chasing bawa is run by Sakura, Japanese x Sri Lankan x British, with degrees in astrophysics and the history and philosophy of science. I work full-time and like to read and write.
I also write a column, Slightly Peckish, for Umamimart and occasionally for Shiny New Books.
You can contact me by leaving a comment or via e-mail at chasingbawa[at]gmail[dot]com.
chasing bawa 
27 August, 2009 at 8:13 am
hello Chasing Bawa. Your blog is an inspiration. I have had the pleasure of reading some of your thoughts and reviews and find myself eagerly anticipating the weekend when I will follow in your steps and visit the Royal Academy, and hopefully do some reading of my own. I will keep visiting your blog.
Thank you for sight of this very insightful site!
Anita
27 August, 2009 at 9:53 am
Hi Anita,
Glad you like it! And if you have any recommendations, please let me know!
31 August, 2009 at 10:05 am
This blog is great. All I’ve been reading are chick lits and the previous 2 movies that I’ve watched are Transformers and GI Joe. After reading your blog, I went and bought books on Chinese Art and the history of Rome at this year’s Book Festival. Now, if only I can make myself read them….
1 September, 2009 at 11:32 am
Happy reading Ling! Maybe you could start a blog too.
16 September, 2009 at 1:26 am
I have just given your blog an award-please go to my post at
http://rereadinglives.blogspot.com/2009/09/dangerous-to-my-tbr-lists-award-from.html
for details-thanks
Mel U
24 March, 2010 at 5:45 pm
hello,
How do you pay bills with your degrees? Just wondering as I spent good years studying philosophy of mind to have to returnto school for an MBA…
24 March, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I didn’t realise when I was doing my degrees that you could be overqualified for the job market. But I have a job to pay my bills so that I can concentrate on what is important to me, and I don’t regret studying what I found interesting at the time as it has made me who I am. I’m still figuring out what I want from life, and I’m not sure whether I will ever know… Does that answer your question?
25 April, 2010 at 3:29 pm
So nice to find your blog – and thank you for stopping by mine. This is a *great* idea for a blog. I hardly remember the details of books after I read them, either; I’m left with a mood, an ambiance, a feeling, but concrete details I just don’t remember. Keeping a record of them this way could do wonders for me! I’m a writer so it would be no idle hobby, but something that would probably help my craft. Thanks again and read/write on!
26 April, 2010 at 4:38 pm
That’s what I was like before and wanted to remember a little more about the books I read than just a feeling (although feeling is still very important to me!) Thanks for stopping by!
9 May, 2010 at 2:35 pm
Hi Sakura
It was so lovely to meet you last night; I especially enjoyed our book-fuelled chat on the walk after the meet up 😉 (so great to meet other people who “get me”).
I shall be subscribing to your fabulous blog! Look forward to reading your posts.
Boof xxx
9 May, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Likewise. I was explaining to my sister what a great evening we had. She understood when I explained that my book obsession is like her bag obsession…
11 May, 2010 at 7:56 am
Hi Sakura,
I have been following your blog for a while now and subscribe via Greader. Stopped by to say Hi..Also have emailed you .
Shweta
20 May, 2010 at 12:14 am
Chasing Bawa,
I am happy to have found your blog. I will be checking in…
Goddess
1 July, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Hello! I’m a chain reader too *^_^* I am on Goodreads because I just can’t remember what I’ve read (memorey like a sieve doesn’t help)…
1 July, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Yup, my memory’s like a sieve too. Hence this blog.
26 July, 2010 at 9:46 am
a general question – where do you read best and where is your favorite alternative place? likewise, your writing place?
as for me, i often find myself in a cafe or somewhere not my own flat to start a new book. i’ve been looking for a reading chair or a small couch where i can sink myself in stories 🙂
26 July, 2010 at 10:14 am
Hello! I tend to read best in bed or in a park. Preferably where it’s quiet and not so many people about otherwise I’m easily distracted. I also like to read on the bus and train when I’m travelling alone. Writing in bed too…maybe that’s why I’m not getting much done these days. Or if I can, I’ll try and go to the library. On holidays, I always read outside in the sunshine.
It would be nice to find a quiet cafe somewhere, but it’s always a bit too crowded for me. But I’m sure there are lots of quiet hideaway holes in Tokyo! Alternatively, getting yourself a nice reading chair/couch sounds very Victorian/Edwardian. I LOVE it! What a lovely way to read.
26 July, 2010 at 10:56 am
good know that you read and write in bed a lot : ) its nice to read outside in the sun. and i agree that you need to be lucky to get a quiet corner in a cafe.
i’ve been wanting a chair so that i don’t need to feel SAD finding myself on the bed whenever i have some spare time.. and also so that ppl know that i want to read when i am in that chair and not get called all the time to look for something they can’t find themselves.. 😛
26 July, 2010 at 11:30 am
Very clever! I know what you mean about not doing everything in bed, especially since my other favourite pastime is sleeping… Pictures please, when you find your reading chair!
26 September, 2010 at 4:33 pm
How very nice to have met you in person last night.
Peter
27 September, 2010 at 4:39 pm
It was lovely to meet you too!
27 September, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Lovely to meet you at the PEN event and thank you so much for coming to say hello. You have a lovely blog, a real treat to visit.
Happy reading x
27 September, 2010 at 4:40 pm
It was great to finally meet you. And what an interesting discussion it was!
22 December, 2010 at 6:28 am
Your blog is pretty cool! Glad to discover another Sri Lankan blogger! (half or full!) 😀
22 December, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Welcome, welcome (as they say):)
2 November, 2011 at 12:02 am
Dear Bawa,
I have a question for you. I am also a serial hoarder of books. I find myself too often in “Book-Off” looking for Second-hand English Gems.
I am currently reading a Jean Genet novel – Funeral Rites. I find him to be similar to Henry Miller. I feel that this is not the type of novel to read for the storyline, and as a consequence, at times, I find it hard to concentrate and follow the story.
The situation is that I am really back-logged with books. I have too many, perhaps over 700 unread books. I have quit alcohol in order to read more. So, do I persist with reading this book, or do I put it down and read another novel?? Will I regret not finishing this novel?
What would you do in this case?
Have you had a similar situation?
Diego (in Yokohama)
2 November, 2011 at 10:34 am
Hello Diego, I have a hard time quitting books and tend to soldier on until I finish, unless I find the book very offensive (in style as well as content). If it doesn’t bother you, go ahead and quit so that you can read a more enjoyable book. You can always go back and finish it if start having feelings of regret. Although it’s bad for your TBR pile, I’m happy to hear you can find English language books in Book Off! Happy reading!
7 November, 2011 at 5:03 am
hi there,
thanks for the comment.
i put the book down, and picked up “Voices in the Mirror” by Gordon Parks. Its what I needed. Completely inspiring and addictive. Soldiered through about 200 pages over the weekend.
Not sure if I will go back to Genet any time soon. Not in the mood for him at the moment.
As for Bookoff, I know the ones that stock English books, and in the past visited them too regularly. I think a lot of the fellow gaijin unload their books before leaving, as a result, sometimes i find some true gems for under 500 yen.
all the best,
Diego
14 July, 2012 at 5:01 am
Your blog is really awesome. I’m 15 and i’m so so sick of all the chick flick books that i’m expected to read at this age. It made me all together lose interest in reading as i was not sure what genre suited me. I did try reading authors like james patterson, lee child, agatha christie and so on, but i’ve did not like them one bit. But as soon as i chanced upon your blog, i started trying out japanese literature and oh how i loved it so much!!!! My friends ask me why do i read such matured books but i always tell them that they do not know what they were missing out!:) I particularly like the book grotesque cos i really feel that the book’s really realistic and all the gritty description and flaws of the characters awed me, yes sadistic i may be.;) Could you please recommend me books that are similar? I would really love to hear it!!!!
21 February, 2013 at 5:31 am
Sri Lankan Japanese living in London… Sounds like the start of a lazy Sunday read 🙂
Hi! I just dropped by to read your blog, it’s always nice to see the Asian take on fantasy and fiction as that’s who I am and what I write. 😀
So cheers and keep up the great blog!
1 March, 2013 at 11:50 am
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the blog!
15 April, 2013 at 1:57 pm
You have quite an eclectic taste. Great to have stumbled on to your blog! 🙂
13 January, 2015 at 12:25 am
Great Blog!