I was about to start reading Tokyo by Mo Hayder, but when I researched a bit more as to the exact nature of the atrocities comitted during the rape and massacre of Nanking, I'm not too sure if I'll have the stomach for it...

Btw, does anybody know what I've done wrong with my forum settings so that the OT section doesn't show up on my "recent topics " screen anymore?

It only shows up topics in the AG and "other games" section, even when there are recent posts in the OT section.

War is war sadly Trav, not to defend the events at Nanking, but just about every war for every culture has such events and much worse. The Mongols did far far worse when they wiped out Chinese cities. The Japanese miitarist cabal that was pushing for the expansion in China was a rogue element but they were powerful and outside the control of the government, as such elements had been since the fall of the Shogunate. Japanese politics and events in their history between 1870 and 1940 were often quite obscure and complex, and are very little understood by western people, indeed few of those who call themselves Eastern History Scholars from the US and other western countries have any clue about what Japan is really about, and authors of fiction and other books rarely do too. If you want a good insight into Japan, i would recomend

The Master of Go   Meijin   (名人

The Book of Tea The Book of Tea (茶の本

The Book of Five Rings (五輪書) Go Rin No Sho  by Miyamoto Musash (1645)

Japan has been an enigma for others and for herself in some ways, a complex combination culture, partly based on Chinese tradition in a way that our own culture is based on Classical themes from Rome and Greece and party created by the restless, driven and paradoxical nature of the Japanese soul itself. A huge nation back when European countries were much smaller and much more primitive, they had some 26 million inhabitants in the 1500s, but constant natural disasters, famines, earthquakes, fires, and wars kept life on the edge of a blade for all classes of people. From that arose a native philosophy of acceptance, stoicism, and great independence combined with deeply imprinted cultural mores that demanded one obey fate and fit into ones role in life and society. War and almost all of life was ritualized in a complex code that has lasted in oine form or another to modern days. Though conflict was always present, and especially in foreign extensions of Japan in trade, politics and conquest, among the Japanese people themselves, Consensus is the goal aimed for in family, buisness, and almost all group endevours. From these paradoxical and often conflicting drives, comes a amazingly dynamic society that has the skills and abilities to master just about anything possible.

Rarefly westerners percieve and understand this, most often they have a overt or hidden sense of superiority and look down upon the 'quant" or "barbaric" nature of Japan, as much a mistake for us to make as when they themselves lump all westernere together as Gaijin, and ignore our divesity and wide range of differences.

There are a few books that have some good vision of all of this, but not many. I am not condoning in any way the nature of the events of the pillaging of Nanking or other Chinese cities, or events that occured during the war under Japanese Occupation. As a result of that war and those events, the Japanese nation turned from war as a possible avenue of action in a complete and absolute way, yet within their culture there is still a powerful force that admits no conquest or concession. If any of this intrigues you, then any thing you read about their history and events will help give more understanding, even if it is wrong or skewed. A very interesting realm for study to be sure.

Wow, i'm going to look that up, i was feeling like something Japanesey.  Thanks for all that input, Chris!

I tend to reread a lot of my books, as I am now, re-reading John Varley's 'Millinium', the novelization of 'Serenity' ( movie based on the tv show 'Firefly') and Greg Egan's 'Quarantine'. I'm waiting to get Stephen King's 'Bag Of Bones' until I see the tv movie. Normally, I do it the other way around.

I did not know there was a book of that, wonderful series.

Trav one of the problems with Japanese literature by them about them, and ours about them...when they are writing for them, they have so many cultural assumptions and world views that we do not know about that they dont explain...because they expect the reader to understand.....and for the same reason, WE cant write about such as we dont know about them......    but if you keep your mind and eye open and keep moving your vision from certainy and presumption you will discover some wonderful unexpected things.....

One way to find or see Japan as Japan is to watch Japanese anime series, which are NOT cartoons i hasten to say...i reccomend Moribito Guardian of the Spirit, and Samurai Champloo. These series and the anime form of animation have been developed by Japanese directors and artists for generations now, and it has reached a very high level of art and literature...in all genres. And much of it is uniquely Japanese....... it has reached into all realms of literature, story, drama and culture..... sadly we over here really dont undestand much about it tho there is a strong fan base....one of the best known here of the anime directors, Hayaho Miyazaki, is one of the worst and most shallow ...he is basically a Walt Disney version of anime, and his work is cute without merit and sweet with an underlying angst that shows up in his series and movies as catastrophic violations of his own characters and plots. Avoid him, and look for the real gems.

Japan evolved a very individualist culture to deal with many people being crowded into a smal group of islands....each person high or low, has their own little world insdie of them, and most of them have great individual strength and pride, tho not pride as we know it. They do not assume life promises untold wonders if one gets lucky, they believe in a spirit and a spiritism in not just an idea of God but of many gods, and spirits, Kami...and tho the old Shinto ways may have faded a bit, everyone still goes on Bon to visit with ancestors, and to pray on New Years, and many threads of belief and custom continue to this day. Theirs is a very organized life filled with many small rituals, customs, and ways things are done....a complex pattern that offers comfort and security......and for us a foreign balance of belief and faith and aspirations of a smaller kind than ours perhaps but just as real and felt. They have a very modern and at times bizare culture, with some very odd likes and attachments.... and an amazing abiltiy to focus and to craft and achieve things that others may start but which they take to great heights. Much to learn and to enjoy.

Whilst looking around for Japanese books,  I have in the meantime started with The Shadow of the Wind  (La sombra del viento ) by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.  Liking it so far. 

That's a good one, Traveller!  If you like it, then also read Zafón's The Angel's Game, which also takes place in Barcelona and is more mysterious than The Shadow of the Wind.  The ending twists and really made me think, and it's one I'll reread for clues.  His first novel, The Prince of Mist, was republished earlier this year and is next on my list.

I finished Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - a real page-turner with interesting history and very steamy love scenes, and I'm currently reading A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cossé, which was first published in French.  It's a combination mystery and celebration of good literature.  Many of the books they discuss are French titles that are new to me, but it's still a good read.  [Insert reading smiley here.]  Of all the hundreds from which to choose, there is narry a one here.  That's serious oversight indeed!  

Thanks for that feedback, LadyK. 

Re the Japanese studies:

I've managed to find the Book of Five Rings and The Book of Tea, but they seem to be the kind of book I'll be sipping at in reasonably small portions at a time, so I'll start one of them as background reading.  I'll read a bit every morning or so.

Originally Posted By ChiTown4

I tend to reread a lot of my books, as I am now, re-reading John Varley's 'Millinium', the novelization of 'Serenity' ( movie based on the tv show 'Firefly') and Greg Egan's 'Quarantine'. I'm waiting to get Stephen King's 'Bag Of Bones' until I see the tv movie. Normally, I do it the other way around.

I adored the Firefly series and the movie Serenity.  They all  have a special place on my  DVD shelf.  Tho I'm not sure if a book would have the same charm?

I love how "Jayne" grew up to become "John Casey."

That being said, I am finally settling down with A Dance With Dragons.

ah good glad you found those Trav

if you want a "readable" tale that gives you great actualy history and sense of things...

The Heike Story:

http://www.amazon.com/Heike-Story-Translation-Classic-Classics/dp/0804833184

and of course Lady Murasaki Shikibu's Classic The Tale of Genji

http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Genji-Murasaki-Shikibu/dp/0394735307

are not to be missed.

for a more modern (and less accurate but still fun to read) tale of Japan,

Shogun by Janes Clavell

a rip roaring hollywood style romance and blade tale of pre Shogunate Japan, from the Waring States Period

Hmm, I'm not completely unfamiliar with things Japanese; ( I read the James Clavell eons ago, btw.)  ..and I am of course familiar with the Tale of Genji, plus I've read a few translated from Japanese novels, such as by Yukio Mishima (which I bought in Japan itself) as well as some classical Japanese works; plus spent about 10 days in Japan - a very beautiful country as far as natural beauty is concerned, and quite different from other Asian countries in how clean and precise everything is there. 

Ironically, I found all the books that Chris recommended to me, in ebook form.  There are one or two of them that are free in the public domain, btw, I can't remember which, and I downloaded those.

I loved Zafon's Shadow of the Wind, and have The Angel's Game on my "To-read" list.  currently reading The Wind-up Bird  Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, and "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

Also The Wars of the Roses: Lancaster and York  by Alison Weir.

Well Trav,

I decided to google your new medieval book and got bogged down on amazon as I always do reading reviews and looking at 'other books people buy' etc.  Naturally I've found several books that interest me.  I so need a new bookcase....

Originally Posted By Caroline

Well Trav,

 

I decided to google your new medieval book and got bogged down on amazon as I always do reading reviews and looking at 'other books people buy' etc.  Naturally I've found several books that interest me.  I so need a new bookcase....

Alison Weir seems to love more or less that period in history, she's written quite a lot of books around that era. Some of them are about Henry VIII.  After vaccilating a bit on which of her Henry VIII books to put on my list, I decided to choose  Henry VIII: The King and His Court, because it seems to be the most recent and best researched one.  Also, everyone always focuses on his wives, and this one seems to be more of a general background.

Caroline, have you tried out Who Murdered Chaucer by Terry Jones, or Terry Jones' Medieval Lives yet?    I haven't read those yet, just peeped at them, and I like his semi-humorous style.

Oh, and do share with us on what you found? 

Medieval lives by Terry Jones is a lovely, funny, fast paced read.  I highly recommend it.  I have recently bought a no-frills, just the facts book called The Anglo Saxon Kings by Timothy Venning.  I'm still reading the introduction but the book itself is a who's who of small kings and tribal leaders - names we don't normally hear about as well as those that we do, sorted into regions of Britain.  For some the entry is brief and necessarily vague on dates and lineage but the names!  Wow... just gorgeous.

I've just finished reading one of Shirley McClaine's epistles on life.  Interesting, entertaining but my goodness that lady is a fruitcake.  Her explanation about past lives and how the two genders came into being is awesomely mind-boggling and makes you wonder what they put in the water over there.