Monkey Brain Sushi: New Tastes in Japanese Fiction

Rating:
Summary: Trash fiction???
Review: Although I could readily identify with some of the writings that compose this collection of new Japenese tastes in fiction, specifically "Mazelife" and "Television People," I must confess a distance from appreciating the erotic and sexual content of this book. I am hardly a sheltered bookworm claiming absolutely no familiarity with topics such as S&M, but many of the writings were less than appealing while too honest and revealing to be obscene. A decent book that I enjoyed reading, nevertheless.

Rating:
Summary: Trash fiction???
Review: Although I could readily identify with some of the writings that compose this collection of new Japenese tastes in fiction, specifically "Mazelife" and "Television People," I must confess a distance from appreciating the erotic and sexual content of this book. I am hardly a sheltered bookworm claiming absolutely no familiarity with topics such as S&M, but many of the writings were less than appealing while too honest and revealing to be obscene. A decent book that I enjoyed reading, nevertheless.

Rating:
Summary: highly recommend
Review: I particularly liked "Momotaro in a Capsule","Japanese Entrance Exams for Earnest Young Men" and "Mazelife". All of them were incredibly funny, but still had something interesting to say about life. The serious stories didn't affect me as much, though."Peony Snowflakes" was pretty good. All of the stories were very accessible to Americans (I don't presume to speak for others), and made Japan seem like a really cool, interesting place.

Rating:
Summary: Up-and-Coming Japanese Authors
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology of short stories by Japanese authors, which ranges from well known, to up-and-coming, to manga, even. Most of the tales are very inventive, and are written (and translated) as well as any American modern author could hope to do! My only gripe is that finding any further work by these writers, with the exception of Haruki Murakami, is proving to be exceedingly difficult, even on Amazon.com.

Rating:
Summary: Trash fiction???
Review: I usually find irritation to translational works. Mostly they don't translate elements b/w lines but only literal words. This book is the first one that didn't allow me to feel those irritation. I enjoyed it. My faborite is "Examination" story that exactly traces my own experience as a J high schooler. It made me so laugh. The only thing I concern is "Kneel Down," for this is the only first chapter of the entire book entitled in exactly same words in J publication, which consists of several chapters. Publishing only one part without notice of the partiality seems unfair to me. One of my friends read it and said, "So what." Yes, that was absolutely pointless without rest of those chapters that eventually leads the author's whole conceptualization of being both SM queen & publishing writer. I guess there still would have room for improvement.

Rating:
Summary: Smooth Translations of Modern Japanese
Review: I usually find irritation to translational works. Mostly they don't translate elements b/w lines but only literal words. This book is the first one that didn't allow me to feel those irritation. I enjoyed it. My faborite is "Examination" story that exactly traces my own experience as a J high schooler. It made me so laugh. The only thing I concern is "Kneel Down," for this is the only first chapter of the entire book entitled in exactly same words in J publication, which consists of several chapters. Publishing only one part without notice of the partiality seems unfair to me. One of my friends read it and said, "So what." Yes, that was absolutely pointless without rest of those chapters that eventually leads the author's whole conceptualization of being both SM queen & publishing writer. I guess there still would have room for improvement.

Rating:
Summary: Check out what's happening in Japan now.
Review: If Kobo Abe made our ideas of Japanese literature twist and metamorphosize before our eyes like live prawn in hot sauce, then check out these short stories and novel excerpts (including a graphic short novel) from some inventive yet accessible Japanese writers. Note their connection to the rest of the world, the use of Marquez, the notation to Saul Bellow. See where things are going, and you will enjoy them along the way

Rating:
Summary: Surreal, surprising Japanese sampling
Review: Who could resist the title of this collection? I stumbled across it in a bookstore one day, and I had to have it. Even if it turned out to be horrible. Of course, lucky for me, it turned out to be... an unbelievable surprise. The editor of this collection of short stories by contemporary Japanese authors stressed in his introduction that these are not at all the traditional sort of Japanese tales we (having read traditional Japanese lit) have come to expect. The newest generation of Japanese writers is not bound by the same sort of literary tradition and cultural "preservation" that past writers have been. The tone of the entire book is somewhat irreverent. Themes that prevail in this collection include: the disintegration of traditional values/ disconnection from family, from people, from life, from self (obsession with television and video games), alienation, looking for something to hold onto or relate to (shopping as religion, creating one's own religion), and even a lesbian relationship between a middle aged woman and a younger woman truck driver. This book explores post World War II Japan on a level that is quite telling, somewhat disturbing and kind of surreal. I also see that a lot of themes that recur can be mirrored in American society, this disconnection and seeming desire to belong. I particularly enjoyed the story by Masahiko Shimada; his book Dream Messenger, which is also quite surreal and good, is widely available in English.