3 Books

[Hanakuso]

Im sure theres probably an apropriate book tread where this belongs but Im tired and didnt have searching energy... so heres good..

Ive been given three books, one of which i gots to read and do a review of.. Titles are;

The lady and the monk - Pico Iyer
Wrong about Japan: A fathers journey with his son. - Peter Carey
On Familiar Terms: A journey across cultures. - Donald Keene

Anyone read them / can recommend one?

[Taro Toporific]

The lady and the monk - Pico Iyer
Wrong about Japan: A fathers journey with his son. - Peter Carey
On Familiar Terms: A journey across cultures. - Donald Keene

Anyone read them / can recommend one?

[color="Red"]SPOILER Warning[/color]
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The lady and the monk... The best written of the three books, but not realistic]Wrong about Japan...[/I] Is about as useful in understanding in Japan as Lost in Translation; it's an outsiders view of Japan from a Wapanese wannabe and father who catches the sickness.

On Familiar Terms.. Donald Keene is by far the most knowing of the three authors and maybe the driest.

Bottom Line: Read Pico Iyer for the best literature; read Donald Keene for the best commentator; read Peter Carey if you want to be a wannabe.

[Hanakuso]

Thanks taro...

[Taro Toporific]

Thanks ...

I'm harsh on Peter Carey's book because it is about as much fatherhood as it is about Japan. I'm assuming you are a single college student who may not be interested on such an outsider's perspective of Japan, right?

[Hanakuso]

Yeh, the title was enough to put me off that one.. Careys book sounds like a bit of an idiots guide... Not to totally judge it by its cover or anything....

[GomiGirl]

For the Peter Carey book, there are already quite a few opinions on this board.

Peter Carey FG search

But Taro's thread covers it very well.

BTW I was very disappointed in this book.

[Taro Toporific]

For the Peter Carey book... was very disappointed in this book.

I got a free review copy from the author's publishing house based on all the google hits linked to my posts. I felt bad about panning Peter Carey's work since the publisher was so hip to viral marketing that they gave me a book. I'm sure if I was pathetic parent with an otaku kid living in the West, Wrong about Japan would have more meaning....

[Hanakuso]

Bwahahaha... nice tactics... you should demand more copies!!! (encase your washlet ever breaks down)

[Hanakuso]

I'm sure if I was pathetic parent with an otaku kid living in the West, Wrong about Japan would have more meaning....

Now i can see why my teacher added that book to the list... Theres so many damn otaku freaks in my classes...

[GomiGirl]

I got a free review copy from the author's publishing house based on all the google hits linked to my posts. I felt bad about panning Peter Carey's work since the publisher was so hip to viral marketing that they gave me a book. I'm sure if I was pathetic parent with an otaku kid living in the West, Wrong about Japan would have more meaning....

marketing is one thing - but it was just a bad bad book. He only wrote it so he could write off the trip as a business expense. It was supposed to be a true story - journalist style - but he included a fictional character.. very, very bad. What was the worst thing was that he tried to explain Japan from his own experiences without looking at facts.

Plus a friend of mine was mentioned in the book even though he has expressly asked that his name be changed..

[jingai]

Read books by Keene- I think his work is fascinating and you might even learn something. If your brain is full, try Karl Taro Greenfield.