Category: Books

I’ve always though to read some of Lafcadio Hearn’s works. When you live in Japan for any sort of time and take an interest in the culture you’ll eventually hear of him as being the first “Japanophile.” I’m sure there were others but given his literary works, and that there were few ‘gaijin’ around back…… Continue reading Japan, An Attempt At Interpretation – Lafcadio Hearn

I never really thought about convenience stores in Japan although I’d frequent them when I lived there as well as when I return ever summer. For me, I’ll always get my vitamin drink (D-something, which tastes a bit like medicine) as well as sample the new beers as well as purchase my old favorites. It…… Continue reading Convenience Store Woman: A Novel

For the past two years, my favorite books have been about pre-industrial life in the country, mostly England, Spain, Japan and France in that order. This was another book about life in those times and although it is fiction gives me a little more feeling as to what those times must have been like. Here…… Continue reading A Month in the Country

I’d been meaning to read this book for a long time. Recently, I’ve been using the Libby app more and more and discovering how wonderful it is to be able to borrow digital books from the library. This is apparent given all my book posts recently, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and finally…… Continue reading The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

I don’t recall where I heard about this book but it was in my “to read” list. I enjoy books written pre-1900 because it gives me insight into history. With only history books and a few videos taken in the early days of video recording the past feels formal, dry, without any feeling. Reading books…… Continue reading I Am a Cat

It has been a tough start to 2025. There has been dramatic change at both work and politically. Those two things combined with two illnesses I haven’t had much energy or motivation to do much outside of work except read. Therefore, I’m a bit behind on my reading notes having read three other books since…… Continue reading The Pillars of the Earth

I came across Mary Beard in YouTube and always enjoyed her videos on Ancient Rome. I then learned she had written a few books and this one in particular was especially popular. It took me a while to finish as it is a long one and renting it through the library app Libby I had…… Continue reading SPQR – Mary Beard

I’ve recently been enjoying first person accounts of life in simple villages in England and Japan which I’ve posted about a few entries previous to this one. This was a pretty long read and I learned there is actually a TV series based on the book from the BBC. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lark_Rise_to_Candleford_(TV_series) I don’t have much…… Continue reading Lark Rise to Candleford