toloveisdestroy's review against another edition
3.0
An informative and interesting novel to say the least. I felt as conflicted as others did on how to properly rate this novel. As I both enjoyed it, but found the writing to be difficult (I would argue this is the issue of the editors more so than anyone else).
margheritabruttini's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ssohn's review against another edition
2.0
I seriously have no idea what do with this book. Maybe someone out there on good reads can enlighten me!
jeeleongkoh's review
4.0
It is imperfectly written but it has the charm, as Charles Simic said of his earlier poetry, of awkwardness. The introduction written by Laura E. Franey outlines the collaborative process between Yone Noguchi and his editors in writing the book, the diary's critique of turn-of-the-century Japonisme, and Morning Glory's performance of authenticity and identity. The Afterword by Edward Marx surveys the book's reception and afterlife in the USA and Japan. It suggests usefully the different genres in which the diary may be placed: women's confessional diaries popular in the late 19th century in Europe and the USA; Japanese diary literature, or nikki bungaku, whose roots reach all the way back to The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon; the New Japanese Novel; Asian American literature; American trickster tales; and queer literature. The notes to the text are full and enlightening.
My favorite bits:
"Japan teaches nothing but simplicity. Simplicity is the philosophy of art." (62)
"I thought that Americans buy things because they love to buy, not because they have to buy." (62)
"Meriken jin [Americans] has to study the high art of concealing." (62)
"Every book was without finger-marks. Book without finger-mark is like bread without brown crust. Dear finger-mark!" (65)
"[Morning Glory to her uncle] "I'm a poet already. The poet without poem is greater, don't you know?" (91)
"[Morning Glory to Mr. Heine] The best poems are those not published. The very best are those not written." (99)
I think I've discovered in Yone Noguchi yet another of my American predecessors, in addition to Auden and Gunn.
My favorite bits:
"Japan teaches nothing but simplicity. Simplicity is the philosophy of art." (62)
"I thought that Americans buy things because they love to buy, not because they have to buy." (62)
"Meriken jin [Americans] has to study the high art of concealing." (62)
"Every book was without finger-marks. Book without finger-mark is like bread without brown crust. Dear finger-mark!" (65)
"[Morning Glory to her uncle] "I'm a poet already. The poet without poem is greater, don't you know?" (91)
"[Morning Glory to Mr. Heine] The best poems are those not published. The very best are those not written." (99)
I think I've discovered in Yone Noguchi yet another of my American predecessors, in addition to Auden and Gunn.
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