Mostly yeah. Naomi is a short novel, The Secret History of the Lord Musashi is a novella, The Key is basically a novella. The only long one I've read is The Makioka sisters (c. 500 pages) but it's really really good.
Japanese literature is extremely interesting, we loose something because we cannot appreciate the ideograms selected by the writer, Japanese use Kanji in writing and apart from the description of the concept described, the reader appreaciates the kanji in question.
However before starting with Tanizaki, if I am allowed, I suggest to read Soseki Natsume who is the father of the Japanese modern literature, two books to begin with : "And then..." ( in japanese Sorekara) and "I am a cat" ("Wagahai wa neko de aru").
All praise to you for mentioning Tanizaki, the weirdest of characters but a must read.
Such an incredible book. When I have time I want to read his novels.
They're amazing. He's a giant of twentieth century literature, maybe finally starting to get his due in the West.
Are they short?
Mostly yeah. Naomi is a short novel, The Secret History of the Lord Musashi is a novella, The Key is basically a novella. The only long one I've read is The Makioka sisters (c. 500 pages) but it's really really good.
Oh yes that’s the one I wanted to read
Japanese literature is extremely interesting, we loose something because we cannot appreciate the ideograms selected by the writer, Japanese use Kanji in writing and apart from the description of the concept described, the reader appreaciates the kanji in question.
However before starting with Tanizaki, if I am allowed, I suggest to read Soseki Natsume who is the father of the Japanese modern literature, two books to begin with : "And then..." ( in japanese Sorekara) and "I am a cat" ("Wagahai wa neko de aru").
Thanks, always looking for recs about Japanese lit
The golden ass is so good! So fertile and incentive. There is an audiobook from Naxos that I highly recommend too. https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=NA0272
thanks for the link! thought you'd be a fan!