It’s here! Japanese Literature Challenge 5
1 June, 2011
This is what I’ve been waiting for! Dolce Bellezza is once again hosting the tremendously popular Japanese Literature Challenge 5. It runs from 1st June 2011 until 31st January 2012 and all you need to do is read at least one book of Japanese literature. Easy, right? And so much fun. I will, of course, be attempting to read more. Plus there is the added excitement of a new novel by Banana Yoshimoto, The Lake, which is out soon and Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 out in October. SO EXCITING.
I’ve got the following already lined up:
Scandal by Shusaku Endo
Silence by Shusaku Endo
Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata
A Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata
The Sound of the Mountain by Yasunari Kawabata
Beauty and Sadness by Yasunari Kawabata
Spring Snow by Yukio Mishima
Let’s see how many I can get through this year. And you never know what other titles I may dig up.
So, will you join us?
chasing bawa 
1 June, 2011 at 4:37 pm
yeaaa it starts again \(^^)/
I will join as always.
1 June, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Yay!
1 June, 2011 at 4:52 pm
I have Spring Snow at home and have heard good things about that one. I also, of course, still have the book you gave me (why am I so crap at getting round to reading stuff I already have – hmmm, maybe because shiny new things keep making their way home with me?). I may just join you on this and read those two. Oooooh, I am also desperate to read Shogun but I need a companion or two for that as I can’t make myself read it due to the size – let me know if you’re up for that 🙂
1 June, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Haha, it’s a good excuse to dig into those two books (hint, hint!) One of my friends who read Shogun said it was brilliant. I’ve only ever seen the film from years ago so can’t remember most of the story. I’m tempted to join you, but let me get back to you on that:)
1 June, 2011 at 10:12 pm
great choice I may join later in year I ve not many Japanese bookls on tbr pile at moment need get some more to read ,all the best stu
3 June, 2011 at 11:53 am
You must!
2 June, 2011 at 3:30 am
I borrowed three Kawabata books from the library, but couldn’t get into them? Maybe I will have to try again. Looking forward to The Lake and the new Murakami. I read Shogun when I was a (weird) child. Great story!
3 June, 2011 at 11:54 am
I think I saw the tv adaptation of Shogun when I was a child (obviously the book was too thick for me!)
I haven’t read Kawabata in years so really looking forward to reading his novels.
2 June, 2011 at 8:23 am
Ah, I see someone bought ALL of the new Penguin Kawabata editions!
I just wish I had when they were super cheap…
I’m already off and running for JLC5 with Kawabata’s ‘The Master of Go’ – to be reviewed at some point 🙂
3 June, 2011 at 11:56 am
I got them for review, hehe;) I saw you’ve already got a couple of reviews up for JLC5 – impressive! Looking forward to seeing what you’ll be reading:)
2 June, 2011 at 9:05 am
A tad ahead of you this year, heh! Just a few weeks ago I read Kanoko Okamoto’s A Riot of Goldfish. Very lush, esp, in the second novella of the book where there’s much foodiness.
3 June, 2011 at 11:59 am
Excellent. I thought Kanoko Okamoto sounded familiar and I’d read a short story of hers in To Live and To Write. I must look into A Riot of Goldfish especially since David Mitchell’s written the intro! Thanks for the rec!
4 June, 2011 at 5:18 pm
I love The Silence. I reread it almost yearly..
4 June, 2011 at 10:29 pm
I haven’t heard of any of those! Usually a JLC enthusiast I just didn’t manage it last time around. Maybe I will join in on a whim as I have a copy of In The Miso Soup which I’ve wanted to read for a while…
Looking forward to reading your reviews!
9 June, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Not read any of the books on your list, but am looking forward to 1Q84. I still have a long way to go before I finish his entire backlist, but a new book is a new book.
I’ve got a Ryu Murakami on the list, and I want to read some books by Yogo Ogawa as well.