Ryū Murakami

I love Japanese literature. I love many Japanese things actually. But their writers are so special. Banana Yoshimoto is on top of my list as well as Ryu Murakami. I am surprised Audition has only been issued at the beginning of the year since it has already been made into a cult movie in 1999. I suppose you can call it a psycho thriller. I just finished it today and I am still disturbed by its story. It is very in the line of his previous masterpieces, Coin Locker Babies, Piercing, In The Miso Soup, Raffles Hotel and Almost Transparent Blue. I read them and loved them all.

French Literature

Living in English speaking countries I have only read English books for quite some years now. Strangely, I just finished two amazing French books that were out in 2008 and not yet translated in English. “La Meilleure Part des Hommes” from Tristan Garcia was an amazing tale set from the late 80s until now where many recognised a handful of famous French activists even though the writer claims it is all pure fiction. Meanwhile regarding the other book, “Le Théorème d'Almodovar” from Antoni Casas Ros, you are never quite sure if it is an autobiography, a dream or a fantasy. It resembles nothing I read previously and made for an easy and fascinating read. Incidentally, the moment I finished the book I read about the new Almodovar movie that will be out later this year "Los Abrazos rotos" and I can’t help but draw some parallels. Both the book and the movie follow a character who is living a life “in the dark” (one lost his “face” the other his sight) after a car accident where the love of his life happens to die. Never having been disappointed by an Almodovar movie, I can’t wait for this forthcoming release.