The Traveler

Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Life & Style

The back of the bookstore contained only English novels. I scanned the authors. Balzac, Camus and Nabokov were some of the many names. I went toward the opposite end, where I find a shelf labeled Japanese Literature. I stopped in awe. Japanese literature - my absolute favorite authors are Japanese, and I've been obsessed with Japanese literature ever since reading my first Haruki Murakami book. I allowed myself to wander over, and, indeed, Murakami was on the shelves. I selected a Yukio Mishima book titled "Silk and Insight." It was a title of which I was unfamiliar with. I held it as a contender for my purchase. Another name caught my eye. Junichiro Tanizaki, a name whose works I was not acquainted with. I placed the Mishima book back in its location and decided to purchase an auteur alien in my own book collection. I settled on "Seven Japanese Tales," a small collection of the author's short stories.

I had to leave. There were about four more rows I did not look at. Had I continue my browsing, I would have never made a decision as I am aware that there are many other wonderful Japanese authors whose names are unknown to me.

I finally read "Seven Japanese Tales" about a couple of weeks ago. I had forgotten about the book, which had been settling of some untouched novels. The bookmark was placed on the cover page, which made me remember the name of the bookstore. I had forgotten about Galignani until recently.

Finishing the novel motivated me to go to the library downtown and look at the newest items. Although I did not check out any books, I did locate many old films of Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart. How fun the time passes when one is in the company of good books and films.

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