Welcome to Litsy!

I don't love a locked room mystery - it feels like they're so focused on the puzzle and being clever, that the characterization seems to suffer? All brain and no heart which is not my bag. So I mostly only read them when prompted by something like the #christmascrimechallenge 😅. After reading this one, my feelings haven't changed. It's more than competent, if not entirely satisfying. A begrudging pick @Ruthiella @RaeLovesToRead

Have you made your Christmas wishlist yet?

https://wildwoodreads.com/2025/12/05/books-on-my-christmas-wishlist-2/

I always enjoy spending some time in the world of Murakami. I didn‘t love this one quite as much as a few of his other books, but the idea of living in a library or in the woods sounds pretty great right now. One more from my #10BeforeTheEnd pile.

My #BookSpinBingo for December @TheAromaofBooks

What I love most about this collection is that Hearn so loved Japan and understood how culturally important it was to capture these tales as accurately as possible. He didn‘t try to Westernize anything, he wanted to bring the culture to the attention of the Western world in its true form. I love him for that. I loved reading these supernatural tales and will be seeking out more.

4⭐️ I read this due to Libby doing a big read and my home library having a challenge related to this book. I was pleasantly surprised with this book and quite enjoyed it. #2025 #fiction #middlegrade #fantasy #magicalrealism

I didn‘t look into this much before reading it and expected a cozy found family foodie story. Oops!

It‘s actually quite sad, about depression and being a societal outcast, check content warnings if needed.

It did have some happiness, and the main characters are cooks so there is a deep dive into making sweet adzuki bean paste for dorayaki- a Japanese pancake with bean paste in it.

I did end up liking it, it just wasn‘t what I expected.

Really interesting information about Japan and loved the narration!

For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:

https://youtube.com/shorts/c0FxhNtkWt8?feature=share

Enjoy!

First published in 1958 this book, according to Towles, launched the mystery genre in Japan. Having read it, I understand why. A crime that, on the surface, doesn‘t appear to be one. An airtight alibi. A grizzled veteran investigator who can‘t escape a sense of doubt, a young investigator who knows something isn‘t quite right. It has all the elements and Matsumoto‘s revealing of the truth is really well timed. I really enjoyed this one.

Given its themes of endings, decline, decadence, and life-weariness, and its post-war setting, Dazai's novel cannot fail to be sad. Terminal illness, omens of death, addiction, emotional cruelty and suicide feature prominently, and Dazai died by suicide the year after its initial 1947 publication. But...
Despite her brother's dismissal of the old order as failed, and the new generation as dying on the vine, there is a scintilla of hope in ⬇️