Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age! (Kenzaburo Oe)
“Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age!” is very much the quintessential Oe novel, in that it ticks off a lot of the key themes of his books, though don’t they always?! The story focuses on his son, Hikari, entering adulthood at the end of his teens, though still attending his special school.
Here, Oe explores his apprehension over his son’s sexual maturation, but spends his days examining the work of William Blake and how it reflects his relationship with his son. This academic analysis of the writer’s work sees him distracted from his actual role of raising his son, preferring to theorise. Others voice their concerns as to how Oe has been raising his son, which he also mulls over.
As he delves inside himself deeper, he relives moments from his past, namely memories of his father and concerning nationalism among groups of young men. The more he looks to the past, the more he becomes concerned for the future.
This edition, translated by John Nathan, features an Afterword by the translator, who explores how Oe’s works, while autobiographical, are very much Oe’s imagined versions of himself, his son and the events of his life.
Again, this is nothing of a standout in Oe’s personal oeuvre of imagined memories from his life, but is another piece in the puzzle in understanding his life and how he sees it.
- Days to read: 14
- Days per book: 14.2
Living in Japan (Alex Kerr; Kathy Arlyn Sokol)
I’m moving soon, hopefully (if you sign that bloody paperwork), and so need some ideas. Well, that’s not the original inspiration for buying “Living in Japan”, but it was the resulting thought in my mind once I started it.
Initially bought as I’ve made my way through Alex Kerr’s other writing on Japan, this is a collection of some of the finer, traditional and outlandish examples of architecture and interior design from the country. But, obviously lavish, these are likely ones that most ordinary people cannot afford or even consider imitating. So, it’s probably worthless for me, and feels almost ironic as a title. Who exactly is living here?!
But it does provide more than enough inspiration for how to make a start. As is Kerr’s way, there is a focus on simplicity and how simple arrangements and placements can give a room balance and style and all the other qualities which I lack.
With photography by Reto Guntli, this is a lovely thing to look at while on the toilet, dreaming of the home you one day hope to live in, but know you’ll never be able to afford, as you are too busy sat on the toilet gazing in wonder.
- Days to read: 40
- Days per book: 14.2
Spirited Away (Andrew Osmond)
Often, an Oscar winner isn’t the best film. And Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” is an example of that. It isn’t the best anime you’ll ever watch; isn’t the best Studio Ghibli film you’ll ever watch; and isn’t Miyazaki’s best film either.
Andrew Osmond’s detailed exploration of the Oscar winner focuses a lot on its flaws, of which there are a fair few: in that the plot tries to throw in too much; the ending comes to too quick a resolve; and that it lacks a cohesion. Plotwise, “Spirited Away” is something of a mess that didn’t quite seem to know where it was heading and came to an ending that was just about good enough.
Osmond divides Miyazaki’s career as up to “Porco Ross” and “Princess Mononoke” onwards. The earlier works are simpler in terms of their stories and messages, but the latter half are a more confused bunch of films that maybe try to incorporate too many ideas. And this is very much true. “My Neighbour Totoro” is the simplest of films; “Spirited Away” is anything but.
So, why is the film so lauded? Well, like many of his more recent films, “Spirited Away” is a collection of some stunning moments, brilliant world and character design and heartfelt moments. Indeed, this features some of the best work in Miyazaki films, but struggles to fit them together in a satisfying way. Many times, when I watch it, I start and then fail to make it all the way to the end, which is a shame as the train scene towards the finale is one of its strongest moments.
Contextualised in terms of anime and the lack of animation that sometimes comes with it, Osmond looks at the key acts of this flawed masterpiece, and how Miyazaki is a great creator of worlds, but not always the best storyteller.
- Days to read: 12
- Days per book: 14.1
An Echo of Heaven (Kenzaburo Oe)
More readings from the life of my new best friend, this time he looks at the life of the mother of another child with learning difficulties who went to school with his son. How much of this is based on real characters and events, my limited research has been unable to find out, but Oe has definitely been to Mexico.
Marie Kuraki is the woman in question, who, with her eldest son having learning difficulties, lives separately from her husband: she raising the eldest child; her husband raising their youngest. But when the youngest is involved in an accident and left in a wheelchair, their lives once again descend. The family reunites, but the children seemingly take off on their own to commit dual suicide – an act no parent could comprehend. This leads Marie to take a journey across North America and work tirelessly for others, ending in Mexico working on a ranch, where many consider she should be a saint.
There is less of an examination of Oe’s relationship with the subject, more telling of her story with Oe playing a character within it. Obviously, Oe does step into that world, but not to as deep an extent as those involving his family members. Comparing her life to those of literary characters, Oe does offend his hero in suggestions that sin and virtue can go hand-in-hand, and because of her hardships and good works it justifies a string of sexual misdemeanours.
As ever, Oe is analytical and almost reviews other literary works within his writing, though “An Echo of Heaven” feels less personal than his other works, and is an easier read for it.
- Days to read: 11
- Days per book: 14.1
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