This is the world's earliest novel and the most famous work in Japan's literary history. Murasaki Shikibu, the most renowned among the women writers of Heian period was born in 978. She was a member of the most celebrated Fujiwara clan. This book was originally written as a diary in which lady Murasaki was carefully recording her impressions of life. She's delicately portrayed the court life in the classical Heian period. The book written in many volumes revolves around the love life of the famous prince Genji.

It was too difficult for me to complete the voluminous translation by Arthur Waley. I found the Comic version (by ???) easier. You must have a deep interest in Japan's history and culture to be able to appreciate the novel. What motivated me to read the book was the fact that it was written by a woman at a time when education was a taboo for women in most other parts of the world.

by Suie Sumii

written in 1908 again by a woman about the discrimination about a particular community Burakumin in Japan. The writer has touched the subject which was considered a taboo with outspoken frankness. This book interested me because I could relate with certain castes in India which are discriminated against by others. Burakumins, who had been treated as untouchables in the past by Japanese society, are still discriminated against in employment and marriages. The story focuses around a bright child from this community who hates going to school because he finds it difficult to put up with constant harassment and humiliation at school. They had to stay with children of their own group and were teased by other children who would pass remarks such as "dirty" .'four legged' or "you stink" on them. They were despised for sharing the same buckets or mugs for drinking water. Teachers never objected to this because they themselves were prejudiced against etas.

by Yukio Mishima

translated by Edward G Seidensticker

Yukio Mishima was a famous Japanese Author. This is his 3^rd novel in The Sea of Fertility, Mishima's summation of the Japanese experience in the modern age. I have read other 3 novels as well - Spring Snow, Runaway Horses and the Decay of the Angel.

But I particularly like the temple of dawn.

Its an excellent work -both the original and translation - so rich in imagination. It’s a story about an old man falling passionately in love with a 17 year old Thai princess who he believes is a reincarnation of his childhood friend. He is so puzzled by his own beliefs that he makes a trip to India in search of truth. Mishima seems quite obsessed with death as he so vivdly describes the feelings
related to death and perhaps which is why he himself ended his life at a young age of 46 after completing the last story The Decay of the Angel of I was a little shocked to read about a few issues he's dealt with absolute delicacy such as lesbianism and bi-sexuality Shocked because the background of the novel is set in the period around the world war.