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
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
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
“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
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
“Sealed Off” (1943?) By Eileen Chang “Sealed Off” is a short story written by Eileen Chang. The story takes place in a “tram car” (a street trolley). The trolley comes … Continue Reading Only A Dream? Thoughts on “Sealed Off”
Jasmine Tea (茉莉香片) (1943?) By Eileen Chang So the title, Jasmine Tea is only referenced at the beginning. Just like the concept of “Once upon a time” within a story, … Continue Reading Spillin’ Tea: Thoughts on Jasmine Tea
Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier (1943?) By Eileen Chang Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier is a novella written by Eileen Chang. In this novella, Weilong visits her estranged aunt, Madame … Continue Reading Love Currency – Thoughts on Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier
Blood Wedding (1932) By Federico Garcia Lorca Blood Wedding is a tragedy written by Federico Garcia Lorca in 1932. It is based off a newspaper story about a mysterious murder. … Continue Reading So Much For A Happy Ending: Thoughts on Blood Wedding
Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) By Marguerite Duras Hiroshima Mon Amour is a screenplay written by Marguerite Duras and there’s a movie of the same name directed by Alain Resnais. I didn’t … Continue Reading One Night Stand: Thoughts on Hiroshima Mon Amour