Book List

I thought I'd make this a post since Jenny posted some of her favorites in comments in the previous post, (which I have simplified) and it was so interesting to hear about what type of books she enjoys.

So here're my favorites. Many of these aren't just current favorites, but are here because I've read them more than three times and they've become a part of me. Please post yours in comments too if you like!

#1 (the only one I'll number)

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

My favorite book of all time, combining fantasy and theology to give some slightly tangible feeling examples to the intangible. Also, Ryan and I became nearly inseperable when we discovered one evening that both of us shared this book as our favorite. It was a really strange feeling since few people I knew had ever heard of or read it.

The rest are in no particular order.

Perelandra by C.S. Lewis

It's the second in the Out of the Silent Planet series and, talking theology, my favorite. Again, it helped put many questions I had into a different light and another angle which made it more visible.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynn Jones

A lot of her other stuff is a bit strange and inconclusive (as in, really, the conclusion doesn't make any sense), but Howl's Moving Castle is a wonderful new fairy tale. It doesn't try to twist any old ones and it doesn't get too cocky, it's just a cute story.

The Book of Revelations by God

This is on the list since it's strange, I spent a year of Sunday's after church in 4th grade, reading the entire book of Revelations. By that I mean, almost every Sunday that year was spent reading it from start to finish. No one knows why, maybe I'm just a skip to the end kinda person. When I read it now, I feel that I grasped it better as a child.

The Gospel of Matthew by God

I like Matthew's writing style. I understand it better.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Stacey and I relate a bit too well to her character I think.

The Secret Garden by L.M. Montgomery

Who wouldn't want one?

Ender's Gameby Orson Scott Card

I think Card has a way of depicting how both strong and innocent children can be, I was blown away by that concept in his book. Also, it's just a really well written and thrilling story.

Veinte Poemas de Amor y Una Cancion Desesperada by Pablo Neruda

So I don't understand it as well as I used to, I don't even know who to type an accent over the 'o' in 'Cancion' but I still get the gist and I love the way the words sound. Pablo Neruda is the best writer of love poems ever.

Much Ado About Nothing by Mr. Shakespeare

Love is a silly happy and frustrating thing and I think 'ol Will had the idea down correctly when it came to that play. I used to read a bit of it every week if I felt down. During freshman year in college I once made Mark Durand and Justin Baker read through the 1st 1/2 play with me. Mark and I were very enthusiastic about acting it out in the little dorm room I shared with Megan; I think we frightened Justin with our yelling and theatrics.


Series and other stories that I love include:
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, The Chronicles of Narnia by Lewis, and the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, The Silmarillion by Tolkien, and Full Metal Alchemist (manga series) by Hiromu Arakawa.

Although I really love and enjoy LoTR and Earthsea I've never felt the urge to read them more than once (or twice).

The War Obsession

I decided to edit this since it was a bit overboard. So the simple version is:

I like Miyazaki films: Kiki, Totoro, Spirited Away

I understand and am perfectly ok that books are edited when they become movies, but I am bothered when characters are stripped, renamed, replaced and the movie doesn't make any sense.

There's no need to ADD a war to a story that has none.

I was sad that they did the two items above to Howl's Moving Castle.

I'm a bit disturbed that they actually inserted the words War Saga into the title of the Tales of Ged.

la~~ that's all I really needed to say.

Kyoto last day!

Our last day was Saturday, April 1st. It was expected to be the biggest tourist day for cherry blossoms. Ryan and I had planned on going hiking to avoid the crowds. We split off from Jeremy and Stacey, who decided to linger a bit and see some last sites, at around 10am. We were too meet up with them again around 3.

But when we got to Kyoto station to drop off our bags, there were Maiko,or Geiko (Geisha) in training, all over the station. They were advertising for a dance they would be doing later that week. It was one of the rare opportunities in which normal, not filthy rich, people could simply ask for a picture with the girls without interrupting their busy schedule.





We realized we couldn't see the dance they were advertising since it would occcur later that week, but we did realize that if we canceled our hike we could go to see the Miyako Odori, a yearly celebration of spring that is put on by a classical dance school for Maiko that is famous in Kyoto. So we set off for the Gion district as quick as we could to Gion Corner a famous theatre in the heart of Gion.

We opted for the expensive tickets which included viewing the most highly formalized version of the Japanese Tea Ceremony that we have ever seen. The girl in blue is a Maiko, the girl in black is no longer in training and is officially Geiko.




Only one person was actually served tea by the Geiko and Maiko. There were many girls there with carts of bowls and plants, serving tea and sweets to the rest of us.


The tea is powdered green tea and is mixed (not brewed) with a bamboo whisk in a small bowl. The method of serving is extremely formalized, the method of drinking is as well: The bowl is served with the "best side" of it facing you, you should not drink out of the best side, but hold it with your left hand and with your right, turn it clockwise twice so the best side is facing away, then, it's most polite to drink all the matcha in three gulps, or in a few sips, either way you pick it up once and drink it all before setting it down. Matcha is served with a sweet to balance the bitter taste.



After that we were allowed to tour the garden behind the hall and then were ushered into the theatre to watch the Miyako Odori.

First, there was an introductory dance.


Next came a dance depicting a story from The Tale of Genji. Note the Heian Period (around 1,000 years ago) dress and hair style. It's very different from the more recent, although not as recent as Western dress, Kimono and dramatic updos that currently represent Japan to many of us.


Then there was a scene from Urashima Taro, a legend about a boy who caught a sea turtle while fishing and let it go. The turtle then gave Urashima Taro a ride to the underground palace of the sea people. When he returned after what seemed just a few days, everyone he knew was dead and gone.


Then there was a dance celebrating the Fall.


One celebrating Winter.


And, of course there was adance for the Spring


All the characters and dancers came out for The Finale.


After that, we were able to catch up with Stacey and Jeremy and they went to see the later showing of the dance since plans had changed so quickly that we weren't able to contact them until after the first show. So we didn't get to see the show together, which was sad. But at least we were both able to see it and talk of it afterward. While Stacey and Jeremy were watching the show, Ryan and I went to Keninji a temple extremely close to Gion Corner. It had the most interesting classical rock gardens I have ever seen.



It has also recently had it's ceiling repainted with a now-famous image of a dragon. We thought that was pretty cool.


When Stacey and Jeremy got out of the show, it was by then around 6pm. We went down the street to Maruyama Koen again where everyone was out picnicking around the famous old cherry tree.


When the sun set, torches around the tree were lit up.


From there, we left to go to Kyoto station. Stacey and Jeremy took off for Osaka and from there had many adventures of which I have no images to show you, but I hope to see the things they saw someday soon. Ryan and I lingered about Kyoto station to wait for the night bus back to Tokyo. We arrived in Tokyo at around 6am and went straight home on the early commute train.

The End!

Kyoto: Day 4

So I was wrong~the last post was our 3rd day in Kyoto. The following morning I took off on my own, since I felt like walking everywhere, and went all the way from our hostel to Ginkakuji (the Silver Temple) which is my favorite temple. To get there (or anywhere in Kyoto, really) you just follow the very straight (or would that be straightened?) Kamo River.

The cherry blossoms were looking gorgeous by then.



A man was feeding the hawks while his teeny little dog was looking a little scared. There was actually quite the motley collection of birds: cranes, pigeons ravens, gulls, and hawks were all present. The seven or eight hawks that were continually swooping down from the air pretty much dominated the scene, however.



After about 2 1/2 hours I made it to Gikakuji. It's not actually painted silver because it happened to burn down at least twice. After the second burning, the proprieter dindn't have the cash to actually cover it in gold foil like the Golden Temple (Kinkakuji).


I love it because it has a very unique rock garden (more like a sculpture almost) and also because the garden is very peaceful.



The ground is entirely moss, no sirree no grass there.


There's even a display, explaining a bit about the moss.
"Moss the Interruptor", or, "bad (ugly) moss."


"Very Important Moss, like VIP"...or like VIM...



The view of Ginkakuji and looking West out to the NE section of Kyoto.


After Ginkakuji there was quite a hike back to the hostel, on the way I...

walked the Philosopher's walk. It's actually an old Meiji era (or earlier probably) road that was so renamed for a well-loved professor at Kansai University (close by the area) who used to walk up and down it during his lunch breaks.


saw Pooh's?...cafe which was closed,


and enjoyed the view of the river and hills that border the Eastern side of Kyoto.



Then Ryan and I finally met up after sating all our independent touristy wants and explored a bit of the Kiyomizudera area (some fun shopping, etc. see November postings). In the early evening we met up with Stacey and Jeremy who were also pretty tired and, YAY!, went to Bikkuri Donkey for a well deserved huge plate 'o meat. This one was Ryan's meal, rice with curry and a huge Hamburg Steak (or you can just say Hamburger in the old sense) with cheese. Considering it was only our second meal, I'd say it was well earned.