Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Books I Did Not Finish (DNFed) (feel free to tell us why, but please no spoilers!). It's very rare for me to DNF a book deliberately. Do I put them down with the intention of picking them up again? Sure, happens every now and again.
Instead of the DNF topic, I am going to share some Japanese books that I have read, and some that I want to read. This is because I am currently on a cruise from Tokyo to Seoul in South Korea, so it seems a fitting time for this topic. As I looked at the covers with just a couple of different choices I could have also called this Books Set in Japan with cats on the cover!
First the books I have read over the last couple of years:
The Chibineko Kitchen by Yuta Takahaski- the second book is due to be released in the next couple of months (review)
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai- This the second book in the Kamogawa Food Detectives series (review)
Before We Forget Kindness by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - This is the fifth book in the Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, but the only one I am going to include on this list
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa - This book caught my eye when we were in San Francisco a while ago. I read this early last year.
What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama - I reviewed this last year for the Japanese Literature Challenge.
Books I Want to Read
Butter by Asako Yuzuki - I have wanted to read this since I first heard about it but haven't managed it yet!
The Library of Heartbeats by Laura Imae Messina - Isn't this cover sweet!
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami - I saw a review of this over at Words and Peace and added it to my TBR list straight away.
The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki - I did commit to read this soon in my TTT post last week!
White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton - This is about a Korean girl who moves to Japan just before WWII
Have you read any of these or have any other recommendations?
I do like to dabble in a bit of Japanese literature. I've only read 3 but 😂 I want to read The Full Moon Coffee Shop too!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
My post:
https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com/2025/03/25/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-i-would-like-to-re-read/
IT was a sweet read and a bit different from the other Japanese stories I have read.
DeleteThe most highly rated books set in Japan are both nonfiction memoirs: The Road to Sata and Hiroshima Diary. I'm not sure why, but most of my highly rated books set in Japan are nonfiction.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. I read so little non fiction. I am not sure I have read any Japanese non-fiction, although I think I have a couple here that I borrowed from a friend before we went away
DeleteI love Japanese crime fiction! Starting Strange Pictures by Uketsu as soon as I have the time. Here's my list for this week: https://damppebbles.com/2025/03/25/toptentuesday-25th-march-2025/ Emma @damppebbles.com
ReplyDeleteThat one is new to me!
DeleteLove these. Most are on my TBR, and a favourite of mine is here Before the coffee gets cold!
ReplyDeletehttps://linsperspective.com/2025/03/25/top-ten-tuesday-march-25th-2025/
That's definitely a good series. It's not the first Japanese book I ever read, but it has set me on a path towards reading more!
DeleteOh, this is a fun twist! I have only read a few books set in Japan.
ReplyDeleteWere they any of these?
DeleteIt's the same with me. I don't really DNF either. I do put a book aside intending to read it at a later time, though. Anyway, I like your topic. These all look good. Hope you enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteI always have good intentions of picking the book up again.
DeleteI enjoyed reading The Full Moon Coffee Shop. I love how the stories come together. Enjoy your cruise!
ReplyDeletePam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/books-i-dnfed-in-2024/
I really liked it! I will probably review it in a couple of weeks
DeleteI hope you are enjoying your cruise!
ReplyDeleteIt was fab!
DeleteGreat looking books. I've seen a couple of these before. Hope you enjoy them. Have fun on your cruise.
ReplyDeletehttps://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2025/03/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-i-did-not.html
Thanks for stopping by Cheryl!
DeleteSo many Japanese books have cats on the covers. Someday I'll read the Japanese cat books and find out why. :)
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of cats in Japanese books, and yet I don't remember seeing any. We did see a lot of small dogs though.
DeleteI hope you're having fun on your cruise! I haven't read any Japanese books, other than manga, but they always have such lovely covers. The Restaurant of Lost Recipes looks amazing, I'll have to check it out :)
ReplyDeleteIf you'd like to visit, here's my TTT: https://thebooklorefairyreads.wordpress.com/2025/03/25/top-ten-tuesday-most-anticipated-middle-grade-books-on-my-tbr/
That was a good book!
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