Did another puzzle while I listened to this great Japanese mystery. Hoopla‘s got two more books by Yukito Ayatsuji and I‘ve already added both to my list for the next time I have a gap in my listening schedule. #audiopuzzling
rendezvous secrète,
tombons amoureux, juste toi
et moi -- tous les deux.
secret date,
let's fall in love, just you
and me -- the two of us.
#haikuhive #haikuaday #poetry #love #frenchhaiku
“Because desks and vases don‘t use words?” I asked. “Is that what you mean?” “I don‘t know, maybe. More like, desks and vases probably don‘t get hurt,” Kojima said. “Even when they‘re broken,” she added softly. “Yeah,” I nodded. “People are different, though,” she said softer still. “Sometimes you can‘t see the scars. But there‘s a lot of pain, I think.” After that, she was quiet.”
“That thing you said earlier,” Kojima finally said. “I think I know what you mean. When a desk or a vase gets scratched, it doesn‘t show you how it‘s hurting.”
so-soA generous So-So from me as this really isn't my thing & was never gonna satisfy my reading needs, but I can appreciate its quality. The ideas are amazing, I hate the presentation. The disjointed structure & unknown chronology/time scales just frustrate me. It's annoying to just get into a story/engage with characters only to have it end & never followed up. The narrative is just confusing, though,admittedly, gorgeously written.
pickHeaven, by Mieko Kawakami (2009, transl. 2021)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Premise: Two bullied Japanese teenagers form a tenuous friendship.
Review: This was a very hard read. The descriptions of the bullying the two main characters experience are vivid and intense, and increase in severity as the book goes on. ⬇️
pickA light Pick. The chapters are short and follow the same format, so this is a good book to pick up and put down. If you are looking for fast-paced plot, look elsewhere. I liked this for what it was and what I am able to read at the moment. The food descriptions were great too. Not going to actively seek out the other books, but they are good to have in mind if I need them.
