought-provoking.

I don‘t know. I just don‘t know. I liked it more than Lizard but it‘s not in the same category as Kitchen or NP. The beginning was great and then it fizzled. But it wasn‘t bad. I‘m just at a loss for words.

Obsessed. I feel like I need to reread this book again, immediately, because I sped through it because I loved it but I‘m sure I missed some things. It leaves you with a choked up feeling, one of pain and beauty. N.P. and Kitchen are masterpieces.

Did another puzzle while I listened to this great Japanese mystery. Hoopla‘s got two more books by Yukito Ayatsuji and I‘ve already added both to my list for the next time I have a gap in my listening schedule. #audiopuzzling

Quote from “Heaven” by Mieko Kawakami 🖼️

rendezvous secrète,

tombons amoureux, juste toi

et moi -- tous les deux.

secret date,
let's fall in love, just you
and me -- the two of us.

#haikuhive #haikuaday #poetry #love #frenchhaiku

“Because desks and vases don‘t use words?” I asked. “Is that what you mean?” “I don‘t know, maybe. More like, desks and vases probably don‘t get hurt,” Kojima said. “Even when they‘re broken,” she added softly. “Yeah,” I nodded. “People are different, though,” she said softer still. “Sometimes you can‘t see the scars. But there‘s a lot of pain, I think.” After that, she was quiet.”

“That thing you said earlier,” Kojima finally said. “I think I know what you mean. When a desk or a vase gets scratched, it doesn‘t show you how it‘s hurting.”

Good Morning & Happy Saturday ☀️

A generous So-So from me as this really isn't my thing & was never gonna satisfy my reading needs, but I can appreciate its quality. The ideas are amazing, I hate the presentation. The disjointed structure & unknown chronology/time scales just frustrate me. It's annoying to just get into a story/engage with characters only to have it end & never followed up. The narrative is just confusing, though,admittedly, gorgeously written.