Review: Il fondo del sacco

Il fondo del sacco by Plinio Martini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was looking forward to reading more about life in Valle Maggia, despite being a bit let down by his other book (Requiem per zia Domenica). This surpassed all expectations. Not only did it discuss, and really convey, life in the valley at the beginning of the last century, but it also talked about the Ticinese exodus to the US, which was very interesting, and it was all wrapped together in a nice story (the line "sei tornato lo stesso" was very poignant).


Martini is known as one of the top Ticino authors of all time, and I didn't really see why after his last book, but this one convinced me. I see he has some other books, as well as a diary, that have been published, and I look forward to reading them as well.


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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.


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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


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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.




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Review: The Human Chair

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

Excellent short story



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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.

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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.




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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.


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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.


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