Tag: books

[Book Review] From Girdle Maker to Water Commissioner – THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE: The Pioneering Spin-off Program That Made Broadcast History!

On By Kanariya EishiIn Book Review, literatureLeave a comment

For enthusiasts of history and the golden age of radio, a remarkable new title has arrived: Kristine Ohkubo’s From Girdle Maker to Water Commissioner – THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE: The Pioneering Spin-off Program That Made Broadcast History! A finalist in the 19th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards, this book transports readers to the enchanting and hilarious world of Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, one of radio’s most beloved characters.

I had the privilege of being introduced to Gildersleeve’s eccentric stories by the author herself before the book’s publication, and I quickly became a devoted fan. Informative and engaging, the book traces the series’ evolution over the years. I particularly enjoyed delving into the actors’ detailed biographies and backstories.

You may know Ohkubo for her authoritative works on rakugo: Talking About Rakugo (Volumes 1 and 2) and Fallen Words. I can clearly see how her fascination with old-time radio drew her to the traditional Japanese art of rakugo. Both evoke a nostalgic world where family and traditional values take centre stage.

In the appendix, you’ll find complete episode logs—a treasure trove for fans, collectors, and researchers alike. These logs provide a roadmap back to the nostalgic world many of us long to revisit.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thoroughly recommended for aficionados of old-time radio, comedy lovers, and rakugo enthusiasts alike!!!

Haruki Murakami- Manga Stories

On By Kanariya EishiIn Japanese Culture, Japanese Language, literature, Manga3 Comments

I am a hardcore Haruki Murakami fan since I was 11 or 12.

Maybe this is because the first book I’d ever read from cover to cover was his ‘Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World’. This cult literature was a bit too nihilistic to a primary school kid like me, and it literally haunted me for years- definitely not recommended to first-time Murakami readers along with ‘The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle’.

I recently read the manga adaptations of Haruki Murakami’s short stories. I’d always thought it’d be nearly impossible to capture the essence of the Murakami world in pictures, but I reckon this one just did that!

Some characters reminded me of Issey Ogata (en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki…), one of my favourite actors. I wonder the author actually used him as a motif! They really look alike.

A light-read with deep themes 🙂