Hardboiled, Hard Luck and Hardcore Vacation

Hiya! It’s been a while.

So these past few days (and until now), I’ve been deprived of internet access. No matter how much I cajole and coerce my father into fetching my dear laptop back for me, he wouldn’t do it. Apparently some people are harassing everyone in our building so as to make us move out of here. Whatever the reason is, I have decided to NOT care anymore. I’ve had enough of these Arab twats. I give up dealing with them. Other people already moved out, and I say mighty thanks to the God who helped us find a good flat. Yes, we just found a flat today (I haven’t seen it, but I’ll keep calling it a flat). Even though it’s smaller, all is cool. I’d rather live in a smaller place with my laptop than live in a more spacious one without it. That’s what I call true love.

Of course I am kidding. About the true love thing, that is.

I’ve been drowning myself in books these days. I’m having a hardcore vacation right now. As usual, I went to see a movie again (Shrek 3). I also bought books. One is Banana Yoshimoto’s Hardboiled and Hard Luck and the other one is Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth. I’m currently reading the latter since I’ve finished Banana’s book.

Like I said on Twitter, I have this itch to write about Hardboiled and Hard Luck. They are two novellas on one book.

HARDBOILED

The way Banana wrote this one is really extraordinary. She uses common words and phrases to describe a scene or a feeling, but then as you read these seemingly usual and ordinary things, you would get a vivid sense and understanding of what she is actually talking about. Everything is so heartfelt and moving. Hardboiled has some sort of a Haruki Murakami feel to it, but of course I’d say Murakami’s works are better. Teehee. This story brings back memories of my childhood. This piece’s themes could be the struggles and challenges of moving on, dealing with time, and for me I consider homesexuality as one of the themes.

The udon shop burning as a technique of foreshadowing, using the Chrysanthemum as a symbol for the homosexuality in the story- I find those really amusing and creative. But then the little ghost stories in the story just do not quite work for me.

HARDLUCK

Actually, I do not really find this one striking. I could compare it to a romantic pocketbook of some sort since there was a love story in it, even though it’s not really the main theme. Again, it brings back childhood memories and talks about time. It almost had me tear up, but it just wasn’t powerful enough for me. On some parts, it will make you think. At least it did make me think!

About Sakai resembling Nakai (favorite SMAP member of Kuni), I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I googled this Nakai person, and he looked like he was the Sakai that is being described in the story. Sakai being a master of a Taichi school must say something about his character being a parody of the actual Nakai, the musician.

What I will always remember about this story is how they talked about their belief in the relation of death and music. They said that when there’s one song that suddenly struck you in the most unusual way ever, it will be the song that will be played for you when you die. I think that’s interesting stuff.

Well, that’s what I think. I hope you guys would find time to read Hardboiled at least! Heheh.

Ultimately, though, it’s living people that frighten me the most. - Hardboiled, Banana Yoshimoto

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