Opinions on Saiichi Maruya

I've finished my latest Japanese quest and have gone back to the volume that guides my reading, A Reader's Guide to Japanese Literature by Thomas Rimer. So now I'm reading The Treasury of Loyal Retainers translated by Donald Keene.

Anyway I noted in the back of the book all these publications available through Kodansha and noted three books by Saiichi Maruya. I did a little snooping in the Guide, and elsewhere. Seems a potentially interesting writer, and apparently Singular Rebellion is a noteworthy book.

Anyone have thoughts on this writer?

-- Gerry

Grass for my Pillow, which interweaves the story of a Japanese draft-dodger during World War II, and also of people's reaction to him when the war is finished, is one of the best Japanese novels I have read in a long time. I would recommend it, both because it treats aspects of Japan too seldom considered, but especially because Maruya, a student and translator of James Joyce, is a tremendous writer both at the level of the sentence and also in the manner in which he organizes his materials.

(Touchstones has never heard of James Joyce.)

Thanks so much. That's a heck of a sell!

-- Gerry

And a heck of a book too! I just finished it and was really overwhelmed. A great read. Discussed in more detail in the "What Are You Reading or Have You Just Finished" discussion.

Many thanks, David!

-- Gerry

Gerry:

Glad you liked it!