The Healing Power of Japanese Fiction
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- Опубліковано 17 жов 2024
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I think coming out of Japanese books with an appreciation for things that I've got is what makes me love them so much. When everything feels so depressing being reminded that there's still good things is really important
This reminds me of the manga/anime genre called Iyashikei, literally "Healing". No big world changing events or giant robots, just people living in relaxing places or making small changes to improve their lives.
My favourite is Yuru Camp, just characters going camping...that's it.
As soon as I started reading this comment, my mind went to Yuru Camp lol
@@WillowTalksBooks Yep. I found it helpful during lockdown.
The way you speak about books makes me want to throw away my TBR and just read what you tell me 🛐🛐🛐
🥹🥹🥹
I'm always reading Japanese fiction at any given moment for this reason. There's such a lightness, even when they're approaching heavy themes, and so little hand-wringing or overwrought-ness. I find it so comforting, and when I write I can only hope to approach what I find there.
what a lovely selection 😍
I'll start with the ghost couple,
people from my neighborhood
and convenience store woman
are also in the list, thank you.
by the time i discovered zen
banana yoshimoto's characters
brought lightness to my sense
of self showing me affection
doesn't need to be built on
similarity only, contrasts
are the richest part. 🇯🇵
You have an intriguing way of talking about writers and books because your true love of both shines through. But. You have a way of creating poetry and stories yourself that I hope you will give air and time to.
Lovely video critique here of lovely Japanese writers in translation, some of which have been bought and enjoyed because of your previous reviews, Breast and Eggs, Convenience Store Woman, and new ones I'm so interested in reading now.
This is all so kind, thank you!!
Japanese literature scene is SO interesting, very unique in style. And as Japan is a country of readers, literature there is luckily alive and well. It's a gold mine for translated fiction and we've only seen a tiny fraction of it :)
Thank you so much for putting how I feel about Japanese literature into words and making me raelize way that is!
I am so glad you mentioned Convenience Store Woman!!! This book was quietly monumental, powerful in the serene portrayal of a normal person going about their life, while ingeniously confronting or conforming to society's expectations. Loved it!!!!!
I read Convenience Store Woman on your recommendation and while I am not autistic, I have ADHD and I saw so much of myself in the main character. Without spoiling for anyone, there are certain times where I have done a certain thing and suddenly I'm treated as valid and it's all exciting for other people. And it just made me so mad.
I have ADHD as well and I fully relate
I have your blogpost and youtube video on the best Japanese books earmarked. The dream is to travel to Japan in future and spend the 12 months leading up to it immersing myself in Japanese literature of all shapes and sizes. Fingers crossed 🤞Thanks so much for your content. Always interesting and leaves me with lots more books to try and get to!
Convenience Store Woman is on my TBR list.
Your words and analyses of these books have been so healing for me.. back when I found your channel last year I was in a really rough phase of my life but your book reviews and passion for books brought me so much comfort and healing.. and introduced me to these healing stories by Japanese authors.. thank you Willow 🙏
That is so wonderful to hear, thank you!
Wonderful video! I found "The Housekeeper and the Professor" in my little free library and started reading it based on your beautiful description of Japanese fiction. It is absolutely lovely. Thank you!
I’ve just got into Japanese fiction, so great to have some more recommendations thanks. The space in the books is one of my favourite things 💕
A great video! You articulate so well how I feel about Japanese fiction.
A few years ago, I only really knew about Haruki Murakami when it came to Japanese fiction.
But in 2020, I discovered more and now I’m a die hard Mieko Kawakami fan.
Thanks for your video.
Preach it, sister!
What beautiful recommendations! This is definitely a blank spot in my reading, so I look forward to exploring these authors!
I started with kawaguchi. I loved ogawa and your video has given me many more suggestions! Thank you
My appreication for Asian literature is becuase of you and our channel. Your love and appreciation for Japanese literature, or Asian lit in general is what brought me to your channel. I needed to find a literary space where I can enjoy and share my love of literature. Your deep dive, insight, and explaination of literature is "TOP TEIR". I love your website where you have your lists and recommendations of Asian literature. I'm slowly working them into my collection. Thank you for being you. You rock!!! 📚😊😊
Japanese fiction ❤❤❤ I love how introspective and observant they are. My favourite classic is a huge tome... Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. No plot, just living.
Oh oh oh, just remembered Mieko Kawakami books are "free" in Audible. Can even subscribe for a trial. Just listened to Heaven ❤ Breast and Eggs next?
I love your Japanese books recommendations, thanks to you my home library is almost half Japanese literature, and I've discovered a favorite writer of mine : Kawakami Mieko ! Thanks for those videos! and all of them 😄💜💙
Yes, there is a style that is comforting in some Japanese novels. It’s the same in the Japanese TV series Midnight Diner. It is not something I can explain but it’s definitely soothing to my soul. Thank you for the recommendations.
wonderful video. thank you!
Healing is a good word to use! I don't know if it's applied to novels, but the video made me think of a genre in anime and manga called Iyashikei (literally "healing-type" ) that I really like dipping into every now and then. Many are closer to a slice-of-life story, but with a wonderful, therapeutic sense of tone. I particuarly adore Mushishi and Yokohama Kaidahsi Kikou! In a sea of plot-focused speculative fiction that feels more common today, it's really nice to have some works to go to that are no plot, all vibes. I have to wonder if the mangaka are taking direct inspiration from the authors you mention, or if both are pulling from a deeper but shared set of storytelling techniques in Japan. Funny you mention Tanizaki though, only story I've read from him is the modern Tale of Genji retelling that zeroes in on the... "familial affection" Genji feels for his mom. I'd be interested in reading a more "healing" vibes-based story from him though!
I think I haven't read enough of contemporary fiction, but it's not my first choice anyway. I tend to stay in my fantastic and crime bubble so naturally I felt in love with japanese mystery novels since I got my first Keigo Higashino from the library, partialy because Actes Sud have covers that catch the eye, partialy because the detective has tha same name as the Major from GITS. I read few of Aki Simazaki short novels, I did enjoye those. Kotaro Isaka is also one of my favourites, I started from his novel about Shinigami which was a strange mix of genres including a wink to Agatha Christie. Out of your recommendations "The erthlings" did traumatise me a bit, (Spoiler
not with the cannibalism part but the sexual assault on the main character, I really, really wished they aet her horrible family), but at the same time I found it very good. Strange enough, probably because I tend to avoid overhyped authors which usually never work for me, I stayed away from Haruki Murakami, I can't say I regret that decision.
Japanese fiction just hits differently ✨️
Oh I forgot about "Jesus et Buddha en vacances" I think it goes under "The saint young men" in English version. This manga always makes me feel a bit better when I'm not in a particularly joyful space in my mind.
Japanese books linger in my memory ❤
do you have any reccomendations for me to get out of my reading slump😭😭
I gotchu babe! ua-cam.com/video/bFc1IBxcVpM/v-deo.html
@@WillowTalksBooks thanks!!
How did you make the intangible and ineffable tangible and effable?
Have you read "Blue Sisters"?
I think these are all the books shown:
People From My Neighbourhood by Hiromi Kawakami (Ted Goossen Translation 2020)
Record of a Night Too Brief by Hiromi Kawakami (1996) (Lucy North Translation 2017)
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata (2016) (Ginny Tapley Takemori translation 2018)
Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata (2019) (Ginny Tapley Takemori translation 2019) [Willow Talks Books Review ua-cam.com/video/Nkz6BltGgps/v-deo.htmlsi=AUJ1OV2XBFj_7zFm]
The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yōko Ogawa (1990) (Stephen Snyder Translation 2008)
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa (2003) (Stephen Snyder Translation 2019)
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami (2009) (Sam Bett, David Boyd Translation 2021)
Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami (2012) (Sam Bett, David Boyd Translation 2019)
The Makioka Sisters by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (1948) (Edward G. Seidensticker Translation 1995)
Finger Bone by Hiroki Takahashi (2023)
Cannibals by Shinya Tanaka (2011) (Kalau Almony translation 2024)
Dead-End Memories: Stories by Banana Yoshimoto (2003) (Asa Yoneda Translation 2022)