Japanese Literature

The Kamogawa Food Detectives / Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)

/ Alisha Helms / 1 Comment 
The Kamogawa Food Detectives
By: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 208
Published: February 13, 2024 (1st Published November 25, 2013)
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Dates Read: February 8, 2024 - February 10, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

The Kamogawa Diner doesn’t really advertise much, there’s not even a sign outside it’s doors, but the customers who need to find them always do. You see, the Kamogawa Diner isn’t just a diner, it’s a “food detective” service run by the father-daughter duo of Koishi and Nagare. Filled with six different customers’ memories and dishes, follow the Kamogawa Diner uses their customer’s treasured memories, the pair are able to recreate lost recipes that provide links to vanished moments.

There’s two things that will most likely get me to read a book. One: be recently translated from a popular Japanese seller. Two: put a cat on the cover. The cat doesn’t even need to be the main focus of the book, a general cat will do just fine.

This is such a cute book – and a warm hug for those foodie book lovers out there as well. I can’t cook to save my life, but this novel went into detail about each of the dishes so it may be something someone could actually follow and make their own versions of the recipes.

Some of the stories I felt were a little drawn out, but they were people sharing a fond memory (or what they could remember of their memory). I’ve said this so many times, but Japanese literature has such an amazing way of capturing the human experience and I always enjoy reading translated work.

Overall, a wonderfully fun, hungry story about a food detective, a father and daughter duo who use their skill of deduction to help customers recreate that special dish from their memories. I can see a lot of contemporary fiction lovers enjoying this book, as well as those who’d like a shorter comfort read.

*Thank you G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Stoked For This: February 2024

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I feel like I both went hard and yet, was super stingy on what I picked to showcase this month. Maybe it’s the fact I have well over 300 books sitting in my TBR piles around my house and yet, I still can’t say no to a good ARC when I see one…

Release Date: February 6, 2024

Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out

by: Shannon Reed

Why am I stoked for this release?

Well, that seems like a silly question. This is a book review blog/website no?

I know why I read, but I’d like to know why others do as well..

And clearly I love talking about books, so a new book about books is always on my radar ◡̈

Released Date: February 13, 2024

The Framed Women of Ardemore House

by: Brandy Schillace

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not one for mysteries. But more romance and mysteries are on my little personal goals list this year.

This one is about an autistic editor who inherits an English estate, but then finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. There’s also a missing family portrait as well.

Anywho, this just sounds like it would be fun and interesting.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts

by: Katherine Arden

Why am I stoked for this release?

Anyone else read The Bear and the Nightingale?

This is Arden’s new book – set in the Great War in 1917, which is not a year or event I usually read about.

I enjoyed Arden’s book I read last year (though I haven’t read the rest of the series). I’m excited to read about this one as it has some magical realism aspects to it.

The Kamogawa Food Detectives

by: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

A newly translated Japanese series where a father-daughter duo who run the Kamogawa Diner can recreate dishes from a person’s treasured memories.

A lot of my greatest large family memories growing up was always centered around food. My cousin could make the best cheesy potato casserole and I don’t care who makes it otherwise, it’s not the same. Okay?

The Book of Doors

by: Gareth Brown

Why am I stoked for this release?

Imagine receiving a book that has the ability to open any door to anywhere the possessor wants! And, after running around with your best friend, you discover there are other books with other crazy abilities and so therefor are bad guys who want your book.

What are you going to do??

This just sounds like such a crazy concept, and it’s giving me all kinds of ideas, but I want to read this to see where it goes before making my own decisions about what doors I would want to open…

The Eternal Ones

by: Namina Forna

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the last book of The Gilded Ones series and oh boy – is it good!

Full of action and the best found family vibes and a magical shaft shifting companion you could ask for in a YA fantasy.

This Day Changes Everything

by: Edward Underhill

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a Queer YA romance set during one day in New York City around Thanksgiving.

I enjoy books that everything is set in one day. T

This book is 288 pages, there’s bound to be some wild stuff that happen!

Release Date: February 20, 2024

Welcome to Hyunam-Dung Bookshop

by: Hwang Bo-Reum, Shanna Tan (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

You all should know by now I’m a sucker for Japanese literature- especially when it’s about books.

This one is a Korean smash hit about a girl who gets burnt out, leaves her old life behind, and goes to a small neighborhood outside Seoul and opens the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop.

Raise your hand if a dream job of yours would be to open your own little bookshop/cafe/cat sanctuary that you run with your best girl friend.

Island Witch

by: Amanda Jayatissa

Why am I stoked for this release?

Inspired by Sri Lankan folklore (again, something I haven’t read before!). In late 19th century Sri Lanka, the daughter of a traditional demon-priest, tries to solve the mysterious attack that have been happening in her village.

This is horror and though I dipped my toes a little (so little) into horror last year, this seems like it may actually be up my alley.

Release Date: February 27, 2024

Hope Ablaze

by: Sarah Mughal Rana

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a YA about a Muslim teen finding her voice in a post 9/11 America.

I was only in fourth grade when 9/11 happened, but of course it’s a day I’ll always remember.

I’ve only read a handful of books based around that time period, and I can’t wait to read this one, especially as there is poetry throughout it and I enjoy that.

Snowglobe

by: Soyoung Park, Joungmin Lee Comfort (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

Another newly translated Korean novel where in the not-so-distant future, the world has constant subzero weather. It’s a dream to participate in the reality TV broadcasted by Snowglobe, a community protected in an insulated glass dome.

I hate winter – and we just recently had that crazy cold snap here in KC. I feel like I barely survive it every time, so I’m ready to see how others do so 24/7!

Kafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation / Franz Kafka, Nishioka Kyoudai, David Yang (Translator), Nishioka KyōdaiKafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation /

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment 
Kafka: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
By: Franz Kafka, Nishioka Kyoudai, David Yang (Translator), Nishioka Kyōdai
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 176
Published: October 24, 2023 (1st Published April 20, 2010)
Publisher: Pushkin Press
Dates Read: October 23, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Two favorite Japanese writers present graphic adaptations of nine of Franz Kafka’s classic short stories: The Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, In the Penal Colony, A Country Doctor, The Concerns of a Patriarch, The Bucket Rider, Jackals and Arabs, A Fratricide, and The Vulture. 

I am a pretty big fan of Kafka. Was first given him in my Fiction II writing course in college and have loved him ever since. My favorites have been The Metamorphosis, The Penal Colony, and The Bucket Rider – so you can bet I was overly excited to see a manga adaptation of these come to life and I wasn’t disappointed in seeing them come to life in manga form.

I especially want to applaud The Metamorphosis not showing what the creature was, but only showing the family and lodger’s reactions to seeing it – just like Kafka had wanted.

Which brings up the fact that it is manga, and was translated from Japanese into English – but it was first translated from German to Japanese. All of these adapted versions. As someone who loves Kafka, I was slightly disappointed in what was missing in some of the stories, but I’m still impressed by David Yang’s job at the translation.

Overall, I think any fans of Kafka would like this version of the stories as it does give them a new translation and a twist in a way.

*Thank you Pushkin Press and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

First 2 Books of 2023 Read

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I started my new year with the last two books of a manga series I started at the end of last year. A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima. I originally found the series at a Barnes & Noble as a full volume set back in December. I’m a conversationalist in American Sign Language (definitely not fluent by any means, but can still have a conversation). I have always been curious to see how authors portray Deaf characters – and how they show them when it’s graphic novels or manga, so when I found out what this was about, I immediately put the whole series on Hold at work.

A hand is holding up two manga books from the series, "A Silent Voice" by Yoshitoki Oima. They are volumes 6 and 7.

Overall, this was a good series and I enjoyed it quite a bit! There were some slow parts and some redemption arcs that didn’t quite hit the mark, but I still can still see myself recommending it and possibly purchases the collective volume in the future too!

An image of "A Silent Voice, Volume 6" by Yoshitoki Oima. A girl with purple/pink hair and an arm sling stand in water, looking sad.
A 4 Star Gold Rating
A Silent Voice, Volume 6
By: Toshitoki Oima, Steven LeCroy (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 184
Published: April 19, 2016 (1st Published October 17, 2014)
Publisher: Kodansha Comica
Dates Read: January 4, 2023 - January 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

With Shoya in a coma, Shoko tries desperately to fix what she made wrong with her friends, who are also desperately struggling with their own stuff.

This volume focused on nearly everyone and their emotions a little bit at a time as they waited for Shoya to wake up. Each chapter focused on someone differently. While some chapters allowed me to understand the character a bit more – others made me hate the character more. It just kind of goes to show that no one is perfect and people react to stuff in different ways. Example – I still don’t like Naoka and Miki’s chapter didn’t redeem her for me either.

Oima did a wonderful job at Shoko’s struggle with communicating with hearing individuals and showing how much she misses and struggles.

I have loved the journey so far and can’t wait to see how this all comes together in the last volume.

!!SPOILER!!

I was nearly having a heart attack at the end of the volume though when I thought Shoya had died

An image of the manga "A Silent Voice, Volume 7" by Yoshitoki Oima. A teen boy with spiky black hair, a nice white shirt and tie with dress pants on stands next to a teen girl with long hair, white shirt and a black skirt with tights stand together and wave.
A Silent Voice, Volume 7
By: Toshitoki Oima, Steven LeCroy (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 190
Published: May 24, 2016 (1st Published December 17, 2014)
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Dates Read: January 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Shoya reunites with Shoko and the group works on finishing the movie together even though there is a strain in their relationships.

This was a good ending to the series. I felt like Shoya actually grew as a person and we were able to see his redemption arc. Though, personally, I don’t understand his life journey he’s planning on going down, but it was left a bit open ended, so I can always play around with that.

I still do not understand Naoka and her storyline… she’s still a jerk and she physically assaulted half the group (and Shoko multiple times), and yet everyone is okay with her?? I know we get her background and story but none of that was redeemable to me. It just kind of made me dislike her even more.

I was really happy about where we left off with Yuzuru and I’m so proud and happy for her journey she will be going on. I honestly hope she gets everything she ever wants.

I know this is somewhat marked as a romance, though it was more teen puppy love I feel like… it didn’t necessarily end with people getting together, but that they understood how important the other person was to them. That’s a good thing to be able to show teens that things don’t always end in a relationship and that that’s okay.

Overall, this is a cute and emotional ride of a manga that I can see myself purchasing for my own collection down the line. I shall be watching the movie at some point in the near future as well.