Japanese Literature Challenge 3

It's happened again... I've signed up for another irresistible challenge. This time it is the Japanese Literature Challenge 3 hosted by Bellezza, and I feel no guilt whatsoever! Her rules are simple:

"This year, all you have to do is read one work of Japanese origin. It can be literature of course, but don’t feel confined to that. You may choose to read poetry, biographies, short stories or even manga. If you are willing to read one such piece, you’ve met the challenge. If you read more, all the better."

The challenge will run from July 30, 2009 until January 30, 2010. Bellezza has set up a special review site just for this challenge. There are two different buttons you can choose from, and she has some lovely prizes!

The book I have chosen is After Dark by Haruki Murakami. Several bloggers have suggested this as a good introduction to Murakami's work. I made a special trip to Barnes & Noble yesterday, and am eager to begin.

Are you curious about Japanese Literature? Why not consider joining the fun? Thank you, Bellezza, for hosting this challenge.

Booking Through Thursday - Recent Funnies

Today's question:

What's the funniest book you've read recently?

My answer:

This question has lead me to a startling discovery. I don't really read funny books - it seems that I prefer to listen to them! A quick glance through my books read in the last year or so shows that all funny books have been audios. The funniest were:

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim

by David Sedaris

-read by the author

I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts On Being A Woman

by Nora Ephron

-read by the author

Both of these books were laugh-out-loud funny and made my drive time fly by.

To see more answers or leave your own, visit today's Booking Through Thursday.

Wordless Wednesday- July 29

That chipmunk really wanted my apple!

Modern Love by T. C. Boyle

"There was no exchange of body fluids on the first date, and that suited both of us just fine."

How's that for an opening line? "Modern Love" is the first story in T.C. Boyle's 1998 collection simply entitled, stories. The book is divided into three sections: Love, Death, And Everything In Between.

In "Modern Love", an unnamed male begins a relationship with a hygienically obsessed editor of Anthropology Today magazine. On the first date she says,

"I usually bring a disposable sanitary sheet for public theaters - just think of who might have been on that seat before you, and how many times, and what sort of nasty festering little cultures of this and that there must be in all those ancient dribbles of taffy and Coke and extra-butter popcorn - but I didn't want you to think I was too extreme or anything on the first date, so I didn't. And then the ladies room ... You don't think I'm overreacting, do you?"

The man really wants to make this relationship work, so he is willing to take things slow and, eventually, even submits to a physical exam and barrage of tests from the woman's personal physician. Of course, this relationship is doomed to fail.

T.C. Boyle is such a readable author. His writing perfectly captures the emotion and motivation of his characters. Boyle, quite simply, gets it right. Stories is one of my purchases from Friday night's library sale, and I know I'll enjoy working my way through this huge collection!

Visit The Book Mine Set to see who else has a short story post today. You can leave a link to one of your own, too.

TSS - The Library Book Sale

(click on picture to enlarge)

Another lovely summer week, and a sigh of regret as July draws to a close. Summer is, indeed, a very short season in central New York! In our town, the last weekend of July has long been reserved for the annual Friends of the Library used book sale. I spent eight years on the board (including five as treasurer) and, even after a few years off, it's still a relief not to spend the entire months of May, June, and July sorting, classifying, and pricing books. It's also a real pleasure to attend the sale as a shopper!

A new feature was added a couple years ago - a two hour Friday night preview exclusively for the Friends of the Library members! This ticket-only event (complete with wine and cheese) has proved to be wildly popular. It allows for a friendly, relaxed book-browsing atmosphere. We all know, far too well I'm afraid, the frenzy and crush of the opening hours of a used book sale. The dealers, often equipped with scanners, descend en masse and scoop up shelves of books at a time...before most of us even get so much as a glance at the titles. This evening preview says thank-you for the Friends support throughout the year.

Time was spent browsing the stacks in the library barn and under the tent. In my Booking Through Thursday post this week, I stated my preference for new books. Used books have to be in excellent condition and must pass the 'smell test'. I cannot read a musty-smelling book, and am sure I looked more than a little ridiculous smelling each book before placing it in my bag! My purchases are pictured above. You may click on the picture to enlarge the image.

Left stack, bottom up:

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale

The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Quotations

About Alice by Calvin Trillin

The Discomfort Zone by Jonathan Franzen

On Writing by Stephen King

The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

Right stack, bottom up:

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Stories by T.C. Boyle

Water Music by T.C. Boyle

Set This House in Order: A Romance of Souls by Matt Ruff

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Of course this is enough to last for many, many months, and I'm very excited about these finds. Have you read any of them? There is a mix of fiction and non-fiction, prize winners, short stories, essay, travel, and reference. Many of these were already on my wish list or have been favorably reviewed by fellow bloggers. The best part though, is the bottom line... just over thirty dollars!

My annual goal (resolution?) for this sale is to buy fewer books than I donate. This year I succeeded. Sometime within the next month or so, I will put a box in the back of the closet and begin collecting books for next year's sale.

Do you go to used book sales in the summer? Does your library have an annual sale, or does it have one ongoing throughout the year? What about the book dealers? I know their stock has to come from somewhere, but how do you feel about those scanners? I'd love to hear about your book sale experiences!

An Award!

A beautiful summer week just got even better thanks to Icedream at Reading in Appalachia. She was kind enough to honor me with the "Heartfelt Award"!

So, what is this award about?

"Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you're relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside. Rules: Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside.Be sure to link your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award."

I enjoy my visits to Reading in Appalachia. Icedream has some excellent reviews and participates in several popular memes. In fact, yesterday's Friday Finds post added yet another book to my wish list. It even prompted me to sign up for an account at The Book Depository so I can order this new book upon it's release!

Passing on awards is difficult! I'll post a list, and then immediately think of another blog that is deserving. But, here is my list for the Heartfelt Award:

Darlene at Roses Over A Cottage Door

Book Psmith

Claire at Paperback Reader

Verity at The B Files

These blogs somehow always mange to bring a smile to my face and warm my heart. If you aren't already a regular visitor, why not stop by and say hello? And, thanks again to Icedream for thinking of me...

Lost In Austen, DVD

The Everything Austen Challenge is officially underway! Over the course of two evenings last week, Lost in Austen served as our kick-off event. Daughter #1 (who has decided to become an unofficial participant) and I thoroughly enjoyed watching this DVD.

The premise is such fun! Amanda Price, a modern gal in London who finds solace in Jane Austen's novels, hears strange noises coming from her bathroom one evening. Upon investigation, she is stunned to find Elizabeth Bennett standing in her bathtub. Lizzie has just stepped through a magical door behind the shower.

When Amanda decides to pass through the door in the plumbing, she emerges into the Bennett's attic! Accessing the activity around her, she is thrilled to discover that she's "at the beginning" of the story. Of course she knows how the novel is supposed to proceed, and Amanda does her best to ensure the proper outcome. However, some very entertaining complications arise - much to the delight of the viewers in this household!

One of my favorite moments occurs when Amanda, standing near the fountain with a white-shirt clad Darcy, asks him to "indulge" her for a moment. Before you know it, Darcy dives in to the water and emerges 'a la Colin Firth'! We were quite literally roaring with laughter at this point.

One can only imagine what Jane's reaction would be to the current spin-offs and permutations of her novels. Biographers tell us she had quite a sense of humor, so I like to think Jane would be amused. We've certainly strayed and wide from Pride and Prejudice!

The Everything Austen Challenge continues. Daughter #1 read Pride & Prejudice & Zombies this week, and I've nearly convinced her to write a guest post for me. Either Two Guys Read Jane Austen or The Annotated Pride and Prejudice will be next up for me. Stay tuned...