Tranquil Light over BROOKLYN (and NYC and JAPAN)

“I had always thought, from my outpost on Mount Nagata, that great beauty could be the product of only of nature. But these American skyscrapers – columns of shiny black mica, windows the colour of tremolite – were redolent with something else. They spoke to me of man-made dreams made concrete and grounded in rock, of lives fully lived. They were the solid manifestations of soaring spirit and a kind of service to a greater cause. Even the broken Manhattan skyline, where the towers had once stood, spoke to me of immense human suffering and even greater endurance. There was something unique about New York’s mountain ridge of buildings..” Seido-san’s observations of New York, quoted from Buddahland Brooklyn.

Buddahland Brooklyn by Richard C Morais is now reviewed on the new TripFiction website here

Historical Fiction from Nagasaki to Plymouth

This post can now be found on the new TripFiction website here




The Gilded Fan by Christina Courtenay

Take a virtual tour of Tokyo via fiction

Take a virtual tour into the heart of Tokyo.............

A coming of age story, almost a novella, that charts the relationship between Takashi and Haruka.
For us at TripFiction, this is a fabulous novel that weaves its way into the heart of Tokyo life and brings the city into sharp focus for the reader. This is a great novel for exploring frenetic Tokyo life, offering up little aspects that make Tokyo, well, Tokyo. The automatic opening of taxi doors, the young peoples' love of Western and Japanese named brands,descriptions of the kotatsu heaters that many older style dwellings still have. Pocky Sticks! The intricacies of the subway lines. And the delightful examples of how the Japanese enthusiastically embrace western words and names that result in what, to us, are plain wacky: the author mentions two wedding magazines called Zexy and 25ans, and the coffee shop "hors et dans". It's all there, little vignettes of how the city works.... and not a single mention of Pocari Sweat!! If you fancy an armchair trip to Tokyo, either to rekindle memories of a visit, or to prepare for an upcoming journey; or just because you want a bit of insight, then give this book a go. It is a a quick read and can be purchased via this link:

http://www.tripfiction.com/Book/2294

If you fancy a couple of other novel suggestions, then click on this link to our previous Tokyo blogspot. They are all top reads and will transport you to the city via fiction.

http://tripfiction.blogspot.ch/2012/05/two-books-for-starters-in-tokyo.html

Tanoshimu! 

Two complementary books set in Japan

We are very lucky to to have great people who introduce us to books that perhaps we wouldn't come across in everyday life. The Ginger Tree by Oswald Wynd is without doubt a real find! Here, we bring together two fabulous books that superbly describe Japan in the earlier part of the 20th century, each featuring a very determined woman, who struggles to find her position in contemporary society. Both books, we have to say, are firmly in our Top 20! Beautiful style, evocative of locale....need we say more?


http://www.tripfiction.com/Book/2160 A young woman travels from Edinburgh to Peking in the early 20th century, and writes about her experiences in diary form. She is trapped in a loveless marriage to a stiff and conventional man, falls in love with a Japanese warrior and pays dearly for that passion. It is then that Mary's real journey begins, as she courageously starts to forge a new life for herself in Tokyo, just as Japan is witnessing the first rumblings of the industrial powerhouse it was to become. Just a wonderful book!



http://www.tripfiction.com/Book/1284 Chiyo-chan is a nine year old girl from a small fishing village,who has experienced a simple life until her Mother becomes fatally ill. She is sent by her Father to Gion, one of the Geisha areas of districts of Kyoto. She grows into the most stunning Geisha Sayuri and this is her story beautifully told. There are references, too, to actual places frequented by geisha and their patrons, such as the Ichiriki Ochaya, and brings the life of a Geisha of Gion to life (and if you are fortunate you can still catch a glimpse of a traditional 'Geisha' in the alleys of Gion in Kyoto)


If you feel inspired to read a couple of books set in, and about Tokyo, then take a look at this past blog - these book choices are designed to help you get a new and inspired perspective and to see a location through an author's eyes. There are many more books "set in" on our website: www.TripFiction.com - do drop by.

http://tripfiction.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/two-books-for-starters-in-tokyo.html

Two books for starters in Tokyo

Wonderful Tokyo. Bustling metropolis. Inscrutable country.



Sensoji Temple which has 30 million visitors per year

We have lots of books in our database set in Tokyo and have chosen two more unusual ones for anyone who wants to try and get a feel for this complex city. 



We absolutely fell in love with this book! Author Chavouet set out to record Tokyo as he saw and observed the city, creating beautiful line drawings to accompany great observations on the people and culture.

"One of the best books ever written about this city"





And this novel is one we came across as we were researching TripFiction and gives great insight into family values across Japan; the author really knows the country and once you have read it, you too will have gained a little more understanding of some of the complexities that abound at every level







Many more titles on our website....and if you know of a book that is evocative of Japan, and it doesn't already appear in our database, then get in touch via contact@tripfiction.com