Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka and Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori - #bookreview

On the mainline Sannomiya Station, bayside exit, Seita sat slumped against a column, its tiles peeling off to expose the bare concrete, with his bottom on the floor and both legs stretched out straight before him...

The Blurb

The heartbreaking Japanese classic telling the story of two orphans fighting for survival at the end of World War Two, published in English for the first time

In the dying days of the War, Seita and Setsuko must fend for themselves. Firebombs have obliterated their home in Kobe, leaving them searching for shelter and scrambling to survive in the depths of the countryside. But, as their suffering becomes a constant companion, so do the lights of the fireflies – shining from the bomber planes, and the insects glowing by the lake at night.

This unforgettable semi-autobiographical tale by Akiyuki Nosaka won him the Naoki Prize, cementing his place in the Japanese cultural canon. Published here for the first time as a standalone story, Grave of the Fireflies illuminates the untold sorrows of normal people who live in the shadow of war.

My Review

Publishing today this short but heartbreaking and raw novella is an absolute must read. 

It is the story of Seita and Setsuko who have been orphaned by war. Brother and sister are aged about fourteen and four respectively. Reading of how the older sibling tries to take care of his younger sister amidst such terrible and harrowing circumstances made me feel quite emotional. 

 The author describes everyday life for them as society disintegrates around them as Japan faces defeat. Originally published in 1967, this book is as relevant today as it was when it was written. Our media is full of war and the suffering of innocent people and I could not help but think that nothing has been learned from the past.

At less than 80 pages I found this to be a concise telling of the harrowing hardships of war.  This semi-autobiographical work which was originally a short story made for excellent reading. 

Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori she has done an excellent job of bringing this story to the attention of the wider reading community and I highly recommend it.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 0241780213

Publisher:  Penguin Classics

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  80 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Blackwell's

Waterstones

About the Author

Akiyuki Nosaka (1930-2015) was a novelist, singer, lyricist and former member of the House of Councillors in Japan. Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa, his memories of living through the Second World War – including the loss of his adoptive father in the 1945 Kobe bombings – served as the inspiration for his most famous short stories. In 1967, he won the Naoki Prize for Grave of the Fireflies and American Hijiki, both based on the Japanese experience of the War. Nosaka also wrote erotic fiction, including The Pornographers (1963), and in later life he continued his career as a newspaper and TV journalist, as well as a politician and chanson singer.

(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher)

(author photo courtesy of Wiki)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Butter by Asako Yuzuki and Translated by Polly Barton - #bookreview

The row of tall, narrow houses all in the same shade of ecru trailed up the gently sloping hill, with no end in sight. Everywhere in this well-kept neighbourhood left a seamlessly uniform impression, and Rika Machida had begun to feel as if she were circling round and round a single spot.

***

The Blurb

There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.

Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.

Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body. Might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?

Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, 'The Konkatsu Killer', Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, gripping exploration of misogyny, obsession and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.

The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story, and translated by Polly Barton.

My Review

This is a unique book, and I cannot recall anything similar in my reading experience.

It is a genre-defying novel based on fact. The main character is a journalist, Rika Machida who is trying to find a way to interview Manako Kajii, who has been convicted and imprisoned for the murders of three older men after they have eaten meals that she prepared for them.

This is a really interesting book. It was fascinating to observe the way in which Rika, the only female journalist in her office, finds a way in which she can get an exclusive interview with Kajii, who has refused all approaches from the press before. Through Kajii's love of food, she is able to find a way through and to meet her face to face.

There are many references to food and dishes in this book, most of which were new to me. As we watch Rika's own attempts at cooking some of the recipes that Kajii demands she cooks, we become immersed in this story of discovery alongside her. The food and cooking is described in detail. The descriptions are mouth-watering and sensual, and Rika attempts to understand Kajii's motivation and psyche in her love of cooking.

Whilst there is a mystery running alongside, the book is really about how society views women in Japan and how women are expected to conform to a particular size and role. It also touches on themes of trauma, and we read how all these things are affected by an attitude to food.

I enjoyed this book very much, and I recommend it if you fancy something a little different.

Book Details

ISBN: 978 0008511715

Publisher: Fourth Estate

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages: 464 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Asako Yuzuki was born in Tokyo in 1981. She won the All Yomimono Award for New Writers for her story, Forget Me, Not Blue, which appeared in her debut, Shuuten No Anoko, published in 2010. She won the Yamamoto Shūgorō Award in 2015 for Nile Perch No Joshikai. She has been nominated multiple times for the Naoko Prize, and her novels have been adapted for television, radio and film. 

You can also find Asako at:

X

(media courtesy of https://www.rcwlitagency.com/authors/yuzuki-asako/)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Books I Read in June 2025

This month I went on holiday.  Two weeks in the glorious Lake District filled with good food, good books and good walks. In fact, my dog Roxie, is finding home walkies far inferior as there are no lakes in which she can paddle in the shallows!

We had a fabulous time and were able to sit in the sunshine with a good book or two. In fact, I have read several five star reads this month so it will be difficult to choose a favourite, but I will try.

What have you been reading this month? Anything you would think I might enjoy?

The Last Train to Freedom by Deborah Swift

I seldom give books of this type five stars, but this one fully deserves it for bringing something new and refreshing to the genre. If you would like to read my review of this book you can find it here.

Rainbows and Lollipops by Mo Fanning

This is a wonderful book about friendship and family that I enjoyed reading very much, and it earned a five star review from me. If you would like to read my review of this book you can find it here.

What Will Survive of Us by Howard Jacobson

I really struggled to like the characters in this book. Well written but I found it somewhat lacking.

Great and Horrible News: Murder and Mayhem in Early Modern Britain by Blessin Adams

I haven't had an opportunity to review this excellent non-fiction title yet. It was extremely well researched and put together. 

The Rabbi's Suitcase by Robert Kehlmann

This was an enjoyable book based on the discovery of the author of a cache of hidden letters and will appeal to those interested in Jewish history. You can find my mini review by clicking here.

Wartime Comes to the West India Dock Road by Renita D'Silva

This was a really enjoyable read. My review won't be available until my stop on the blog tour on 25th July. Watch this space.

Libby and the Highland Heist by Jo Clarke

This is another book by my granddaughter's favourite author. It's a really enjoyable continuation of the Libby series.

A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant

An enjoyable book in the cosy crime genre. My review of this book will be up on 3rd July.

Ladies Lunch and Other Stories by Lore Segal

I really wanted to enjoy this book of interconnected stories but alas, the book didn't live up to my hopes.

Butter by Asako Yuzuki

This was very different to anything I have read recently. I enjoyed it and my review is scheduled for the 8th July.

The Heirloom by Julie Brooks

Probably my favourite read this month.  It had everything that I love in a book. It is a dual timeline narrative, being set in both 1821 and 2024. Consequently, historical fiction runs alongside a contemporary narrative. I loved it. If you would like to read my review of this book you can find it here.

The Union Street Bakery by Mary Ellen Taylor

This was a gripping and engaging novel which I really loved, and it's about three sisters who are running the family bakery.  If you would like to read my review of this book you can find it here.

Women in Lockdown by The Wayfinder Woman Trust

The book is full to the brim with the writing, artwork and photographs of women in lockdown.   If you would like to read my review of this book you can find it here.

Reading Roundup for February 2024

 

Here we are at the end of another month, and it is time to tell you about all the books I have read in February.

My reading time is still being impacted by my new puppy shaped friend who will, in time, be a wonderful reading and writing companion. However, at the moment, it is a case of preventing her from getting into too much mischief!

Have you read anything good this month? I would love to hear your recommendations. 

Books I Have Read

Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering - Edited by Margaret Atwood and Douglas Preston - This is a really unusual collaborative work which made for an interesting read. You can read my review by clicking here.

Our Georgeous Baby by Smriti Halls - This is a delightful picture book about the arrival of a new baby. You can read my review by clicking here.

The Sisterhood by Katherine Bradley - A feminist retelling of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty Four. You can read my review by clicking here.

L is for Love by Atinuke - I reviewed this book for pre-schoolers on Valentine's Day as it seemed so apt. You can read my review by clicking here.

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonham-Young - This is a lovely book filled with humour and chemistry between the main characters. You can read my review by clicking here.

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa - I read this with my Book Group and it had a mixed reception. However, I really enjoyed it and you can read my review by clicking here.

My Brilliant Life: An Unforgettable Memoir of Love, Loss and the Ability of the Heart to Heal by Rachelle Unreich - This is a very moving memoir, told by a daughter about her mother's experience during the Holocaust. You can read my review by clicking here.

Adiel and the Fuhrer by Elyse Hoffman - I read this as part of the blog tour and very glad I did. You can read my review by clicking here.

Snack, Please! by Georgie Birkett - My review of this lovely picture book will be up next week.

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman - This particular book was a little over sentimental for my taste but it was a good story.

The Story Collector by Iris Costello - This was a five star timeslip novel and was excellent. You can read my full review by clicking here.

Books I Did Not Finish

Maude Horton's Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook - Absolutely nothing wrong with this book but I needed to prioritise other books so have set it aside for the moment.

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky - Reading this I learnt that puppies and Russian literature are not a good combination!

Books I am Currently Reading

The Shadow Network by Deborah Swift

In Sickness and in Health/Yom Kippur in a Gym by Nora Gold

The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein

The Sorrow of War by Bao Ninh

Newborn by Kerry Hudson

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa - #bookreview

 

From late summer to early spring the next year, I lived at the Morisaki Bookshop. I spent that period of my life in the spare room on the second floor of the store, trying to bury myself in books. The cramped room barely got any light, and everything felt damp. It smelled constantly of musty old books...

***

The Japanese bestseller: a tale of love, new beginnings, and the comfort that can be found between the pages of a good book.

When twenty-five-year-old Takako's boyfriend reveals he's marrying someone else, she reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle Satoru's offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above his shop.

Hidden in Jimbocho, Tokyo, the Morisaki Bookshop is a booklover's paradise. On a quiet corner in an old wooden building, the shop is filled with hundreds of second-hand books. It is Satoru's pride and joy, and he has devoted his life to the bookshop since his wife left him five years earlier.

Hoping to nurse her broken heart in peace, Takako is surprised to encounter new worlds within the stacks of books lining the shop.

And as summer fades to autumn, Satoru and Takako discover they have more in common than they first thought. The Morisaki bookshop has something to teach them both about life, love, and the healing power of books.

Quirky, beautifully written, and movingly profound, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop will appeal to readers of Before The Coffee Gets Cold, The Cat Who Saved Books, and anyone who has had to recover from a broken heart.

***

I read this book as it was the selection of the month at my Book Group. In fact, it was me who selected it as I have been wanting to read this for sometime. Also, my son and I both enjoy Japanese literature and pass our books back and forth to one another. This one will be winging its way to his house very soon as it was a lovely novel and one that I think he will enjoy. I also cannot wait to hear what my book group thought of it but I shall have to be patient for a few more days. 

I also cannot resist books about books. This one is set in a bookshop in Tokyo's Jimbocho's district, and I enjoyed following Takako's journey as she fell in love with books and reading.

The book is divided into two parts; the first is about Takako's move to the bookshop, and the second is based around the sudden return of her aunt Momoko although Takako features in this part too.

It is an uncomplicated narrative, short and therefore, easy to read. With only 160 pages I completed it in a couple of sittings and found it engaging and enjoyable. It reads as a balm to the soul as it has a calmness running through the prose. It is the sort of book that made me sigh with satisfaction as I was reading it.

It contains themes of love, friendship, loss and discovery. It is about new beginnings and how we can find a way to move forward. Charming and beautiful to read I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978 1786583239

Publisher:  Manilla Press

Formats: e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  160 (paperback)

About the Author:

Satoshi Yagisawa was born in Chiba, Japan, in 1977. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, his debut novel, was originally published in 2009 and won the Chiyoda Literature Prize.

(book and author media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)