Ghost stories never felt more human and satisfying. The collection of short stories by Matsuda Aoko, translated by Polly Barton, is (true to its name) wildly fun to read. Each story is a contemporary retelling of a Japanese traditional ghost story, with a feminist twist. I didn't know two-thirds of the ghost stories before reading the book, so it was very helpful that the book lists the inspiration for each story and and I found myself googling more about them either before or reading …
Japanese (日本語)
Review: Sweet Bean Paste
My friends know I love books, but it's actually rare that I receive a book gift. Most choose to get me book vouchers, so that I can choose to get the books I want. But somehow it's just extra special when people take the time and effort to pick out a book for me, whether it's something that they think I'll like, or a book which they love and want to share with me. I received this book as a gift from a dear fried. It came to me at a time when I was not in the best shape and going through a …
Review: Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
I picked up this novel simply because I was intrigued by the title. What's going to happen after the coffee gets cold? What kind of tales can we expect? Somehow I'm always drawn to stories set in cafes and train stations - people come and go, but everyone has a story to tell. I hadn't realised that this was actually the sequel novel to Before the Coffee Gets Cold, but even without reading the first novel, the sequel can be enjoyed very much on its own too. A cafe that allows you to travel …