What are you currently reading?

[Florestan]

Wonderful. I thought that probably it would be a translation of the English edition/translation. Again, nice cover!

The publishing house which published it is one the best, largest, most prestigious Romanian ones --- they can obviously afford professional translators for many languages. Plus, they hav a standard to uphold: they publish only high quality stuff, from classics to contemporary writers.

The Romanian title means exactly silence and derives from the Latin tacere --- which is actually obvious. 

[vers la flamme]

Graham Greene, The Heart of the Matter



After reading Endo's Silence I decided to check this book out, as Greene was an admirer of Endo's work and this is one of Greene's famous "Catholic" novels. I read one of Greene's books back in high school; I remember I picked The Power & the Glory to write a paper on, though I can't remember what prompted me to make that choice nor do I recall much of the book today. As for this one, so far so good. Interesting characters, interesting setting.

Enjoying the latter two thirds of the book much more than I did the first third, though the plot does become slightly convoluted toward the end. I guess it shows that Greene was a writer of the genre of intrigue, to which this book does not belong.

Anyway, I'm very excited to read more of his work. Maybe Our Man in Havana or The Quiet American next, both of which ought to be somewhat easier reads.

Edit: Just finished the book. What a horrifically tragic ending that was...

[SimonNZ]

I've read The End Of The Affair three times now and at some point there will be a fourth - if you're looking for a Greene recommendation and haven't read that one.

[vers la flamme]

I've read The End Of The Affair three times now and at some point there will be a fourth - if you're looking for a Greene recommendation and haven't read that one.

Sounds excellent, I'll have to find that one. I did order a copy of The Quiet American which was cheap on Amazon, and I also have The Power and the Glory which I read in high school but would love to reread as an adult. I wasn't expecting The Heart of the Matter to become so bleak, and so powerful. I don't foresee a reread anytime soon. But I was overall impressed with Greene's writing. I've been meaning to see what he's all about for a long time now.

[SonicMan46]

Last few months - top row still reading, bottom row done - about half on my iPad and the others in paperback (still like to feel and smell a real book, so split my purchases) - Dave

   

   

[vers la flamme]

Yasunari Kawabata, Thousand Cranes



This just arrived in the mail in the afternoon and I've just started it. This book is written with such powerful subtlety that it comes off as somehow extremely intense, almost overwhelming. For some reason it brings to mind the image of drinking a glass of red wine that is really blood. (Maybe my recent reading of Greene has put me too much in the mind of Catholic liturgy ). I don't know how to describe my feelings toward the book itself, but I'm in awe of Kawabata's writing. It's clear to me that the man was a genius.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Yasunari Kawabata, Thousand Cranes



This just arrived in the mail in the afternoon and I've just started it. This book is written with such powerful subtlety that it comes off as somehow extremely intense, almost overwhelming. For some reason it brings to mind the image of drinking a glass of red wine that is really blood. (Maybe my recent reading of Greene has put me too much in the mind of Catholic liturgy ). I don't know how to describe my feelings toward the book itself, but I'm in awe of Kawabata's writing. It's clear to me that the man was a genius.

Mishima has a sharp knife and he shows it. In contrast, nihilism, beauty, pessimism and indications in Kawabata's works are subtle. They are disturbing stories without appearing to be disturbing. His works appear to be about ordinary/average people written by an average/normal man. The guy is a scary guy.
Anciet Capitol, Snow Country, Izu Dancer are good, but I like the Cranes, especially the ending.

[vers la flamme]

Mishima has a sharp knife and he shows it. In contrast, nihilism, beauty, pessimism and indications in Kawabata's works are subtle. They are disturbing stories without appearing to be disturbing. His works appear to be about ordinary/average people written by an average/normal man. The guy is a scary guy.
Anciet Capitol, Snow Country, Izu Dancer are good, but I like the Cranes, especially the ending.

I agree with you: a scary guy. It disturbs me whenever I recall that his life, like that of his friend Yukio Mishima, ended in suicide. While it doesn't immediately impress on me while reading his writing, it occurs to me that he must have been deeply tortured. I get a similar feeling reading Hemingway, a completely different writer (but yet another suicide).

I ordered The Old Capital. I hope to one day read everything he's written, which is not much compared to some other great writers. It helps that his books are quite short.

[SimonNZ]

The only Kawabata I've read is The Master Of Go which I thought superb. Must try more in the bearish future.

[vers la flamme]

The only Kawabata I've read is The Master Of Go which I thought superb. Must try more in the bearish future.

Can wholeheartedly recommend Snow Country, and even Thousand Cranes, though I must admit there is something about it that is freaking me out.

[SimonNZ]

I see now I wrote "the bearish future", which sounds a bit grim.

Nearish.

[vers la flamme]

I see now I wrote "the bearish future", which sounds a bit grim.

Nearish.

I hadn't noticed; I read it just as you intended.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I agree with you: a scary guy. It disturbs me whenever I recall that his life, like that of his friend Yukio Mishima, ended in suicide. While it doesn't immediately impress on me while reading his writing, it occurs to me that he must have been deeply tortured. I get a similar feeling reading Hemingway, a completely different writer (but yet another suicide).

I ordered The Old Capital. I hope to one day read everything he's written, which is not much compared to some other great writers. It helps that his books are quite short.

I read the Old Capitol (=Kyoto) decades ago, and don't remember the story. I must get a copy. Sorry that the Cranes was a little disturbing. I thought his Sleeping Beauty might, but not Thousand Cranes.

The only Kawabata I've read is The Master Of Go which I thought superb. Must try more in the bearish future.

I haven't read The Master. But I heard that Kawabata considered the work as his best work. I will purchase a copy.

[vers la flamme]

I read the Old Capitol (=Kyoto) decades ago, and don't remember the story. I must get a copy. Sorry that the Cranes was a little disturbing.

I haven't read The Master. But I heard that Kawabata considered the work as his best work. I will purchase a copy.

No need for apology, I loved it—perhaps more than Snow Country. As I might have mentioned, I want to try and read everything of Kawabata's that has been translated into English. I'm finding him more and more to be a fascinating writer.

It would seem he held his short stories in higher regard than the novels. Going to try and find a copy of The Dancing Girl of Izu & Other Stories.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

No need for apology, I loved it—perhaps more than Snow Country. As I might have mentioned, I want to try and read everything of Kawabata's that has been translated into English. I'm finding him more and more to be a fascinating writer.

It would seem he held his short stories in higher regard than the novels. Going to try and find a copy of The Dancing Girl of Izu & Other Stories.

Izu Dancer is a clean, pretty and (deceptively) simple story. I recommend it. Literate classes at some high schools often compare the style, theme, plot, etc in the work with those in Mishima's Sound of Waves.

[vers la flamme]

Izu Dancer is a clean, pretty and (deceptively) simple story. I recommend it. Literate classes at some high schools often compare the style, theme, plot, etc in the work with those in Mishima's Sound of Waves.

That Mishima is another one I mean to read. I've thoroughly enjoyed all the Japanese literature I've been reading since New Year's, but Mishima and Kawabata might be my favorites so far.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The only Kawabata I've read is The Master Of Go which I thought superb. Must try more in the bearish future.

I (still and humbly) recommend Thousand Cranes.

[SimonNZ]

I (still and humbly) recommend Thousand Cranes.

Thanks. I'll grab the next copy I find.

Re: Miishima. I've not read much of his but 'Acts Of Worship" I thought one of the best short stories I'd read by anyone. Looking back now I think I'd compare it to Henry James not just in themes and development but in quality.

[Florestan]

I could've bet that my late father's library had some Yasunari Kawabata, but at a very cursory search I found only Yasushi Inoue's Tea Master. Any thoughts on this one?

[Florestan]

TD



W. Somerset Maugham --- Up at the Villa. (Romanian translation: The Villa on the Knoll)

A vivid illustration of the old and true dictums that (1) hell is paved with good intentions, and (2) be careful what you wish for, it might actually happen.