Book Description
From Japan's first Nobel laureate for literature, three superb stories exploring the interplay between erotic fantasy and reality in a loner's mind.
"He was not to do anything in bad taste, the woman of the house warned old Eguchi. He was not to put his finger into the mouth of the sleeping girl, or try anything else of that sort." With his promise to abide by the rules, Eguchi begins his life as a member of a secret club for elderly gentlemen
who have lost their sexual powers. At an inn several hours from Tokyo they indulge in their last pleasure: lying with beautiful young girls who are sleeping nude when the men arrive. As "House of the Sleeping Beauties" unfolds in Kawabata's subtle prose, the horrified reader comes to see that the
sexual excitement is a result not of rejuvenescence, but of a flirtation with death.
The three stories presented in this volume all center upon a lonely protagonist and his peculiar eroticism. In each, the author explores the interplay of fantasy and reality at work on a mind in solitude-in "House of the Sleeping Beauties," the elderly Eguchi and his clandestine trips to his club;
in "One Arm," the bizarre dialogue of a man with the arm of a young girl; in "Of Birds and Beasts," a middle-aged man's memories of an affair with a dancer mingled with glimpses of his abnormal attachment to his pets.
All of these stories appear in English for the first time outside of Japan. "Of Birds and Beasts," written in the early 1930's, is one of Kawabata's earlier works, while "One Arm" and "House of the Sleeping Beauties," the latter hailed by novelist Yukio Mishima as the best of Kawabata's works, are
among his later works.
Customer Reviews:
Love and Death.......2006-09-20
These strange and haunting stories of strange love are written with a disturbingly quiet and even hand. It's a genius read. Kawabata is the master of beautiful disaffection. His characters do not feel pain when you think they should, and one recoils, but is drawn back in to the stories. At the core of Kawabata's work is a pessimism about the value of life itself-even while the protagonists are involved in secret obsessions. Fascinating, beautifully written, haunting.
Pushing the envelope.......2006-08-31
This is an excellent story, although it is a little different from much of Kawabata's work. I gave this book four stars only because of the bizarre nature of the "other" stories. The main story is outstanding, written with wonderful detail and descriptive prose. It is an intriguing story that will hold your attention until the end. It is well worth purchasing the book for that story alone. Kawabata has a way of examining human feelings and exposing those elements that are common to all people. His characters often have me visualizing concrete individuals that I have known, including myself. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a touch of eroticism that stimulates both the higher and lower recesses of human nature. I would caution readers that the introduction by Yukio Mishima contains spoiler material, and should perhaps be read after reading the first story.
The terror of lust by the approach of death.......2004-11-09
Kawabata's magisterial short novel is a beautiful but sad reverie about life and death, young and old, sex and coming impotence.
Sleeping with sleeping girls ('a deathlike sleep') was 'a fleeting consolation, the pursuit of a vanished happiness in being alive.'
'The sleeping beauties are for an old man the recovery of life, but also a sadness ... that called up a longing for death. The aged have death and the young have love, and death comes once, and love comes over and over again.'
Kawabata's writing is subtle (the old man is tempted to breach the house rules) and intimistic (the descriptions of the ethereal bodies of the sleeping virgins).
But, as the great Japanese writer Yukio Mishima expresses it perfectly in his introduction, this book is a pregnant reflection on 'the terror of lust by the approach of death.'
A masterpiece.
3 Stories, 1 Theme - The loneliness and desires of old age.......2004-09-16
"House of the Sleeping Beauties and Other Stories" contains three variations on the same theme, encompassing the soul-sick loneliness of old age, and the longing for ideal companionship, one with no judgments or confrontation, but merely peace and the contentment that comes from loving someone. According to Kawabata, this longing increases with age, and one romances ghosts from the past, using the present to conjure up their memories from the depths of a forgetting mind.
The leading story, "House of the Sleeping Beauties," is among the best, most powerful Kawabata stories I have ever read. It shows an author in full command of his style, able to arouse a startling depth of emotion using a limited palette of words and scenery. The story is simple in conception, disturbingly erotic in nature, and stunning in execution. An old woman runs a brothel for impotent old men, housing unnaturally sleeping virgins who have no performance expectations of the old man, nor incriminations for their inabilities. The old men may lie with them, hold them and drink in their youth and beauty free from the hard reality of their own impotence. The sleeping girls will never know who was with them, or what was done. The only forbidden act is sex.
The story is pure eros without sex, the desire of the impotent. The leading figure in the tale, Eguchi is "still able to function as a man," unbeknownst to the brothel keeper. He knows what it is to desire more than the girls are willing to give, and the tension between his desires, the rules of the house, and the depressing reality of Eguchi's future impotence combine and take form under Kawabata's guiding hand. With each girl he sleeps next to, Eguchi wanders through his memories, remembering his youth and the girls he shared it with. Such a story can only come to one ending, and reality comes crashing into his fantasy. A stark and gripping tale.
The remaining stories, "One Arm" and "Of Birds and Beasts," suffer in the aftermath of the powerful "House of the Sleeping Beauties." "One Arm" in particular is a disappointment, perhaps due to its too-surreal situation, and an old man who borrows a young woman's arm (given quite willingly) then proceeds to romance and fall in love with the limb. As with "House of the Sleeping Beauties," this is eros without sex, desire without lust, but it lacks the honesty and fantasy/reality blend that makes the former story so strong.
"Of Birds and Beasts" is good enough, and a better story than "One Arm." Completely lacking in eroticism, this is another tale of an old man who seeks companionship, this time in all sorts of dogs and birds. His house is full with his menagerie, and he and his lone maid tend to the creatures with something less than love. Each new animal holds his attention for a few weeks at most, before it is filed away and forgotten in the background. Like "House of the Sleeping Beauties," each new animal summons up memories, this time of the birds that the old man kept accidentally killing, then buying a new set. A sad and lonely story to be sure, but with the same emotional depth one expects from Kawabata.
"House of the Sleeping Beauties and Other Stories" is worth buying for the lead story alone, which is widely considered amongst Kawabata's finest. Author Yukio Mishima ("The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea") considered it his personal favorite. Edward Seidensticker's translation is subtle and enjoyable, far superior to his somewhat heavy handed translation of "Snow Country."
Disturbing, but potentially dated.......2003-04-22
"House of Sleeping Beauties," and the other short stories in this collection, all deal with the themes of idolization of virginity, degradation, fetishization of the body, and so forth. While this may be food for thought for early and even late 20th century readers, the 21st century reader might not get as much out of it. As with many modern Japanese works, Yasunari Kawabata transcends any cultural barriers by focusing on things that are alien in any settings, and themes that are universal to anyone who has ever struggled with any sort of "hang up" about [anatomy].
Average customer rating:
- Moving...
- A Life of Courage
- Inspiration Where You Might Least Expect It
- I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - And ALS
- Beautiful
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I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - and ALS
Darcy Wakefield
Manufacturer: Marlowe & Company
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Binding: Paperback
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Book Description
A little over a year ago, Darcy Wakefield was a single, 33-year-old, athletic, workaholic English professor, a vegetarian who had never had a serious health problem or injury. Then she was diagnosed with ALS, and her world turned upside down. I Remember Running is Darcy's story of change and loss and challenges during her first year with ALS, as she struggles to make sense of her diagnosis and redefine herself in the face of this terminal illness. With unflagging courage, wit, and eloquence, Darcy shares what she calls her “fast-forward” life, a life in which she applies for disability, leaves her job, and plans her own funeral as well as meets and moves in with her true love, buys a house, and gives birth to her first child in less time than it takes most of us to accomplish even one of these things.
Beautifully written and wholly inspiring, I Remember Running proves that it is possible to live a rich, meaningful life after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. This book will move readers to see the world in a different light.
Customer Reviews:
Moving..........2007-07-05
Years ago I took an essay writing class with Darcy Wakefield. She was an aspiring writer and a pleasant person. I'm sorry that her first success at publishing came under such tragic circumstances. Reading her memoir, I wish I had known her better. She is smart, funny, and real. I'm glad she found personal happiness, motherhood, and spirituality before she died.
A Life of Courage.......2007-03-29
I went to a reading by Darcy shortly before her death. Her sister read short passages, as Darcy with ALS by that time could not do so. Darcy, herself, answered audience questions. She was alight with life and her book, with its candor and humor is a beacon of hope and a challenge for us all!
Inspiration Where You Might Least Expect It.......2007-01-10
Darcy Wakefield in her mid thirties was diagnosed with ALS. Coping with ALS must surely be one of the most difficult of life threatening illnesses, for every step along the way brings greater challenge and diminishment. There is no uncertainty with this diagnosis, except for the amount of time left and swiftness of the onset of debilitating symptoms. Darcy is a most engaging person from the very first pages of her book and what happens in the year after she was diagnosed is nothing short of remarkable. I cannot think of a more inspiring book. She lives every moment fully and is an example of a person who knows how to live life well no matter what the limitations. She experiences and expresses a very full range of emotional life and writes powerfully and beautifully. When I finished this book,I felt so enriched, and I could not help but feel immensely grateful that she had written it.
I Remember Running: The Year I Got Everything I Ever Wanted - And ALS.......2007-01-04
This is a truly emotional and thought provoking book. She endured a deadly disease with grace and courage... teaching the reader how to live and die gracefully. Very powerful!
Beautiful.......2007-01-03
Darcy Wakefield's memoir is a beautifully written account of her life after contracting ALS. It is told in an epidodic fashion and could be read in one sitting. However, I found myself wanting to savor each moment with Ms. Wakefield. Last year I read "Chasing Daylight" and they make good companion peices. Her courage and honesty are inspiring.
Customer Reviews:
This series might be one of the best ever!!.......2004-08-30
Jo Goodman really has incredible depth to her characters. Maybe it is the extra 75 or more pages she adds to her books to make them a little more complete than the average. I am not sure what it is but the tale of South and India was ever bit as compelling as North and Elizabeth. What a story - how India had suffered with her life before meeting South. And the love between them just sizzled. Again bringing in the other members of the Compass Club - just to intertwine their stories is a unique touch by Goodman. These stories all run rather simultaneous to each other although it is better to read them in order. I just loved this book - South and Elizabeth were an exciting, very real heartfelt couple. Defintetly one of the better books I have read - impossilbe to put down!!!
A must read treasure !!!!!!!.......2004-07-28
Evething I Ever Wanted is an intriguing romance, full of mystery and surprises. It has an excellent plot and very good characters . In fact, this romance was very impressive!!!!
I highly recommend you to read it - It is a treasure and a page-turner !!!
Actually I didn't read the book in english, I've read a copy in Portuguese (this book was translated).
Everything I Ever thought Was Weird.......2003-11-08
All I want to know is . . . Jo Goodman, how many of those hallucinogenic drugs (which the villian was addicted to in this book) were you taking when you wrote it? I have to admit, for a romance, this was one of the most bizarre plots I've read to date. Body tatooing, drug-induced hallucinations . . . without giving away the plot of the book, if you're a Jo Goodman fan, have an open mind. It's extremely strange, in my opinion, but it's definitely not boring.
Another good one by Jo Goodman.......2003-08-30
I just started reading Jo Goodman books and have been sad to learn that many of her older books (which really aren't that old!) are out of print. She's an excellent author, and her books are delicious to read.
This story is the second in a quartet of tales about four boy-hood friends known as the Compass Club. In this story we learn about the life and love of The Earl of Southerton, aka, South. In these "Compass" books, I greatly enjoy the change of pace Ms. Goodman offers us from the traditional historical romance--in this and the first book, it's the hero we know more about and we grow attached to, while the heroine remains shadowed in mystery and secrets. I am not often fooled by an author, but Jo Goodman is a master at keeping tricks and surprises up her sleeve. I love it! She has stunned me so many times, I wonder what she could possibly do to surprise me next. But she finds a way!
The only reason this book got 4 stars instead of 5 is because it ends on a rather dark note. Unlike a previous reviewer of this book, I wasn't left with the feeling that they may or may not have lived "happily ever after." The hero and heroine were happily together, but it was the dark and rather unpleasant secrets of the heroine's past that really put a damper on this story at the end. It was hard to feel happy for the two of them with all that other stuff hanging in the background.
But don't let that stop you from reading this book! Jo Goodman has a tremendous wit, and she will keep you guessing until the end!
Dark and Tormented Romance (B- Grade).......2003-06-14
Jo Goodman has written a fine tuned novel but gets bogged down by the angst of the heroine and the dark storyline. There are so many secrets and hidden agendas going on, that the reader truly doesn't understand everything till the last chapter. Goodman writes elegantly but the story is so dark that there doesn't look to be a happy ending for our two main characters. Even then, their relationship is still questionable.
India, the heroine, is an actress on the London stage and the latest toast of society. South is part of an elite group of friends who have known each other since childhood. Each is named North, South, East and West. Murders are happening to titled men and South is approached to find the killer, who maybe India or something to do with her.
Of course both are attracted to each other but because India is so tormented by her past and by someone truly insane, she can not act upon her growing feelings for South. He maybe the killer's next target.
The love scenes seem stilted and the chemistry is kind of bland between India and South. All is mainly due to India's part.
Madness, obsession and murder all play a part in this story. People are not whom they seem and the reason for the murders don't become clear till the very end.
If you enjoy complex characters and many forboding moments, check out Jo Goodman's latest. It is the second of four novels about the four friends.
Katiebabs
Book Description
This book is about questions about God. Pastor and author Dan Smith allows the reader to look over his shoulder as he wrestles with some of the questions that have bedeviled believers and seekers for thousands of years. Questions about God's wrath and His mercy; about His need for and response to prayer; about the punishment of the wicked, suffering, the cross, and more are dealt with in sincerity, and with refreshing honesty. Lord, I Have a Question doesn't claim to have complete or perfect answers. But your grip on God will definitely be strengthened by spending time with this unique and revealing book.
Book Description
Withnail & I, the cult film and highly quotable debut by writer and director, Bruce Robinson, has etched itself into the hearts and minds of its varied audience since its release in 1987. In this book, an unofficial compendium of the film, the author presents an array of facts, anecdotes, and trivia regarding the production of the film as well as the colourful genesis of its plot and characters. Written in an informative and highly entertaining A to Z format, the book includes photographs and maps of the film's locations, and yields answers to the many questions asked about the film. Ralph Brown, who played the character, Danny, provides a foreword. An absolute must for any Withnail & I fan and a lively and enjoyable read for all film enthusiasts.
Customer Reviews:
A new fan says: Buy It!!.......2006-11-11
I recently saw the Withnail & I film and absolutely loved it! My boyfriend was so pleased (it was his recommendation after all) that he bought me this book. Once I'd started, I couldn't put it down - I wanted to know more. Not only does it satisfy the reader's curiosity and intrigue into what really happenned, why, where and how but most importantly its written with the same dry wit as Bruce Robinson's. The level of detail demostrates the writer's in depth knowledge and appreciation of the Withnail story. An excellent read!
![Everything I Ever Wanted [UNABRIDGED CD] (Audiobook) (The Compass Club series)](http://www.germanelectronics88.com/noimage.gif)
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Everything I Ever Wanted [UNABRIDGED CD] (Audiobook) (The Compass Club series)
Jo Goodman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: 1402561733 |
Product Description
USA Today best-selling author Jo Goodman continues her dazzling Regency romance series that began with Let Me Be the One (L1086). Returning to the men of the Compass Club, Goodman unfolds the tale of the dashing young South: the Earl of Southerton. South has been assigned to a murder case, and he suspects that the stunning actress India Parr may be connected. There is only one way to get her to confess ...
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