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Literary Update
Aug. 10th, 2004 11:20 pmI just finished December 6
Set in the crazed, nationalistic Tokyo of late 1941, December 6 explores the coming world war through the other end of history's prism -- a prism held here by an unforgettable rogue and lover, Harry Niles.
In many ways, Niles should be as American as apple pie: raised by missionary parents, taught to respect his elders and be an honorable and upright Christian citizen dreaming of the good life on the sun-blessed shores of California. But Niles is also Japanese: reared in the aesthetics of Shinto and educated in the dance halls and backroom poker gatherings of Tokyo's shady underworld to steal, trick and run for his life. As a gaijin, a foreigner -- especially one with a gift for the artful scam -- he draws suspicion and disfavor from Japanese police. This potent mixture of stiff tradition and intrigue -- not to mention his brazen love affair with a Japanese mistress who would rather kill Harry than lose him -- fills Harry's final days in Tokyo with suspense and fear.
and will soon start Fury by Salman Rushdie.
I've been reading the Craig's list Free board again. I could have gotten the motorcycle that I mentioned earlier, but my AT&T voicemail screwed up, and I didn't get the message until Monday, and that was too late. Just today, someone was giving away a new food dehydrator, and another person was giving away a free 1950 Plymouth coupe, stored for the last 22 years. I checked out the design on the internet, and the car has very nice lines, with a split windshield and protruding rear fenders. I toyed with the idea of responding to both ads, but I realised that I don't need the food dehydrator, and the car would be a lot of work to restore, and a hassle to store.
Set in the crazed, nationalistic Tokyo of late 1941, December 6 explores the coming world war through the other end of history's prism -- a prism held here by an unforgettable rogue and lover, Harry Niles.
In many ways, Niles should be as American as apple pie: raised by missionary parents, taught to respect his elders and be an honorable and upright Christian citizen dreaming of the good life on the sun-blessed shores of California. But Niles is also Japanese: reared in the aesthetics of Shinto and educated in the dance halls and backroom poker gatherings of Tokyo's shady underworld to steal, trick and run for his life. As a gaijin, a foreigner -- especially one with a gift for the artful scam -- he draws suspicion and disfavor from Japanese police. This potent mixture of stiff tradition and intrigue -- not to mention his brazen love affair with a Japanese mistress who would rather kill Harry than lose him -- fills Harry's final days in Tokyo with suspense and fear.
and will soon start Fury by Salman Rushdie.
I've been reading the Craig's list Free board again. I could have gotten the motorcycle that I mentioned earlier, but my AT&T voicemail screwed up, and I didn't get the message until Monday, and that was too late. Just today, someone was giving away a new food dehydrator, and another person was giving away a free 1950 Plymouth coupe, stored for the last 22 years. I checked out the design on the internet, and the car has very nice lines, with a split windshield and protruding rear fenders. I toyed with the idea of responding to both ads, but I realised that I don't need the food dehydrator, and the car would be a lot of work to restore, and a hassle to store.
