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Asleep
The New York Daily News has called Asleep "enchanting, surreal ... Yoshimoto brings readers to another powerful, atmospheric place." Demonstrating again the artful simplicity and depth of her vision, Banana Yoshimoto reestablishes her place as a writer of international stature in a book that may be her most delightful since Kitchen. In Asleep, Yoshimoto spins the stories of three young women bewitched into a spiritual sleep. One, mourning for a lost lover, finds herself sleepwalking at night. Another, who has embarked on a relationship with a man whose wife is in a coma, finds herself suddenly unable to stay awake. A third finds her sleep haunted by a woman against whom she was once pitted in a love triangle. Sly and mystical as a ghost story, with a touch of Kafkaesque surrealism, Asleep is an enchanting new book from one of the best writers in contemporary international fiction.
177 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
408 people are currently reading
24.7k people want to read
About the author
Banana Yoshimoto
207?books8,652?followersBanana Yoshimoto ( or ) is the pen name of Mahoko Yoshimoto (¼ª±¾ ÕæÐã×Ó), a Japanese contemporary writer. She writes her name in hiragana. (See also (Chinese).)
Along with having a famous father, poet Takaaki Yoshimoto, Banana's sister, Haruno Yoiko, is a well-known cartoonist in Japan. Growing up in a liberal family, she learned the value of independence from a young age.
She graduated from Nihon University's Art College, majoring in Literature. During that time, she took the pseudonym "Banana" after her love of banana flowers, a name she recognizes as both "cute" and "purposefully androgynous."
Despite her success, Yoshimoto remains a down-to-earth and obscure figure. Whenever she appears in public she eschews make-up and dresses simply. She keeps her personal life guarded, and reveals little about her certified Rolfing practitioner, Hiroyoshi Tahata and son (born in 2003). Instead, she talks about her writing. Each day she takes half an hour to write at her computer, and she says, "I tend to feel guilty because I write these stories almost for fun."
Along with having a famous father, poet Takaaki Yoshimoto, Banana's sister, Haruno Yoiko, is a well-known cartoonist in Japan. Growing up in a liberal family, she learned the value of independence from a young age.
She graduated from Nihon University's Art College, majoring in Literature. During that time, she took the pseudonym "Banana" after her love of banana flowers, a name she recognizes as both "cute" and "purposefully androgynous."
Despite her success, Yoshimoto remains a down-to-earth and obscure figure. Whenever she appears in public she eschews make-up and dresses simply. She keeps her personal life guarded, and reveals little about her certified Rolfing practitioner, Hiroyoshi Tahata and son (born in 2003). Instead, she talks about her writing. Each day she takes half an hour to write at her computer, and she says, "I tend to feel guilty because I write these stories almost for fun."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,427 reviews
April 4, 2019
Close your eyes. Listen to your slow breathing. Inhale. Exhale. A small pull in your mind is telling you not to open your eyes anymore. Maybe lie down, take a break, relax a little. You are tired, rest for a while. You feel an entrancing call. It¡¯s a small tug, but it is very compelling, even enchanting, and before you know it you are asleep. Resting, recharging, but now defenseless, powerless. Vulnerable to your own unconscious with its own unpredictable will to never give up control to your conscious mind.
This book is dedicated to capturing that urge, that small pull that goads us to surrender. Like a whisper quiet yet impactful, this collection subtly demonstrates our latent desire to destroy ourselves triggered by the different wounds we are bleeding from. From the first story of a lover unable to move on with her life after the death of her beloved, to that of a girl trying so hard to hold precious memories of a friend she does not want to forget, and finally a woman who uses sleep to escape her problems, all show an abandon to their consciousness whether through grief, intoxication, or slumber. All experience this sensation, this instinctive call of mortality, and the brief glimpses in the journeys of these three women show the temptation that we endure from the deep darkness that resides untapped within us.
Something about this collection feels ethereal, almost invisible, and even fleeting. But despite the atmosphere it creates, the words, as I read them, were grounded and real. There were times when I was reading and I felt the words access emotions that would creep into my veins and run up my arm like a chill, brief but palpable. Delivered in Yoshimoto¡¯s fragmentary style and sparse prose there is nothing she is better suited to write about than stories linked to this state of lost awareness.
I was taking a short but needed vacation in the mountains when I read this, so I read it in a very cold place and I was in a very relaxed state of mind. It probably made the experience much richer than had I read it anywhere else. The book is divided into three stories that equally lull and awaken the reader¡¯s senses into a dazed half-sleep. It reminds me of a minute-long short that the great Satoshi Kon directed called
In comparison, I remember vividly, reading Haruki Murakami¡¯s After Dark and being mesmerized by the subtle atmosphere emanating from the prose and the approach it took creating a thematic union with its subject matter. Nighttime has always been fascinating to me with its deep loneliness engulfing everything it can touch, a time dark and mysterious rife with possibilities both dangerous and addictive. The intoxicating sensuality that dictates its pace is something to marvel but be wary of. A canvas perfectly dark, yet at the heart of this Banana Yoshimoto novel lies the emptiness that people feel during this veiled time. Magnifying the terrifying potential of our pains Yoshimoto¡¯s night is more reflective compared to Murakami¡¯s shadows. Her characters are bleeding black paint out of cuts all deadly yet diffused. From grief, mourning, and even just demotivation, her heroines are cold, shrouded, and violently introspective. Maybe this is why the call of destruction from their unconscious is infinitely more pronounced. Murakami¡¯s After Dark left me a bit wanting with its characters failing to rise to the occasion presented by such a mesmerizing setting, but here Yoshimoto makes them breathe shadow and exhale hurting trying desperately to win back control over their own whispering demons.
Based on what I wrote above you might think that this is a depressing book, but that¡¯s not really the case. It¡¯s more thematically apt for a cool quiet night begging for dark magical realism but perfectly in touch with the visceral world.
¡°I know when I turned to confront the darkness inside me, when somewhere way down deep inside I was really hurting, when I was utterly exhausted, all of a sudden a totally unexpected and inexplicable strength cam gushing up within me.¡±
Being conscious can be hard at times, even really painful. But that is not all consciousness has to offer. With our awareness and exposure to pain, comes a host of vulnerability to other emotions, sensations, and experiences. Rest is good. Sleep is great. But always remember to wake up. Observe the exquisite swaying of your shadow. Feel that jolt of cold air as it dances around your face. Life is too beautiful to be spent unconscious, open your eyes.
Asleep is the underside of the pillow left unexplored. Try its cold touch. You¡¯ll be surprised by how comforting it can be.
This book is dedicated to capturing that urge, that small pull that goads us to surrender. Like a whisper quiet yet impactful, this collection subtly demonstrates our latent desire to destroy ourselves triggered by the different wounds we are bleeding from. From the first story of a lover unable to move on with her life after the death of her beloved, to that of a girl trying so hard to hold precious memories of a friend she does not want to forget, and finally a woman who uses sleep to escape her problems, all show an abandon to their consciousness whether through grief, intoxication, or slumber. All experience this sensation, this instinctive call of mortality, and the brief glimpses in the journeys of these three women show the temptation that we endure from the deep darkness that resides untapped within us.
Something about this collection feels ethereal, almost invisible, and even fleeting. But despite the atmosphere it creates, the words, as I read them, were grounded and real. There were times when I was reading and I felt the words access emotions that would creep into my veins and run up my arm like a chill, brief but palpable. Delivered in Yoshimoto¡¯s fragmentary style and sparse prose there is nothing she is better suited to write about than stories linked to this state of lost awareness.
I was taking a short but needed vacation in the mountains when I read this, so I read it in a very cold place and I was in a very relaxed state of mind. It probably made the experience much richer than had I read it anywhere else. The book is divided into three stories that equally lull and awaken the reader¡¯s senses into a dazed half-sleep. It reminds me of a minute-long short that the great Satoshi Kon directed called
In comparison, I remember vividly, reading Haruki Murakami¡¯s After Dark and being mesmerized by the subtle atmosphere emanating from the prose and the approach it took creating a thematic union with its subject matter. Nighttime has always been fascinating to me with its deep loneliness engulfing everything it can touch, a time dark and mysterious rife with possibilities both dangerous and addictive. The intoxicating sensuality that dictates its pace is something to marvel but be wary of. A canvas perfectly dark, yet at the heart of this Banana Yoshimoto novel lies the emptiness that people feel during this veiled time. Magnifying the terrifying potential of our pains Yoshimoto¡¯s night is more reflective compared to Murakami¡¯s shadows. Her characters are bleeding black paint out of cuts all deadly yet diffused. From grief, mourning, and even just demotivation, her heroines are cold, shrouded, and violently introspective. Maybe this is why the call of destruction from their unconscious is infinitely more pronounced. Murakami¡¯s After Dark left me a bit wanting with its characters failing to rise to the occasion presented by such a mesmerizing setting, but here Yoshimoto makes them breathe shadow and exhale hurting trying desperately to win back control over their own whispering demons.
Based on what I wrote above you might think that this is a depressing book, but that¡¯s not really the case. It¡¯s more thematically apt for a cool quiet night begging for dark magical realism but perfectly in touch with the visceral world.
¡°I know when I turned to confront the darkness inside me, when somewhere way down deep inside I was really hurting, when I was utterly exhausted, all of a sudden a totally unexpected and inexplicable strength cam gushing up within me.¡±
Being conscious can be hard at times, even really painful. But that is not all consciousness has to offer. With our awareness and exposure to pain, comes a host of vulnerability to other emotions, sensations, and experiences. Rest is good. Sleep is great. But always remember to wake up. Observe the exquisite swaying of your shadow. Feel that jolt of cold air as it dances around your face. Life is too beautiful to be spent unconscious, open your eyes.
Asleep is the underside of the pillow left unexplored. Try its cold touch. You¡¯ll be surprised by how comforting it can be.
January 27, 2023
This book consists of 3 stories.
1. Night & Night's Travelers - 3.5 stars
2. Love Songs - 3.5 stars
3. Asleep - 3.0 stars
Dead boyfriend, married boyfriend, girl in love with boyfriend's girlfriend, dreaming, hypothesis, cousin in love, boyfriend's wife is vegetable, and friend's suicide. Slow-paced mundane stories.
1. Night & Night's Travelers - 3.5 stars
2. Love Songs - 3.5 stars
3. Asleep - 3.0 stars
Dead boyfriend, married boyfriend, girl in love with boyfriend's girlfriend, dreaming, hypothesis, cousin in love, boyfriend's wife is vegetable, and friend's suicide. Slow-paced mundane stories.
January 28, 2016
I find Banana Yoshimoto's style so distinctive, full of feelings and sensations expressed with touching openness, so unassuming and informal. Under this limpid surface, as under the millpond skin of fairytale, meanings proliferate like living fishes, flickering in and out of view. The story is gifted to the reader with humble generosity; I have this for you, the giver says, and what you'll use it for isn't up to me.
There are some moments when corroborations give the little narratives what feels to me like an overly neat coherence, those times when Yoshimoto reminds me, unfortunately, of Milan Kundera. Yet even when I feel this way, as when Fumi touches the handle of the forbidden door and feels its terrible energy, the impression is diffused by the incidental accidental heartbreaking quality of the detail, which brings to my mind (probably inappropriately) Roland Barthes' idea of 'the filmic'. Why does the stuffy little room where the dead meet the living have worn red sofas? Is this room, with its tired, heavy familiarity, recognisably a product of a distinctively Japanese imagination?
The title story/novella in particular doesn't lack ambiguity. Terako's descent into permanent sleepiness seems to parallel both the troubles of her friend Shiori and the comatose wife of her boyfriend, but the links between them are loose like the co-incidences of real life that we read according to our various standpoints, transformed by the infusion of Yoshimoto's feel for symmetry and symbiosis, her making-whole of the world. The resolution worked with difficulty and help by Terako seems wrought out of a creative fusion of folklore and modern lifestyles. Spiritual places and people are never more remote than the other side of a shadow here, and though they are sometimes scary, contact with them is associate with Yoshimoto's theme of returning to health, perhaps in the way that Giorgio de Chirico described the world as convalescent the day he went out recovering from illness and had a vision he painted so many times afterwards.
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It's this feel for connections that I love in Banana's writing. It extends from structures to interactions, so sweetly simple, open and direct in a way people in my own culture never seem to be, and into relationships, where people seem to take deep, honest pleasure in each other, in shared moments however trivial. I read to learn.
All three stories have female narrators, and reflect positively on relationships between women. In that, and in the warm, uncluttered relationships between brothers and sisters, girlfriends and boyfriends, they are a relief, fresh air. They extend an invitation to feel differently, through the senses and through the heart however wounded, to feel simply and attend to the blissful comfort of soft sand under your bare toes or a sweet memory drifting into a dream, and then to take than receptiveness to pleasure into all your relationships.
It's true I think that Banana Yoshimoto's narrator is always the same person, for all her interiority and however much her names, background, circumstances and impulses vary, her voice doesn't. One reviewer calls it the voice of a generation, of Tokyo youth. This class strikes me as privileged and self-absorbed, but I can't help but admire the avidity and passion they invest in such activities as waking from sleep or planning a date, I can't help but be smitten by their mutualism, their joy in each other. The insulated, private experience Yoshimoto so fluidly communicates resonates in me a certain nostalgia for my fairly unhappy teens. It reminds me that sometimes just holding it together, just getting through the day, is enough of a victory.
This nostalgia reminds us that we need our age-mates. Here is a video that makes me feel it to the point of tears = )
There are some moments when corroborations give the little narratives what feels to me like an overly neat coherence, those times when Yoshimoto reminds me, unfortunately, of Milan Kundera. Yet even when I feel this way, as when Fumi touches the handle of the forbidden door and feels its terrible energy, the impression is diffused by the incidental accidental heartbreaking quality of the detail, which brings to my mind (probably inappropriately) Roland Barthes' idea of 'the filmic'. Why does the stuffy little room where the dead meet the living have worn red sofas? Is this room, with its tired, heavy familiarity, recognisably a product of a distinctively Japanese imagination?
The title story/novella in particular doesn't lack ambiguity. Terako's descent into permanent sleepiness seems to parallel both the troubles of her friend Shiori and the comatose wife of her boyfriend, but the links between them are loose like the co-incidences of real life that we read according to our various standpoints, transformed by the infusion of Yoshimoto's feel for symmetry and symbiosis, her making-whole of the world. The resolution worked with difficulty and help by Terako seems wrought out of a creative fusion of folklore and modern lifestyles. Spiritual places and people are never more remote than the other side of a shadow here, and though they are sometimes scary, contact with them is associate with Yoshimoto's theme of returning to health, perhaps in the way that Giorgio de Chirico described the world as convalescent the day he went out recovering from illness and had a vision he painted so many times afterwards.
It's this feel for connections that I love in Banana's writing. It extends from structures to interactions, so sweetly simple, open and direct in a way people in my own culture never seem to be, and into relationships, where people seem to take deep, honest pleasure in each other, in shared moments however trivial. I read to learn.
All three stories have female narrators, and reflect positively on relationships between women. In that, and in the warm, uncluttered relationships between brothers and sisters, girlfriends and boyfriends, they are a relief, fresh air. They extend an invitation to feel differently, through the senses and through the heart however wounded, to feel simply and attend to the blissful comfort of soft sand under your bare toes or a sweet memory drifting into a dream, and then to take than receptiveness to pleasure into all your relationships.
It's true I think that Banana Yoshimoto's narrator is always the same person, for all her interiority and however much her names, background, circumstances and impulses vary, her voice doesn't. One reviewer calls it the voice of a generation, of Tokyo youth. This class strikes me as privileged and self-absorbed, but I can't help but admire the avidity and passion they invest in such activities as waking from sleep or planning a date, I can't help but be smitten by their mutualism, their joy in each other. The insulated, private experience Yoshimoto so fluidly communicates resonates in me a certain nostalgia for my fairly unhappy teens. It reminds me that sometimes just holding it together, just getting through the day, is enough of a victory.
This nostalgia reminds us that we need our age-mates. Here is a video that makes me feel it to the point of tears = )
June 26, 2021
Las tres historias que componen Sue?o profundo (1994) de la escritora japonesa Banana Yoshimoto (1964-) nos hablan de mujeres. Mujeres reales en una sociedad a¨²n dominada en lo externo por los hombres y que relega a la mujer a papeles tradicionales: enamorada, esposa, amante, prostituta... y, adem¨¢s, en constante competencia con su g¨¦nero. Sin embargo, aunque su vida gire en torno a los hombres, el mundo interior de estas mujeres es realmente el protagonista de esta obra. Dentro de un mundo on¨ªrico, casi m¨¢gico, es donde las protagonistas manejan sus decisiones individuales, su propia independencia con una tranquilidad que impresiona.
Para m¨ª, como occidental, a veces me parece irreal, imaginario, pero no puedo afirmar con certeza que no sea as¨ª ya que solo soy conocedor de su cultura por los autores japoneses que he le¨ªdo. Y, obviamente, hablamos de ficci¨®n.
Yoshimoto describe muy bien los sentimientos femeninos de esas j¨®venes, sus dudas, sus silencios y, sobre todo, su manera de reaccionar ante la cultura establecida. Pero apenas nos lo muestra de un modo expl¨ªcito. Su prosa parece impresionista, peque?as pinceladas aqu¨ª y all¨¢ que van creando en la mente del lector la imagen de la narraci¨®n, una imagen que te hace sentir de verdad la historia que cuenta.
Ya el primer relato llam¨® mi atenci¨®n al hacerme recordar (salvando las distancias) la peque?a obra maestra de Tanizaki, La llave, y tambi¨¦n La casa de las bellas durmientes de Kawatata, por el tema de la mujer durmiente. Me resulta curioso porque este tema parece claramente recurrente en la literatura que muestra costumbres sexuales japonesas.
Tengo que decir que he disfrutado de estos tres cuentos de B. Yoshimoto lo suficiente como para decidir leer Kitchen (1988), su ¨®pera prima.
Para m¨ª, como occidental, a veces me parece irreal, imaginario, pero no puedo afirmar con certeza que no sea as¨ª ya que solo soy conocedor de su cultura por los autores japoneses que he le¨ªdo. Y, obviamente, hablamos de ficci¨®n.
Yoshimoto describe muy bien los sentimientos femeninos de esas j¨®venes, sus dudas, sus silencios y, sobre todo, su manera de reaccionar ante la cultura establecida. Pero apenas nos lo muestra de un modo expl¨ªcito. Su prosa parece impresionista, peque?as pinceladas aqu¨ª y all¨¢ que van creando en la mente del lector la imagen de la narraci¨®n, una imagen que te hace sentir de verdad la historia que cuenta.
Ya el primer relato llam¨® mi atenci¨®n al hacerme recordar (salvando las distancias) la peque?a obra maestra de Tanizaki, La llave, y tambi¨¦n La casa de las bellas durmientes de Kawatata, por el tema de la mujer durmiente. Me resulta curioso porque este tema parece claramente recurrente en la literatura que muestra costumbres sexuales japonesas.
Tengo que decir que he disfrutado de estos tres cuentos de B. Yoshimoto lo suficiente como para decidir leer Kitchen (1988), su ¨®pera prima.
June 5, 2017
3.5 out of 5
AFTER reading Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (cutest name ever) I was really looking forward to reading more by her. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much but it was still fun to read. She writes of contemporary life but also dips into magical realism. The book follows three different women who are bewitched in some way into a spiritual sleep- one finds herself sleepwalking at night, one finds her sleep haunted by the ghost of a woman whom she was once pitted against in a love triangle and the third (in a relationship with a man whose wife is in a coma) finds herself suddenly unable to stay awake.
Each of the three stories were charming in their own way. They had a magical quality about them. The young women in each story were interesting and likeable as protagonists. The writing was the strongest point of the book for me, as it was with Banana's other work. She writes about contemporary life in a clear and concise way that conjures up vivid images. I found myself getting lost in descriptions of mundane things; doing laundry, getting dinner, going for walks. The internal monologues of the characters were wonderful as well. They pondered their situation as well as the people and things around them with a realistic clarity that was refreshing. Sometimes book characters can feel quite fake but I really liked all of the characters in this book.
Can say with confidence that I'll read more of her work in the future because I think she is clever with her words and writes fun stories. Definitely recommend this for people looking to get into Japanese fiction.
AFTER reading Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto (cutest name ever) I was really looking forward to reading more by her. I didn't enjoy this book quite as much but it was still fun to read. She writes of contemporary life but also dips into magical realism. The book follows three different women who are bewitched in some way into a spiritual sleep- one finds herself sleepwalking at night, one finds her sleep haunted by the ghost of a woman whom she was once pitted against in a love triangle and the third (in a relationship with a man whose wife is in a coma) finds herself suddenly unable to stay awake.
Each of the three stories were charming in their own way. They had a magical quality about them. The young women in each story were interesting and likeable as protagonists. The writing was the strongest point of the book for me, as it was with Banana's other work. She writes about contemporary life in a clear and concise way that conjures up vivid images. I found myself getting lost in descriptions of mundane things; doing laundry, getting dinner, going for walks. The internal monologues of the characters were wonderful as well. They pondered their situation as well as the people and things around them with a realistic clarity that was refreshing. Sometimes book characters can feel quite fake but I really liked all of the characters in this book.
Can say with confidence that I'll read more of her work in the future because I think she is clever with her words and writes fun stories. Definitely recommend this for people looking to get into Japanese fiction.
March 27, 2023
I find reading Banana Yoshimoto to be a meditative experience. I find her prose not only relaxing but thought provoking. These three short stories/novellas explore the lives of people navigating the loss/death of someone who played an important role in their lives.
I listened to Night and Night¡¯s Travelers two years ago. It was November and I thought of it often. This inspired me to buy a physical copy to ¡°re¡±read. I love so many aspects of the story. I love that it takes place in Boston. I am trying to learn Japanese so I really liked the scenes where Sarah helped the narrator with her homework and both tried to navigate learning a new language. The relationships are intriguing and memorable. There are separations and reunions. There is an ethereal feel to several scenes. The one that stuck with me the most is when Mari visits her cousin on a snowy night. At times you feel like you are in a dream, and others a nightmare.
Love Songs is a deceptive title, for this is the story of a dysfunctional love triangle. We experience the love triangle, through the eyes of the narrator, Fumi, and the aftermath of its ending. Though it appears no aspect of the relationship was healthy, Fumi is left feeling a strong connection to Haru, the other woman in the relationship. This story is about closure and moving on to a new phase in life. I don¡¯t want to give too much away, so I will only say that I appreciate the author¡¯s creative way of crafting closure to this story (and in the characters¡¯ lives).
The third, and final story, Asleep, for which to book is named, is very thought provoking. Sleep plays a huge role in all of the characters lives: the narrator¡¯s inability to stay awake, her best friend¡¯s job, and her boyfriend¡¯s wife medical condition/coma. This story is extremely well written exploring multiple levels/meanings for sleep and many aspects of the human condition. If you are a fan of Murakami¡¯s After Dark, this book is for you.
I listened to Night and Night¡¯s Travelers two years ago. It was November and I thought of it often. This inspired me to buy a physical copy to ¡°re¡±read. I love so many aspects of the story. I love that it takes place in Boston. I am trying to learn Japanese so I really liked the scenes where Sarah helped the narrator with her homework and both tried to navigate learning a new language. The relationships are intriguing and memorable. There are separations and reunions. There is an ethereal feel to several scenes. The one that stuck with me the most is when Mari visits her cousin on a snowy night. At times you feel like you are in a dream, and others a nightmare.
Love Songs is a deceptive title, for this is the story of a dysfunctional love triangle. We experience the love triangle, through the eyes of the narrator, Fumi, and the aftermath of its ending. Though it appears no aspect of the relationship was healthy, Fumi is left feeling a strong connection to Haru, the other woman in the relationship. This story is about closure and moving on to a new phase in life. I don¡¯t want to give too much away, so I will only say that I appreciate the author¡¯s creative way of crafting closure to this story (and in the characters¡¯ lives).
The third, and final story, Asleep, for which to book is named, is very thought provoking. Sleep plays a huge role in all of the characters lives: the narrator¡¯s inability to stay awake, her best friend¡¯s job, and her boyfriend¡¯s wife medical condition/coma. This story is extremely well written exploring multiple levels/meanings for sleep and many aspects of the human condition. If you are a fan of Murakami¡¯s After Dark, this book is for you.
May 6, 2019
Three stories that tell of young women who are waiting. They wait for whatever they believe will make everything all right in their worlds. Sometimes sleep helps them wait. The various states of slumber are both mysterious and magical. They all wait to hear the still small voice within that announces it¡¯s okay, you may stop waiting and awaken to life. Each character looks for a way to remain calm and find their peace while dealing with guilt, ghosts and loss. They are at home in the world of visions and dreams. They come to learn the unique qualities of friendships with other women, discovering this as a necessary part of a whole. They guide one another to determine what sacrifices, if any, a person might make to find a way forward. The writing is both exhilarating and tranquil. You can almost hear the character¡¯s murmurs and worried whispers to themselves and their friends. At times crystal clear, at times indecisive but always persuasive. They wait, sleep and evolve. Stories that ask the reader to take the time out of time, to look back, reflect on what was, and realize what may be, all the while painting a gorgeous picture of their minds. Listen to what the characters have to say to themselves in the silence - asleep or awake.
June 8, 2022
? ? ? ? ? ?
3 ? stars
There is something about Banana Yoshimoto's storytelling that I find really comforting.
Whenever I am in a reading slump, or simply unsure of what to read next, I find myself turning to Yoshimoto. Having read 10 of her works, I have grown familiar with her style, themes, and tone. I can see why some may find her stories uneventful or frustratingly dreamy, but I find her distinctive yet simple prose and her naive characters to be reassuring. Asleep, alongside Kitchen, is probably one of my favourites by her. This collection contains three stories, each one centred on a young woman navigating the death of a loved one. Yoshimoto's characters seem to exist in a liminal space between wakefulness and sleep, their grief, sadness, and melancholia tinge the way they view and interact with the rest of the world.
While these narratives explore death and loss, they are marked by a light and peaceful tone. I was captivated by the protagonist's winning voices and the Yoshimoto-esque way they perceive themselves and those around them. I loved the first two stories, 'Night & Night's Travelers' and 'Love Songs'. The former is narrated by Shibami, a young woman who is grieving the recent death of her brother. The brother was involved in a love triangle of sorts, and we see how each woman has been affected by his death. The latter story too seems to revolve around a love triangle in which two women vie for the attention of the same man. We soon realise that the bond between these women runs much deeper. When one of them dies the other seeks to understand the true nature of her feelings for her. 'Asleep', the final story in the collection, also presents us with a 'triangle', but I found the dynamics here to be slightly less compelling.
Yoshimoto's meditations on love and death struck me both for their simplicity and their originality. She maintains this perfect balance between realism and surrealism, which results in a fittingly dreamy reading experience. I was lulled by the gentle pacing of her stories. Her storytelling strikes me as particularly suited to the summer season. If you are a fan of Yoshimoto I would definitely recommend this.
3 ? stars
¡°That feeling of security, that sweetness, that pain, that gentleness. I felt sure that every time I saw the green of the trees in my garden awash in light from the street, I'd be struck by a sudden flicker of remembrance¡ªthe tail of that soft melody¡ªand I'd chase along behind it, as if sniffing my way forward in pursuit of a pleasant scent.¡±
There is something about Banana Yoshimoto's storytelling that I find really comforting.
Whenever I am in a reading slump, or simply unsure of what to read next, I find myself turning to Yoshimoto. Having read 10 of her works, I have grown familiar with her style, themes, and tone. I can see why some may find her stories uneventful or frustratingly dreamy, but I find her distinctive yet simple prose and her naive characters to be reassuring. Asleep, alongside Kitchen, is probably one of my favourites by her. This collection contains three stories, each one centred on a young woman navigating the death of a loved one. Yoshimoto's characters seem to exist in a liminal space between wakefulness and sleep, their grief, sadness, and melancholia tinge the way they view and interact with the rest of the world.
While these narratives explore death and loss, they are marked by a light and peaceful tone. I was captivated by the protagonist's winning voices and the Yoshimoto-esque way they perceive themselves and those around them. I loved the first two stories, 'Night & Night's Travelers' and 'Love Songs'. The former is narrated by Shibami, a young woman who is grieving the recent death of her brother. The brother was involved in a love triangle of sorts, and we see how each woman has been affected by his death. The latter story too seems to revolve around a love triangle in which two women vie for the attention of the same man. We soon realise that the bond between these women runs much deeper. When one of them dies the other seeks to understand the true nature of her feelings for her. 'Asleep', the final story in the collection, also presents us with a 'triangle', but I found the dynamics here to be slightly less compelling.
Yoshimoto's meditations on love and death struck me both for their simplicity and their originality. She maintains this perfect balance between realism and surrealism, which results in a fittingly dreamy reading experience. I was lulled by the gentle pacing of her stories. Her storytelling strikes me as particularly suited to the summer season. If you are a fan of Yoshimoto I would definitely recommend this.
May 26, 2023
Rese?a completa a partir del minuto 22:55 aunque lo anterior tambi¨¦n es muy interesante
El t¨ªtulo describe perfectamente lo que me ha transmitido este libro, sue?o profundo, literalmente, me he quedado dormida intentando leer semejante desprop¨®sito.
El primer relato pssss, lo cierra de golpe, aburrido pero se deja leer. El segundo sopor¨ªfero, el tercero ni lo he intentado.
Un tost¨®n.
El t¨ªtulo describe perfectamente lo que me ha transmitido este libro, sue?o profundo, literalmente, me he quedado dormida intentando leer semejante desprop¨®sito.
El primer relato pssss, lo cierra de golpe, aburrido pero se deja leer. El segundo sopor¨ªfero, el tercero ni lo he intentado.
Un tost¨®n.
July 25, 2007
I don't really know what to say about Asleep. It was my first book and while I didn't dislike it, I didn't necesarily find anything in particular to like about it.
It was weird in that way that Japanese literature is usually weird, and usually I'm okay with that. Asleep consists of three short stories (or maybe novellas?) and none of them really have any ending to them. Normally, I'm okay with the ambiguous ending that Japanese authors like so much, but having three stories back-to-back in the same book with little to no conclusions got on my nerves, I guess.
However, I would still say that if you don't mind ambiguous endings and have a thing for Asian literature, then go for it.
It was weird in that way that Japanese literature is usually weird, and usually I'm okay with that. Asleep consists of three short stories (or maybe novellas?) and none of them really have any ending to them. Normally, I'm okay with the ambiguous ending that Japanese authors like so much, but having three stories back-to-back in the same book with little to no conclusions got on my nerves, I guess.
However, I would still say that if you don't mind ambiguous endings and have a thing for Asian literature, then go for it.
September 26, 2016
What distinguish Japanese writers from other countries'? That lingering emptiness in your heart once the book reaches its final page.
And Asleep is one of them. My encounter with Banana Yoshimoto's work happened years ago; when I found out my lecturer was the book translator-editor. Well, not Asleep but Kitchen ; which also bring Yoshimoto's name to international reader.
At that time, I was EXTREMELY familiar with Murakami's work and literally linked all Japanese literature to his. In my mind, they were all vague, metaphoric, surreal, and basically cliff-hangers.
But no, not Yoshimoto. Surreal, yes, but in a different way from Murakami. Like this book, which talks about 3 women with different sleeping problems. The first one sleepwalks; second one has weird dreams; while the third one gradually sleeps longer until it almost reach days.
And yes, those problems are connected to their subconscious minds. It's related to a death lover, unrequited love; or affairs. These women don't seem troubled by this fact, or maybe, the guilt are deeply buried in their mind.
Yoshimoto writes the stories through first person narrative, a technique that brings the readers closer to characters. Well, at least that worked on me. I literally couldn't let that book go, because it was just so captivating.
Oh, and her narrative language which is basically simple and straightforward, suits these type of stories very well. You don't have to pursue complicated language to bring the best reaction out of readers.
Keep it simple, but straight to the heart.
And Asleep is one of them. My encounter with Banana Yoshimoto's work happened years ago; when I found out my lecturer was the book translator-editor. Well, not Asleep but Kitchen ; which also bring Yoshimoto's name to international reader.
At that time, I was EXTREMELY familiar with Murakami's work and literally linked all Japanese literature to his. In my mind, they were all vague, metaphoric, surreal, and basically cliff-hangers.
But no, not Yoshimoto. Surreal, yes, but in a different way from Murakami. Like this book, which talks about 3 women with different sleeping problems. The first one sleepwalks; second one has weird dreams; while the third one gradually sleeps longer until it almost reach days.
And yes, those problems are connected to their subconscious minds. It's related to a death lover, unrequited love; or affairs. These women don't seem troubled by this fact, or maybe, the guilt are deeply buried in their mind.
Yoshimoto writes the stories through first person narrative, a technique that brings the readers closer to characters. Well, at least that worked on me. I literally couldn't let that book go, because it was just so captivating.
Oh, and her narrative language which is basically simple and straightforward, suits these type of stories very well. You don't have to pursue complicated language to bring the best reaction out of readers.
Keep it simple, but straight to the heart.
March 29, 2022
Niente, tra me e i giapponesi non scatta l¡¯amore!
? il terzo libro di Banana Yoshimoto che leggo e mi sembrano un po¡¯ tutti uguali.. i temi affrontati sono sempre gli stessi e anche le trame e i finali, un po¡¯ ripetitivi. Eccone un esempio:
SPOILER: qualcuno muore, il protagonista (o qualcuno di vicino) la vive male e attua comportamenti maladattativi, poi succede qualcosa (di mooooolto strano perlopi¨´, ma col fatto che i giappi vedano i draghi e immaginino i migliori trip mentali ormai ci sono venuta a patti) e il protagonista (o chi per lui) - forse - si salva.
Bho.
Non mi convince, se qualcuno ha letto qualcosa che esca un po¡¯ da questo schema e mi faccia ricredere sono aperta a cambiare la mia opinione.
? il terzo libro di Banana Yoshimoto che leggo e mi sembrano un po¡¯ tutti uguali.. i temi affrontati sono sempre gli stessi e anche le trame e i finali, un po¡¯ ripetitivi. Eccone un esempio:
SPOILER: qualcuno muore, il protagonista (o qualcuno di vicino) la vive male e attua comportamenti maladattativi, poi succede qualcosa (di mooooolto strano perlopi¨´, ma col fatto che i giappi vedano i draghi e immaginino i migliori trip mentali ormai ci sono venuta a patti) e il protagonista (o chi per lui) - forse - si salva.
Bho.
Non mi convince, se qualcuno ha letto qualcosa che esca un po¡¯ da questo schema e mi faccia ricredere sono aperta a cambiare la mia opinione.
April 30, 2018
¡°Il mio nemico, evidentemente, sono io.
Nella mia coscienza che svaniva, ne ebbi la certezza. Il sonno assorbiva la mia forza vitale, soffocandomi dolcemente, come una coltre di ovatta. Black out.¡±
Tre racconti di sospensione, tre storie borderline, in bilico lungo il confine tra il buio e la luce. Di questi ¡°Sonno profondo¡± ¨¨ il pi¨´ suggestivo.
Nella mia coscienza che svaniva, ne ebbi la certezza. Il sonno assorbiva la mia forza vitale, soffocandomi dolcemente, come una coltre di ovatta. Black out.¡±
Tre racconti di sospensione, tre storie borderline, in bilico lungo il confine tra il buio e la luce. Di questi ¡°Sonno profondo¡± ¨¨ il pi¨´ suggestivo.
August 10, 2019
Asleep had some good stories. I especially enjoyed the first two. However, I've found all of them a little pointless. The theme about loss and how different characters dealed with it was interesting. However, we didn't get to see much of the characters' stories, personalities, past and life. We just get a glimpse of it. Plus, at times, it was kind of boring to read, as you can guess that the story is going nowhere. Still, it was a nice read.
September 14, 2024
Asleep - Banana Yoshimoto
3,5/5 ??
"May every sleep in this world be equally peaceful."
?????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????-???? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ????????? ???? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ..
3,5/5 ??
"May every sleep in this world be equally peaceful."
?????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ????? ????????? ??????? ?????? ????? ????? ??????-???? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ????????? ???? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ..
July 16, 2017
Quy tr¨¬nh ??c Banana c?a t?i ??i lo?i n¨® th??ng th? n¨¤y. V¨¤o ??u s? ngh? ngay "th?i c¨¢i ki?u v?n c? Chu?i n¨® ??y r?i, kh?ng l?n ?i ??u ???c". Trong l¨²c ??c th¨¬ l?i thi tho?ng (n?u kh?ng n¨®i l¨¤ th??ng xuy¨ºn) ng? ra, "h?, ?ang n¨®i ??n c¨¢i g¨¬ v?y" *th? l¨¤ ph?i l?n l?i ¨ªt d¨°ng coi sao*. Nh?ng lu?n lu?n, c¨¤ng g?n ??n cu?i, d¨´ nh?n v?t c¨® kh¨¢c ng??i ??n m?y, t?i v?n c¨® th? nh?p th?ng v¨¤o h? m¨¤ tr?i nghi?m cho h?t c?u chuy?n. C?m th?ng nh? th? ?? t?ng tr?i qua r?i. M¨¤ Banana theo t?i nh? th¨¬ con b¨¤ h¨¬nh nh? ch?ng ??a n¨¤o l¨¤ b¨¬nh th??ng c?.
Th? ??y, n?u h?i ra th¨¬ t?i ch?ng n¨®i ???c v?n Banana k¨¬ th?c l¨¤ hay ? ch? n¨¤o, ?? th? ??c l?i c¨°n kh¨® t?p trung. Nh?ng t?i l?i c¨® th? ch?c c¨² ???c r?ng h? c? l¨¤ c?a Banana th¨¬ t?i ch? c¨® th¨ªch tr? l¨ºn m¨¤ th?i. Nh? Adachi, ?ng c? t?ng t?ng v?y m¨¤ t?i m¨º m?t t? b? manga n¨¤y sang b? manga kh¨¢c. ? Banana, t?i v?n c¨°n ?ang loay hoay t¨¬m ki?m m?t c¨¢i t¨ºn cho n¨®, c¨¢i l? do khi?n t?i m¨º m?n v?n b¨¤.
Th? ??y, n?u h?i ra th¨¬ t?i ch?ng n¨®i ???c v?n Banana k¨¬ th?c l¨¤ hay ? ch? n¨¤o, ?? th? ??c l?i c¨°n kh¨® t?p trung. Nh?ng t?i l?i c¨® th? ch?c c¨² ???c r?ng h? c? l¨¤ c?a Banana th¨¬ t?i ch? c¨® th¨ªch tr? l¨ºn m¨¤ th?i. Nh? Adachi, ?ng c? t?ng t?ng v?y m¨¤ t?i m¨º m?t t? b? manga n¨¤y sang b? manga kh¨¢c. ? Banana, t?i v?n c¨°n ?ang loay hoay t¨¬m ki?m m?t c¨¢i t¨ºn cho n¨®, c¨¢i l? do khi?n t?i m¨º m?n v?n b¨¤.
August 15, 2013
La languidez e invisibilidad sint¨¢ctica de Banana Yoshimoto encuentra la compa?¨ªa perfecta en estas historias de mujeres cuyas vidas se drenan poco a poco por un vac¨ªo que no consiguen controlar. La vida cotidiana las alcanza y las destroza, dejando tras de s¨ª, cuerpos inertes que susurran en sue?os la lista de todo aquello que han perdido. Y hay tantos elementos en dichas enumeraciones que los ojos permanecen demasiado tiempo cerrados.
Compuesto por tres cuentos independientes, pero con una tem¨¢tica en com¨²n, este Sue?o Profundo es un complemento perfecto para la inactividad que se agolpa en nuestra piel en los ¨²ltimos d¨ªas de este verano que nos ha alcanzado.
Porosidad sensitiva y la mirada infinita ante toda esa gravedad que nos hizo orbitar en torno a la historia de amor equivocada. Porque si hay algo necesario en esa somnolencia absoluta, es esa recuperaci¨®n del coraz¨®n destrozado cuando no se le exige caminar erguidos por un tiempo.
Banana nos habla de ese hibernar hasta que se acabe el invierno que nos ha congelado la capacidad de recibir el mundo en sus formas m¨¢s absoluta. Retirarse al fut¨®n que cubre el err¨®neo camino que nunca debimos tomar, pero que recorrimos hasta la resoluci¨®n m¨¢s irrevocable.
Y cuando estemos preparados, otra vez, despertar. Y decir gracias a todo aquello que nos ha arropado en nuestra propia ausencia.
February 23, 2023
¦§ Yoshimoto ?¦Ö¦Å¦É ¦Ì¦É¦Á ¦Ð¦Å¦Ñ?¦Å¦Ñ¦Ã¦Ç ¦É¦Ê¦Á¦Í?¦Ó¦Ç¦Ó¦Á ¦Í¦Á ¦Ò¦Å ¦Ì¦Á¦Ã¦Í¦Ç¦Ó?¦Æ¦Å¦É ¦Ì¦Å ¦Ó¦Ç¦Í ¦Á¦Ð¦Ë?¦Ó¦Ç¦Ó¦Á ¦Ó¦Ç? ¦É¦Ò¦Ó¦Ï¦Ñ?¦Á? ¦Ó¦Ç? ¦Ê¦Á¦É ¦Ó¦Ç¦Í ¦Á¦Ó¦Ì?¦Ò¦Õ¦Á¦É¦Ñ¦Á ¦Ð¦Ï¦Ô ¦Ä¦Ç¦Ì¦É¦Ï¦Ô¦Ñ¦Ã¦Å?. ¦²¦Å ¦Ð¦Ñ?¦Ó¦Ç "¦Á¦Í?¦Ã¦Í¦Ø¦Ò¦Ç", ¦Ò¦Å ¦Á¦Ô¦Ó?? ¦Ó¦É? ¦Ó¦Ñ¦Å¦É? ¦É¦Ò¦Ó¦Ï¦Ñ?¦Å? ¦Ä¦Å ¦Ò¦Ô¦Ì¦Â¦Á?¦Í¦Å¦É ¦Ó?¦Ð¦Ï¦Ó¦Á, ¦Ê?¦Ó¦Ø ¦Á¦Ð? ¦Ó¦Ç¦Í ¦Å¦Ð¦É¦Õ?¦Í¦Å¦É¦Á ?¦Ì¦Ø? ¦Ô¦Ð?¦Ñ¦Ö¦Å¦É ¦Ç ¦È¦Ë?¦×¦Ç ¦Ó¦Ç? ¦Á¦Ð?¦Ë¦Å¦É¦Á? ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ô ¦Í¦Á ¦Ö?¦Í¦Å¦É? ¦Ó¦Ï¦Í ¦Å¦Á¦Ô¦Ó? ¦Ò¦Ï¦Ô, ¦Ó¦Ï¦Ô ¦Í¦Á ¦Å¦Ó¦Å¦Ñ¦Ï¦Ð¦Ñ¦Ï¦Ò¦Ä¦É¦Ï¦Ñ¦É¦Æ¦Å¦Ò¦Á¦É.
¦¨¦Á ?¦È¦Å¦Ë¦Á ¦Í¦Á ¦Ì¦Ð¦Ï¦Ñ? ¦Í¦Á ¦Ä¦É¦Á¦Â?¦Ò¦Ø ¦Ò¦Ó¦Á ¦É¦Á¦Ð¦Ø¦Í¦É¦Ê?...
*
I think that Yoshimoto, has a special ability to write about something trivial, simple, boring even, and transform it into something captivating. In this book, she does exactly that; she creates three stories, that on the surface have nothing extraordinary, but underneath there are tsunamis of emotions, mainly sadness. The sadness of losing someone you love, the sadness of losing your self, even the sadness that comes from defining yourself through someone else.
I wish I could read her in japanese and not rely on translations...
¦¨¦Á ?¦È¦Å¦Ë¦Á ¦Í¦Á ¦Ì¦Ð¦Ï¦Ñ? ¦Í¦Á ¦Ä¦É¦Á¦Â?¦Ò¦Ø ¦Ò¦Ó¦Á ¦É¦Á¦Ð¦Ø¦Í¦É¦Ê?...
*
I think that Yoshimoto, has a special ability to write about something trivial, simple, boring even, and transform it into something captivating. In this book, she does exactly that; she creates three stories, that on the surface have nothing extraordinary, but underneath there are tsunamis of emotions, mainly sadness. The sadness of losing someone you love, the sadness of losing your self, even the sadness that comes from defining yourself through someone else.
I wish I could read her in japanese and not rely on translations...
December 4, 2020
??c l?i th¨¢ng 10/2020: Th?i gian tr?i qua th?t nhanh, tho?t c¨¢i ?? 10 n?m k? t? l?n ??u ??c t?p truy?n ng?n n¨¤y, n?i dung th¨¬ ch?ng c¨°n nh? g¨¬ n?a nh?ng m¨¬nh v?n nh? r? l¨¤ ??c cu?n n¨¤y m¨¬nh ?? ng? r?t nhi?u, c?m gi¨¢c nh? cu?n s¨¢ch c¨® thu?c m¨º, c? c?m l¨ºn ??c v¨¤i d¨°ng l¨¤ m¨¬nh l?i ng?, ng? r?t say v¨¤ r?t ngon n?a. M¨¤ k? l? l¨¤m sao khi m¨¤ ??c l?i t?i v?n c¨® tr?i nghi?m t??ng t?, v?n l¨¤ c¨¢i c?m gi¨¢c bu?n ng? kh?ng c??ng l?i ???c m¨¤ ch? c?n ??c v¨¤i trang t?i l?i l?n ra ng? r?t ngon l¨¤nh, c¨® l? b?i c¨¢i ma l?c trong nh?ng c?u v?n c?a Banana Yoshimoto mang l?i khi?n t?i c?ng nh? nh?ng nh?n v?t trong truy?n ng?n kia, ng? ?? n?p l?i n?ng l??ng, ng? ?? qu¨ºn ?i th?c t?i, ng? ?? qu¨ºn ?i c? ch¨ªnh b?n th?n m¨¬nh. M?t t?p truy?n ng?n th?m ??m n?i bu?n v¨¤ s? b? t?c nh?ng kh?ng hi?u sao v?n mang l?i c?m gi¨¢c th?t b¨¬nh y¨ºn, m?t t?p truy?n ng?n r?t ??i l? k?.
April 21, 2023
Uno puede dormir por dinero (como en el conocido libro de Kawabata), o permanentemente en un hospital o en una vida en la que no se hace nada y en que el sue?o y la vigilia se confunden. Todas esas formas se ven en este libro, de hecho, todas en un solo cuento.
Suicidios, gente solitaria, continuas llamadas a tel¨¦fonos fijos,la apabullante presencia de lo on¨ªrico, tri¨¢ngulos amorosos ?Qu¨¦ clase de Murakami es esta? Pues una mejor, m¨¢s sensible, con cuentos m¨¢s redondos, de prosa m¨¢s cuidada y sin tantas referencias innecesarias a la ropa o la comida (bueno, algunas). Una que sabe manejar bien los tiempos, para entrelazar el pasado y el presente de sus personajes, siempre bajo la impronta del fr¨ªo y el alcoholismo, un poco en la l¨ªnea de Raymond Carver. El segundo relato es uno de los m¨¢s emotivos que he disfrutado ¨²ltimamente. Ante el agotamiento de Haruki, creo que tendr¨¦ que seguir, pero ahora con ella.
Suicidios, gente solitaria, continuas llamadas a tel¨¦fonos fijos,la apabullante presencia de lo on¨ªrico, tri¨¢ngulos amorosos ?Qu¨¦ clase de Murakami es esta? Pues una mejor, m¨¢s sensible, con cuentos m¨¢s redondos, de prosa m¨¢s cuidada y sin tantas referencias innecesarias a la ropa o la comida (bueno, algunas). Una que sabe manejar bien los tiempos, para entrelazar el pasado y el presente de sus personajes, siempre bajo la impronta del fr¨ªo y el alcoholismo, un poco en la l¨ªnea de Raymond Carver. El segundo relato es uno de los m¨¢s emotivos que he disfrutado ¨²ltimamente. Ante el agotamiento de Haruki, creo que tendr¨¦ que seguir, pero ahora con ella.
April 7, 2018
L?i c?nh b¨¢o ? b¨¬a sau cu?n s¨¢ch v? chuy?n ??ng n¨ºn ??c v¨¤o ban ?¨ºm v¨¬ s? b? cu?n v¨¤o gi?c ng? s?u ma m? l¨¤ ho¨¤n to¨¤n ?¨²ng. M¨¬nh ?? nghe theo, ch? ??c v¨¤o bu?i s¨¢ng trong m?t chu?i ng¨¤y t?nh t¨¢o, kh?ng ng? ng¨¤y; nh?ng kh?ng bi?t l¨¤ v¨¬ cu?n s¨¢ch hay s? th? l?ng, tho?i m¨¢i khi v? nh¨¤ trong ??t ngh? 2/9 hay l¨¤ c? hai ?? khi?n m¨¬nh ng? tr?a, hay ?¨²ng h?n l¨¤ c¨® nh?ng gi?c ng? chi?u k¨¦o d¨¤i, n?ng n? v¨¤ kh?ng th? c??ng l?i, cho t?n ??n l¨²c d?y c? ng??i v?n nh? ?ang l? l?ng kh?ng th? tho¨¢t ra.
??y l¨¤ tr?i nghi?m c¨¢ nh?n c¨® li¨ºn quan ??n cu?n s¨¢ch c¨°n v? b?n th?n cu?n s¨¢ch, n¨® c?ng l¨¤ s? n?i d¨¤i v¨¤ ?i s?u v¨¤o gi?c ng? c?a ba ng??i ph? n? nh?n v?t ch¨ªnh c?a ba c?u chuy?n, v¨¤ c?a c? r?t nhi?u nh?n v?t kh¨¢c n?a. Mu?n h¨¬nh mu?n v? c?a gi?c ng? hi?n l¨ºn qua c?u ch?, c¨® gi?c ng? li b¨¬ c?a ng??i v? b? t?i n?n ?ang ? tr?ng th¨¢i th?c v?t, c¨® gi?c ng? bay b?ng trong ti?ng nh?c du d??ng g?i v? c?a k? ?? khu?t, c¨® gi?c ng? v?nh vi?n kh?ng bao gi? t?nh l?i c?a ng??i anh trai ?a t¨¤i m¨¤ chuy?n t¨¬nh l?i ?au kh?, c¨® gi?c ng? ch? ch?c ch? ??y ng??i ta h? l?ng xu?ng, v¨¤o b?t c? th?i ?i?m n¨¤o trong ng¨¤y, v¨¤ d??ng nh? k¨¦o d¨¤i b?t t?n. Ch?a bao gi? gi?c ng? l?i xu?t hi?n d??i nhi?u d?ng th?c v¨¤ mang nhi?u ? ngh?a nh? trong Say ng?.
??y l¨¤ tr?i nghi?m c¨¢ nh?n c¨® li¨ºn quan ??n cu?n s¨¢ch c¨°n v? b?n th?n cu?n s¨¢ch, n¨® c?ng l¨¤ s? n?i d¨¤i v¨¤ ?i s?u v¨¤o gi?c ng? c?a ba ng??i ph? n? nh?n v?t ch¨ªnh c?a ba c?u chuy?n, v¨¤ c?a c? r?t nhi?u nh?n v?t kh¨¢c n?a. Mu?n h¨¬nh mu?n v? c?a gi?c ng? hi?n l¨ºn qua c?u ch?, c¨® gi?c ng? li b¨¬ c?a ng??i v? b? t?i n?n ?ang ? tr?ng th¨¢i th?c v?t, c¨® gi?c ng? bay b?ng trong ti?ng nh?c du d??ng g?i v? c?a k? ?? khu?t, c¨® gi?c ng? v?nh vi?n kh?ng bao gi? t?nh l?i c?a ng??i anh trai ?a t¨¤i m¨¤ chuy?n t¨¬nh l?i ?au kh?, c¨® gi?c ng? ch? ch?c ch? ??y ng??i ta h? l?ng xu?ng, v¨¤o b?t c? th?i ?i?m n¨¤o trong ng¨¤y, v¨¤ d??ng nh? k¨¦o d¨¤i b?t t?n. Ch?a bao gi? gi?c ng? l?i xu?t hi?n d??i nhi?u d?ng th?c v¨¤ mang nhi?u ? ngh?a nh? trong Say ng?.
December 26, 2017
La prima Banana cada vez que est¨¢ gustando m¨¢s.
La sensaci¨®n que provoca con sus relatos es conmovedora. Me sent¨ª en medio de un limbo al leer el primer cuento, precisamente el que le da nombre al libro.
Tambi¨¦n me fascina a veces la idea de no despertar jam¨¢s, de ir pudri¨¦ndome y desaparecer en la eternidad. Tal vez est¨¦ pose¨ªda por el sue?o. Igual que Shiori estaba pose¨ªda por su trabajo. Me da miedo pensarlo.
La sensaci¨®n que provoca con sus relatos es conmovedora. Me sent¨ª en medio de un limbo al leer el primer cuento, precisamente el que le da nombre al libro.
Tambi¨¦n me fascina a veces la idea de no despertar jam¨¢s, de ir pudri¨¦ndome y desaparecer en la eternidad. Tal vez est¨¦ pose¨ªda por el sue?o. Igual que Shiori estaba pose¨ªda por su trabajo. Me da miedo pensarlo.
May 2, 2019
This is probably my favourite of the three Banana Yoshimoto books I've read so far. Asleep contains three short stories that all feature sleep (or the lack of it) in some way, and also carry similar themes of death/loss and love. Yoshimoto's writing has that familiar quality that I've noticed contemporary Japanese literature often has, a very minimal approach that is at the same time wildly evocative. Yoshimoto's is some of the best I've read in a while though, and her prose surrounded me like a soft fluffy cloud, despite the often melancholy subject matter. Despite being set in the real world, her subtle touches of magical realism were enough to draw me into a more private space. My only qualm with the collection is that I think the first and last stories (Night and Night's Travelers and Asleep) are far better than the middle story Love Songs, which I don't feel particularly fussed about revisiting. Definitely one to check out though if you like Japanese literature, particularly this translation by Michael Emmerich.
February 19, 2025
Non mi ha lasciato granch¨¦.
Dei tre racconti ho preferito l'ultimo.
Dei tre racconti ho preferito l'ultimo.
December 8, 2017
Quiz¨¢s es de las que menos me ha gustado de la autora.
Me gusta centrarme en una historia y al llevar 3, siempre te quedas con ese gustito amargo de seguir con algo m¨¢s.
personalmente la mejor ha sido la primera.
Lo que est¨¢ claro es que Banana Yoshimoto tiene un sello caracter¨ªstico en todas sus novelas, con un mundo onirico y un retrato hacia la vacuidad de la vida.
Trata temas existencialistas como el suicidio, pero de manera muy sencilla, son historias de personajes, no importa nada la trama sino lo que el personaje dice y c¨®mo sobrelleva esa vacio existencial.
Me gusta centrarme en una historia y al llevar 3, siempre te quedas con ese gustito amargo de seguir con algo m¨¢s.
personalmente la mejor ha sido la primera.
Lo que est¨¢ claro es que Banana Yoshimoto tiene un sello caracter¨ªstico en todas sus novelas, con un mundo onirico y un retrato hacia la vacuidad de la vida.
Trata temas existencialistas como el suicidio, pero de manera muy sencilla, son historias de personajes, no importa nada la trama sino lo que el personaje dice y c¨®mo sobrelleva esa vacio existencial.
June 11, 2019
C'¨¨ sempre un momento, nella vita di ogni persona, in cui la stasi sembra giunger improvvisa a paralizzare l'esistenza. Tutto si ferma, una nebbia avvolge i pensieri contrastando le decisioni, si galleggia nel limbo, in attesa. Forse si tratta di un evento importante. In questo momento di sonno proficuo la mente trova il tempo e il contesto per riordinare i pensieri. Risvegliandoci, ci scopriamo spesso a intraprendere un sentiero nuovo, che nei sogni del nostro sonno, della nostra salutare pausa, ha preso forma.
April 11, 2020
Asleep, yes, this almost sent me to sleep.
Too weird for my taste buds.
November 7, 2021
4.5.
Haunting stories about sleep (or the lack thereof) and grief that lull you into a dreamlike, wistful space. My admiration and adoration for Banana Yoshimoto and her ethereal prose continue.
Haunting stories about sleep (or the lack thereof) and grief that lull you into a dreamlike, wistful space. My admiration and adoration for Banana Yoshimoto and her ethereal prose continue.
March 17, 2025
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January 24, 2023
I was happy. I loved the night, I loved it so much it almost hurt. In the night everything seemed possible. I wasn't sleepy at all.
Things Banana Yoshimoto likes: Short, direct, lyrical descriptions of everyday surroundings. Women's forearms. Magic happenings. Love triangles (and other polygons). Women living like nineteenth century bachelors, unencumbered by mundane concerns like money or family. Lesbians. These nifty little packs of three short stories.
You know, I wasn't totally on board with her with . But after Asleep, I'd have to say it's my jam, too. The interlacing themes are interesting, and though I am normally allergic to characters' romantic entanglements, the romance here is very beside the point, which is whether life has any worth to it or not. (Spoiler: With Yoshimoto's tales, it very much does.) I can get with that.
Night and Night's Travelers ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï A sister looks back on her dead brother's loves, and discovers a secret.
Love Songs ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î A more forthrightly Sapphic story. A woman discovers she loved a rival much too late. There is necromancy.
Asleep ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î How to even explain this one? A woman with a dead friend dates a man whose wife is in a coma. Magic ensues. Probably just read it actually.
Things Banana Yoshimoto likes: Short, direct, lyrical descriptions of everyday surroundings. Women's forearms. Magic happenings. Love triangles (and other polygons). Women living like nineteenth century bachelors, unencumbered by mundane concerns like money or family. Lesbians. These nifty little packs of three short stories.
You know, I wasn't totally on board with her with . But after Asleep, I'd have to say it's my jam, too. The interlacing themes are interesting, and though I am normally allergic to characters' romantic entanglements, the romance here is very beside the point, which is whether life has any worth to it or not. (Spoiler: With Yoshimoto's tales, it very much does.) I can get with that.
Night and Night's Travelers ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï A sister looks back on her dead brother's loves, and discovers a secret.
Love Songs ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î¡î A more forthrightly Sapphic story. A woman discovers she loved a rival much too late. There is necromancy.
Asleep ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡î How to even explain this one? A woman with a dead friend dates a man whose wife is in a coma. Magic ensues. Probably just read it actually.
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