tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194361583586198576.post2275539553970875686..comments2023-10-29T03:00:35.349-07:00Comments on The Conscience Pudding: Beautiful AgonyWatoosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194361583586198576.post-73963954063837509742007-08-13T04:39:00.000-07:002007-08-13T04:39:00.000-07:00I've never heard of Banana Yoshimoto. What should ...I've never heard of Banana Yoshimoto. What should I read by her? Sounds like something I'd like if it's similar to NLMG.<BR/><BR/>Yes, we discussed the wretchedness of the The Time Traveler's Wife ending at some point. I thought execution of the plot was great until the last fourth of the book, and then it all went haywire. The ending was not only poor, it just went on and on and wouldn't end. Ugh.Watoosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532321360262510965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194361583586198576.post-13637355605831722712007-08-12T21:27:00.000-07:002007-08-12T21:27:00.000-07:00It thrills me that you liked Never Let Me Go so mu...It thrills me that you liked <EM>Never Let Me Go</EM> so much. What you've written is exactly right: the sadness is intrinsic, but it's not a sorrow itself to be afraid of. In fact, hopefully without being too essentialist, it's what I admire about the Asian literature I've read, such as the novellas and stories by Banana Yoshimoto (have we talked about her?): the ability to see the lines of life, love, and grief and <EM>depict</EM> them in a way that most Westerners can't -- or won't. <BR/><BR/>It's what I love about the best anime and manga, when they're not just making me laugh.<BR/><BR/>And have we discussed TTW? I admired the plot but hated the ending so much that it's colored my view of the whole book; I was sure I was the only one who didn't think it was the most amazing story ever. If someone had compared <EM>Never Let Me Go</EM> to TTW as an inducement to read, I would have stayed away.hayumbonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06893794664821800017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4194361583586198576.post-60852921746244410732007-07-18T19:40:00.000-07:002007-07-18T19:40:00.000-07:00This line--"it is sad, but that sadness is essenti...This line--"it is sad, but that sadness is essential to its loveliness"--has ensured that I will read it. While I know you weren't a big fan, this sentiment is roughly how I thought of <I>The Time Traveler's Wife</I> and, to a much lesser but still noticable extant, <I>Lovely Bones</I>. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for making it clear what I should read next. I'll probably read it even before <I>Calamity Physics</I>.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991892874834143548noreply@blogger.com