I’m SO looking forward to this: The Lake by Banana Yoshimoto
19 May, 2011
Banana Yoshimoto’s Kitchen was one of the first contemporary Japanese novels I read in both English and Japanese while at school, quickly followed by Goodbye, Tsugumi, probably my favourite. Yoshimoto’s novels tackle contemporary social issues in modern Japan in a way that I had not previously experienced and was startlingly original. It’s been a while since I’ve read a novel by Yoshimoto, so I’m really excited about her forthcoming new novel, The Lake, a ‘delicate, and suspenseful tale about a young painter named Chihiro and her relationship with a brilliant but troubled young man named Nakajima who has a mysterious trauma in his past’, and is out in a couple of months. Just in time for Dolce Bellezza‘s Japanese Literature Challenge 5. Cannot wait!
On top of that, Melville House who is publishing The Lake has pledged a portion of their sales to the Japan Disaster Relief. So check out Banana for Japan.
chasing bawa 
19 May, 2011 at 11:47 pm
must admit I really really like sound of this and loved kitchen when I read it years ago and never gone back to her books maybe this is the one to go back ,all the best stu
20 May, 2011 at 2:30 am
Have heard of this author of course but never got around to reading her. I think contemporary Japanese society may be something I would also like to read. I am sure the library in Melbourne would have her (I hope so!)
21 May, 2011 at 6:03 pm
thanks for this post… I didn’t know JLC 5 is up. I joined in the past. And this book The Lake looks so enticing, like the cover. Look forward to your review.
22 May, 2011 at 4:22 am
I’ve loved the previous books I’ve read, so am looking forward to this one too. Goodbye Tsugami was great, but I found the translation a bit weird in places. The Americanisms didn’t quite ring true? Or was that just me? 🙂
23 May, 2011 at 10:45 am
winstonsdad: Lots of publicity this time around, Stu. I too havene’t read her books in a while so am looking forward to this one:)
Mystica: Oh I’m sure the library in Melbourne would have copies of Yoshimoto’s books. Enjoy!
Arti: JLC5 isn’t up yet but should be up soon. I’m really looking forward to it too:)
Violet: I always have problems with Americanised translations of Japanese books as it’s always different from when I translate things from the Japanese. I suppose it’s what you are used to hearing. But I guess it’s always difficult to translate slang/vernacular.
25 May, 2011 at 1:10 am
It is absolutely wonderful seeing this book posted all over the blog-o-sphere, and I do appreciate you mentioning the JLC5. I can’t wait for that to start, nor to read this book among many others!
26 May, 2011 at 10:34 am
I’m really looking forward to JLC5. You’re doing a great job there Bellezz:)