Ramblings About Anime, Manga, and Other Somethings…
Noh Dramas By Royall Tyler I read four popular and significant Noh dramas written by Kan’ami and his son, Zeami. Two of the plays, Atsumori and Tanadori, are warriors plays … Continue Reading Grudges & Enlightenment: Thoughts on Noh Dramas
The Prince (1532) By Niccolò Machiavelli The Prince is a radical nonfiction text discussing how to be a “proper” ruler or leader. Niccolò Machiavelli addressed this text to Lorenzo de’ … Continue Reading The How-To Guide For Rulers: Thoughts on The Prince
Gilgamesh (1800 BC) Translated By Stephen Mitchell Gilgamesh is an epic and tells the adventures of the great king of Uruk, Gilgamesh, and his friendship with Enkidu. It is known … Continue Reading The First Bromance: Thoughts on Gilgamesh
Things Fall Apart (1958) By Chinua Achebe “Things fall apart in order to fall back into place (or at least, we think?).” Things Fall Apart is a postcolonial tragedy written … Continue Reading The Invasion of the Locusts: Thoughts on Things Fall Apart
Ghalib: Selected Poems and Letters (2019) By Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib Translated by Frances W. Pritchett & Owen T.A. Cornwall Ghalib is a 19th-century Urdu-Persian poet. Ghalib: Selected Poems and … Continue Reading Thoughts on Ghalib Selected Poems and Letters
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam By Omar Khayyam (1048-1131) Translated By Edward Fitzgerald (1859) The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam was translated by Edward Fitzgerald in 1859. The first translation did … Continue Reading Thoughts on Edward Fitzgerald’s Translation of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Kongi’s Harvest (1965) By Wole Soyinka Kongi’s Harvest is a dramatic African play written by Wole Soyinka. Soyinka won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1986. Soyinka writes political … Continue Reading A Power Exchange: Thoughts on Kongi’s Harvest
Miss Julie (1888) By August Strindberg Miss Julie is a late 19th-century naturalist tragedy written by August Strindberg.
The Hour of the Star (1977) By Clarice Lispector The Hour of the Star is a peculiar text for me to read. We have a narrator that interrupts the story … Continue Reading Death of a Poor Starlet: Thoughts on The Hour of the Star
Notebook of a Return to the Native Land (1939) By Aime Cesaire Notebook of a Return to the Native Land is a mixture of prose and lyrical poetry. There isn’t … Continue Reading Thoughts on Notebook Of A Return To The Native Land (1939)
“The Dancing Girl” (1890) By Mori Ogai “The Dancing Girl” is the first short story published by Mori Ogai. It was written around the Meiji Period, the time when Japan … Continue Reading Changing Times: Thoughts on “The Dancing Girl” (1890)
Masks (1958) By Enchi Fumiko Masks is about the family drama centered around the Togano line. Mieko Togano is the mother of Akio and Harume. Akio was the former husband of … Continue Reading Behind the Mask: Thoughts on Masks
The Golden Cangue (1943) By Eileen Chang If you don’t know what a cangue is, it’s basically a piece of equipment used for punishment or public humiliation in East … Continue Reading Marrying Into Prison: Thoughts on The Golden Cangue
Crystals: The Modern Guide to Crystal Healing (2018) By Yulia Van Doren If you are interested in crystals, like I am, I recommend this book. Crystals: The Modern Guide to … Continue Reading “Gem-uine” Journey – Thoughts on Crystals: The Modern Guide to Crystal Healing
Love in a Fallen City (1943) By Eileen Chang If I were to describe this story in a song, it would be Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” featuring Calvin Harris. When … Continue Reading Spiritual & Traumatic Love: Thoughts on Love in a Fallen City
Red Rose, White Rose (1943?) By Eileen Chang Red Rose, White Rose is a story about a man’s love life spiraling out of control. Zhenbao grew up in a poor … Continue Reading The Cheating Man: Thoughts on Red Rose, White Rose
Just Something About LynLyn 