Jenn Westfall

From the back cover: Banana Yoshimoto's warm, witty, and heartfelt depictions of the lives of young Japanese have earned her international acclaim and best-seller status. In "Hardboiled", the unnamed narrator, hiking in the mountains on the anniversary of her ex-lover's death, s haunted by her past and learns to make peace with her loss. "Hard Luck" is about another young woman whose sister lies in a coma. As she prepares to say good-bye to her loved one, a new friendship promises hope. Yoshimoto's voice is clear, assured, and deeply moving, displaying again why she is one of Japan's, and the world's, most beloved writers

This was a fun read. I've always enjoyed reading books written in a different country, in a different language. It seems to me it gives us a brief look into the ways other live, think, feel, and view the workd from their place in it. Originally written in Japanese and translated into English by Michael Emmerich, this book flows in a much different way than books written within our own American culture. Both stories delve into the world of ghosts and the supernatural in a way that seems so ordinary and everyday. I wondered if this idea of the supernatural in everyday life was indicative of the Japanese culture in general. Is there something about their belief system which allows the idea of ghosts and spirits to be accepted and a part of their lives without being seen as out of the ordinary or crazy in some way. In the end, a great way to start off my 1000 books project.