Welcome to Litsy!

really great small book. wanted it to continue longer. explores language, our sense of place and even what a modern concept of relationships can be. highly recommended!!

A linguist sees a woman on a show featuring people whose countries have disappeared, speaking her own form of a Scandinavian language, launching the two on a journey to explore what‘s left of her home culture and language. There are some interesting parts here and great stylistic changes for different characters, but it‘s deeply weird and the ending is super abrupt. Low pick for me.

This speculative fiction was an interesting look at immigration and assimilation. However the abrupt, unsexy couplings left me feeling odd.

Danish man Knut hears a woman talking on TV in a pan-Scandinavian language she created herself. Through a lot of odd maneuvering and travel, a rag-tag bunch of people go in search of another native speaker from the lost land of sushi.

Don‘t get me wrong, I enjoyed this…it‘s just weird. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I love this author. Such a unique take on climate disaster novels. In this, Japan has disappeared and the characters end up on a language quest across Western Europe. Whatever. Just read it.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Recent Reads January 10
Japan in January; manga; nonbinary kids; crafting for well-being; perfect picture book; and cat photo bombing
https://youtu.be/o-pqONYPXYc

#booktube

Playful and profound. I was thoroughly enchanted by this strange near-future tale told in six rotating POVs about a motley group from various parts of the world who become supportive friends as they pursue their passions across Europe. If you delight in thoughtful exploration of ideas about nationality, identity and language itself, this first book in a projected trilogy is for you. Translation by Margaret Mitsutani.

I decided that from now on Wolf and Anke would be my family, and, uncoiling the rope that tied me to my old life, I left it on the shore while I boldly set sail for the future.

I can‘t sleep. I‘ve tried meditating, or taking a bath, or sitting on the sofa listening to music before I go to bed, but I‘m still wide awake, as if there‘s a chandelier on in my head even after I turn off the light.

I stopped thinking about what would happen next. The days when you could design your future were over.

If I come across a word I can‘t get out of my head while I‘m reading, and end up taking it into the bedroom with me, it will sometimes flit around the room all night like a mosquito, keeping me awake. For instance, a while ago the name Kamchatka made such a fuss I didn‘t get to sleep until dawn.

I detected a hint of Siberia in his face. A strength that can take cold into the body as nourishment.

(Internet photo)

Even our brains change sex every second—depending on the book we‘re reading, we become men or women.

A Japanese emigré gets a job telling stories to immigrant children in Copenhagen. She decides to make kamishibai, picture dramas, drawing each scene rather than simply using words. This passage reminded me of the picture book by James Sturm, Birdsong, which uses kamishibai technique.

Hiruko‘s grandmother said she needed to shovel snow or she‘d get stiff all over, so even at age 100, she used to look for back alleys […] Her shovel would rise so lightly you‘d have thought the cloud god was pulling it up from the sky by an invisible rope, then toss its load of snow exactly on the spot her grandmother was aiming for. All that snow, piled up in the same place, looked like a castle made of sugar.

An odd little book set in a dystopian near future that I liked very much. Each chapter is told from a different pov as six characters meet. Hiruko, who may be one of the last Japanese speakers, longs for her disappeared “homeland” now only remembered as the Land of Sushi. Rather than hanging her characters onto a comprehensible plot, Tawada develops a few big ideas through their thoughts and conversation as each joins Hiruko in a quest to find ⬇️

This is such a good description of how bias and stereotypes work. Or more importantly how it feels to be on the receiving end of those stereotypes.

Audiostabbing. Er, felting.
Wool from thrifted yarn on linen.

I remember hearing about "illegal aliens" on TV as a child, thinking they must be bad people from some faraway country, and yet now, if my luck gave out, I myself would soon be illegal. When you think about it, since we're all earthlings, no one can be an illegal resident of earth. So why are there more and more illegal aliens every year?
If things keep on this way, someday the whole human race will be illegal

I really enjoyed this “cheery dystopian” (apt description on the back cover) story of a group of characters interested in disappearing language and culture. I love books that involve travel adventures like this one, mostly because I‘d love for my life to look like that! 😄 Apparently this is the first book in a trilogy so I‘ll look forward to reading the next one.

An interesting novel with an ensemble cast of characters. Each chapter is told from a character‘s POV while also moving the plot forward. Linguistics fans will enjoy this book. Hiruko is a climate refugee from a Japan that no longer exists due to rising sea levels. She‘s in search of another native Japanese speaker. First in a trilogy, although it was good, not sure I‘ll continue.

#BookReport 41/22

I had a pretty good reading week. The tagged book was my favorite, followed by Radiance of Tomorrow and The Mercies.
By finishing The Horseman I‘m all set for our #FearfulFall weekend. I hope you all are too!

Hiruko is a refugee from a Japan that no longer exists due to climate change. She teaches immigrant children in Denmark to speak Panska, a language she's invented. When she meets linguist Knut they embark on a quest through northern Europe in search of Hiruko‘s native language. A varied cast of characters joins along the way, each in search of something. It‘s an original and beautiful written novel about language, globalization and immigration.

Danish linguist Knut calls a nighttime TV show after seeing a guest who speaks about the language that she has invented. Panska can be understood across all Scandinavian countries. The guest, Hiruko works at a center for immigrants, teaching children Panska & classes pairing folktales with her personal artwork. Knut & Hiruko meet in person & they attempt to connect her with another native Japanese speaker, as Japan has disappeared due to👇

Only 70 pages in, but this is very very good.

Not a good month for my bookbuying ban😁 another one added to my pile! It sounds intriguing- hopefully I‘ll soon find time to read it!