Review: The Final Curtain

The Final Curtain by Keigo Higashino
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was more than a murder mystery, but I'm not sure what it was. It tied in Detective Kaga's past, and in the end was a story of redemption and upbringing. Someone mentioned this is the final book in the Detective Kaga series, so that may be why.

Regardless, it definitely stands on its own as a murder mystery, with some interesting twists and turns, but in the end all of that becomes secondary. Still, a great novel.


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/



View all my reviews

Review: Nowhere to Be Found

Nowhere to Be Found by Bae Suah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The interesting thing about this novel is that I kept waiting for more to happen, and I felt like there was alot of symbolism I didn't get, but as soon as I finished it I wanted to re-read it. It captures you without your realizing, much like "Highway with Green Apples".

4.5 stars


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: MONKEY New Writing from Japan: Volume 6: HORROR

MONKEY New Writing from Japan: Volume 6: HORROR by Ted Goossen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As always, a very interesting collection of writings.

My favorite stories were:
The Key , by Kaori Fujino
In-House Ghost photos, by Kikuko Tsumura
The Ghosts of Lexington, by Haruki Murakami

Possibly The Collector of Scents, by Yoko Ogawa (not sure if I liked it, but it was haunting).
The same goes for The Man from the Hansa Quarter, by Yuko Yamao
The same goes for Baseball Player Soup by Aoko Matsuda


My absolute favorite was: The Human Chair, by Ranpo Edogawa


And, having recently read The Third Love, by Hiromi Kawakami, it was interesting to read her journey and thought process when writing it.




View all my reviews

Review: The Human Chair

The Human Chair by Edogawa Rampo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent short story



View all my reviews

Review: There Is No Antimemetics Division

There Is No Antimemetics Division by qntm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There is no doubt that this is an excellent book, but it also highlights my aversion to Sci-fi in general.

On the one hand it's a mind-boggling scary point of view of entities that hide themselves by erasing any memory anyone had of them, as well as odd, fantastical, gross snippets thrown in and philosophical questions about how/why you combat such entities. All of which, quite frankly, confused me not a little.

But on the other hand, once again I can't help thinking you can just invent your way into and out of any situation with sci-fi/fantasy. When layers of unknowns and oddities get stacked upon each other, it starts feeling too simulated.

Or maybe my brain just isn't equipped to handle it.

Still, 5 stars because it is definitely unique.

https://4201mass.blogspot.com/


View all my reviews

Review: Voyage Around My Room: Selected Works of Xavier de Maistre

Voyage Around My Room: Selected Works of Xavier de Maistre by Xavier de Maistre
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a delightful book to read. Under house arrest, he decided to write a book that is literally about a voyage around his room, with musings, memories and other tidbits.

Read this if you come across it.




https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: The Third Love

The Third Love by Hiromi Kawakami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After being let down by "Under the Eye of the Big Bird", this was a breath of fresh air, and more like the Kiromi Kawakami I remembered. Very insightful, slightly surrealistic and an interesting story.


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama

Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama by David Mamet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very enlightening and interesting book for people who have nothing to do with drama, theater or film, since the ideas are refreshing and new, and from a different point of view.

It reads like three stream of thought essays.


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: Arid Dreams

Arid Dreams by Duanwad Pimwana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The word that comes to mind for these short stories is "refreshing". Not so much due to the stories themselves, since many of them are a tad depressing and oppressive. More so because they are a glimpse into lives and points of view that, as far as I know, aren't really discussed all that often in translation. Everyday lives, especially of women, in Thailand.


My favorite was "The way of the moon", followed by Kanda's eyebrows and The Second Book.


https://4201mass.blogspot.com/

View all my reviews

Review: The Odyssey

The Odyssey by Homer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Extremely enjoyable edition, reading more like a modern historical novel than ancient verse. There are the usual repetitions (like many rosy-fingered dawns), but that's inevitable.

Also, did Odysseus really strip naked to fight the suitors in his house? I didn't remember that at all.

https://4201mass.blogspot.com/





View all my reviews