Fun Facts Friday: Abe Kōbō
Fun Facts Friday , Latest Posts / March 7, 2014

Abe Kōbō (27 March 7, 1924 – 22 January 22, 1993) was a Japanese writer who was also a photographer and playwright. Books by Abe Kōbō His name is pronounced AH-bay KOH-boh Following his father’s footsteps, Abe went to medical school. As the story goes, he was only allowed to graduate if he promised that he’ll never practice medicine. Some of the authors that were influenced Abe were Dostoyevesky, Kafka, Nietzche and Poe. Abe’s first published piece was the book Poems of an Unknown Poet (Mumei-shishū – 1947) which was self published. In 1948 Abe published The Road Sign at the End of the Street (Owarishi michi no shirube ni) which maked his transition into a novelist. Abe won international acclaim in 1962 for his novel The Woman in the Dunes. The author also started an acting studio in Tokyo, where he trained performers and directed as well. Abe was awarded the Akutagawa Prize for The Crime of S. Karuma (1951), the Yomiuri Prize for The Woman in the Dunes (1962), and the Tanizaki Prize for Friends(a play – 1967). Abe was nominated multiple times for the Pulitzer Prize – but never won one. Abe collobaroted with famed Japanese director Hiroshi…

Giveaway & Guest Post: I Cannot Write a Book
Guest Posts , Latest Posts / March 6, 2014

Writing a book is not what I thought it was going to be. I had seen the growth in authors. The draw it had. Instant success. (Many think.) The numerous attempts at creating worlds, but I never thought I would be drawn in. I am a math teacher. Not a writer. When we make a decision to enter a field of study, we stick with it. We do the same job every day because that is what our parents have done. What their parents have done. And their parents. Stepping out of the norm requires time. Effort. Space. Energy. And know how. I cannot write a book. I told myself that for several years. Why even try? It is not worth the time. Would anyone even read it? There was a fear of rejection. A risk that I was not quite ready to take. Where was the shift? When did I decide to just go for it? It was gradual and in the most unlikely time of my life. Senior year while student teaching. Driving forty minutes one way every morning at six o’clock. Teaching for eight hours. Making the return trip that afternoon. Preparing for the next day. Then…

Book Review: Three Souls by Janie Chang
4 Stars , Fiction , Latest Posts / March 5, 2014

In China, 1935, Leiyin watches her own funeral and wanders why she has not been permitted to the afterlife. Leiyin discovers that she is not alone; three souls are there to guide her along the way until she make amends. But first she has to find out what she has to make amends for.

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