Okay, the second one I’ve been meaning to propose.
家守綺譚
Author: 梨木 香歩
Page count: 208
Natively link: https://learnnatively.com/book/b1ed3e5430/
Summary
Japanese (this is the official summary, but I think the English summary is more representative)
庭・池・電燈付二階屋。汽車駅・銭湯近接。四季折々、草・花・鳥・獣・仔竜・小鬼・河童・人魚・竹精・桜鬼・聖母・亡友等々々出没数多……本書は、百年まえ、天地自然の「気」たちと、文明の進歩とやらに今ひとつ棹さしかねてる新米精神労働者の「私」＝綿貫征四郎と、庭つき池つき電燈つき二階屋との、のびやかな交歓の記録である。
English
I’m using the summary/review written by @bookwormy_diary on Instagram, since it’s what made me intrigued about the book.
“Nestled in the mountainside, in the period when technology was starting to overtake that of the natural world, Seishirou Watanuki lived in a house, where his deceased friend used to live in. He is a poor writer, trying to grapple with the new age that he is facing, where newfound technology is slowly but surely taking over the human world from what it used to be. The friend, Koudou went missing while rowing his boat when they were at school. On a stormy night, Koudou appears from the painting hanging on the wall, rowing his boat through the lake painted in the frame towards Watanuki. This was a book written by Kaho Nashiki, one of my favourite authors. Strange and somewhat nostalgic, it’s a book that makes you imagine the world before technology, when mythical creatures and spirits lived side by side with humans. The story flows through the seasons like a stream or river, picking up some strange occurrences and creatures on the way, but still going on accepting the way of life.”
Availability
Physical: Amazon US | Amazon JP | Honto | Rakuten | CD Japan | Kinokuniya JP
Ebook: Bookwalker | eBook Japan
Personal Opinion
I found this book through @bookwormy_diary on Instagram (I used her review for the English summary!) and the surreality of it intrigued me. It’s been awarded the Honya Taishou (Japan Bookseller’s) award as well as the Shugoro Yamamoto Award.
Pros and Cons for the Book Club
Pros
- It’s a short read!
- Very heartwarming and wholesome (based off reviews on Bookmeter)
Cons
- Doesn’t seem too well known. It hasn’t been rated or reviewed on Natively before.
