Lost In Translation

2018 Books Read

(1) Indonesia, Etc. Elisabeth Pisani-an idiosyncratic look at Indonesia by a well-informed traveler.

(2) Demokrasi Hamish McDonald-good overview of contemporary Indonesia.

(3) Lulu in the Sky Loung Ung-third chapter about Ung’s writing and work as an activist.

(4) Blue Nights Joan Didion-a master stylist’s meditations on aging, motherhood, and memory.

(5) The Year of Living Dangerously Christopher J. Koch-inspired original source material for an excellent film.

(6) Sir Vidia’s Shadow Paul Theroux-memoir and hatchet job on the deserving V.S. Naipaul.

(7) Eve’s Hollywood Eve Babitz-lively memoir disguised as fiction.

(8) Slow Days, Fast Company Eve Babitz-more true-life stories presented as fiction, some less interesting.

(9) The Best American Short Stories 1993 (ed. Louis Erdrich)-uneven, but some gems in this one.

(10) Playback Raymond Chandler-the final Marlowe novel-another satisfying effort.

(11) Hotel Honolulu Paul Theroux-entertaining novel that recounts several vignettes set in Hawaii.

(12) A Hell of a Woman Jim Thompson-solid hardboiled pulp fiction.

(13) Echoes (ed. Doughill, Chavez, and Richardson)-an eclectic collection of writing about Japan.

(14) The Rub of Time Martin Amis-fine collection of essays.

(15) The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood-chilling speculative fiction.

(16) The Consul’s File Paul Theroux-entertaining stories set in Malaysia.

(17) Singapore Noir (ed. Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan)-entertaining crime story set in Singapore.

(18) Ruby Ridge Jess Walter-well researched nonfiction book on the controversial event.

(19) BFI: The ‘Three Colours’ Trilogy Geoff Andrew-great companion to the film series.

(20) Coming Up for Air George Orwell-another incisive satire on British society.

(21) Kyoto: A Cultural History John Dougill-fascinating look at the history and culture of a great Japanese city.

(22) Yukio Mishima Damian Flanagan-insightful biography of the controversial Japanese writer.

(23) Pachinko Min Jin Lee-interesting historical novel about Korean Japanese.

(24) The Looming Tower Lawrence Wright-excellent look at the buildup to the 9-11 terrorist attacks.

(25) March Violets Philip Kerr-the first Bernie Gunther murder mystery set in Weimar Germany-good noir fun.

(26) A Dream of Resistance Stephen Prince-detailed discussion of the films of cinematic master Masaki Kobayashi.

(27) A Tokyo Romance-Ian Buruma-His memoir of his early days in Tokyo-not what I thought it would be.

(28) A Tractate on Japanese Aesthetics Donald Riche-a short and interesting discussion of Japanese aesthetics.

(29) The Duel Joseph Conrad-excellent novella about honor and dueling in Napoleonic times.

(30) This Great Stage of Fools Alan Booth-an excellent posthumous collection of miscellaneous essays and reviews.

(31) The Samurai Shusaku Endo-more impressive than Silence.

(32) Everybody Behaves Badly Lesley Blume-entertaining look at the “Lost Generation” and how one of its masterpieces came to be. But Hemingway was kind of a dick.

(33) Blue Velvet Michael Atkinson-good analysis of a game changer film.

(34) Unchained Melody Tom Mes-short biography of Meiko Kaji-entertaining.

(35) The Torrents of Spring Ernest Hemingway-mediocre satire that was kind of a “dick” move by Hemingway towards his friends and supporters.

(36) The Old Capital Yasunari Kawabata-one of Kawabata’s best with atmospheric minute details about Kyoto.

(37) BFI: Do the Right Thing Ed Guerrero-excellent synopsis and criticism of a seminal late 80s film.

(38) 33 1/3: LCD Soundsytem’s Sound of Silver Ryan Leas-a somewhat insightful look into the themes of the album.

(39) All the Pieces Matter Jonathan Abrams-oral history of the seminal TV show The Wire.

(40) The Lotus and the Robot Arthur Koestler-tedious spiritual travelogue in India and Japan cirica 1960.

(41) The Festival of Insignificance Milan Kundera-a short, but poignant coda to a remarkable career.

(42) The Modern Lovers Sean L. Maloney-history of an album combined with the history of a city: Boston.

(43) Power of the Dog Don Winslow-entertaining and well-research novle set during the war on drugs in the 70s-80s.

(44) Exterminate All the Brutes Sven Lindqvest-interesting discussion of The Heart of Darkness and genocide while traveling in the Sahara.

(45) BFI: Trainspotting Murray Smith-enlightening discussion on a modern masterpiece.

(46) In a Lonely Place Dorothy B. Huges-early crime noir classic.

(47) A House for Mr. Biswas V.S. Naipaul-epic comedic novel.

(48) Dark Alliance Gary Webb-expose on the CIA aiding drug dealers to help the Contras in Nicaragua-shameful.

(49) Boomtown Sam Anderson-fascinating look at Oklahoma City and a season of The Thunder.

(50) Oasis’ Definitely Maybe Alex Niven-well researched look at a seminal album.

(51) After the Banquet Yukio Mishima-a political novel about the strength of a singular woman.

(52) Looking for The Stranger Alice Kaplan-interesting biography of Camus’ famous novel.

(53) Lake Success Gary Shteyngart-supposedly the first American novel of the Trump era, not as funny as earlier novels.

(54) The Fifth Risk Michael Lewis-Lewis looks at the current administration’s handling of key government agencies and finds them ignored and undervalued.

(55) Patient X David Peace-interesting fictional life of author Ryunosuke Akutagawa.

(56) The War Against Cliché Martin Amis-another excellent collection of essays mostly on literature.

(57) The Lake Yasunari Kawabata-dark novel about a stalker.

(58) Kwaidan Laficado Hearn-Japanese folk tales collected and retold.

(59) Wildlife Richard Ford-a teenage boy witnesses his parents marriage collapse.

(60) Freaky Deaky Elmore Leonard-entertaining crime novel about former Yippies trying to score big in Detroit.

(61) Your Duck is My Duck Deborah Eisenberg-impressive collection of stories about NYer types.

(62) The Cinema of Gosho Heinosuke: Laughter through Tears Arthur Nolletti, Jr.-a good overview of a n underrated Japanese master of cinema.

(63) If Beale Street Could Talk James Baldwin-righteous anger channeled into a story of hope and despair.

(64) Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) Jeff Tweedy-another great rock biography from the leader of one o my favorite bands-Wilco.

(65) In Other Words Jhumpa Lahiri-a celebrated American author writes in Italian

(66)Scandal Shusaku Endo-better than Silence.

(67) Jim Thompson: The Unsolved Mystery William Warren-excellent biography of one of Asia's biggest mysteries.

Full reviews can be found here.

Graveyard Of Honor (1975)

I had read good things about Kinji Fukasaku's Graveyard Of Honor (1975) and tried to search it out for viewing. Turns out the first attempt I accidentally saw Takashi Miike's 2002 re-make, which admittedly has it's own merits. Fukusaku's film stands out for a number of reasons-the gritty documentary-like style (that he also sued in The Battles Without Honor and Humanity), the hand-held camera used in action scenes, and the fact that the main protagonist of the film was very much an anti-hero. I'm not sure if the anti-hero trope had been explored very much by 1975, but in this film Rikio Ishikawa (base don true life yakuza-played with animal intensity by Tetsuya Watari) is something of a psychopath without any regard to anyone else than himself. Once he is ousted for attacking his boss, he is banished to Osaka where he picks up a drug habit. Furthermore, Hanjiro Nakazawa's impressive widescreen cinematography has loads of atypical tilted camera angles and the unusual occasional use of sepia and freeze frames. Also, Toshiaki Tsushima's rousing score adds to the intensity of the saga. It is an inspired portrait of a dangerous criminal with no regard for others.

New Places 2018

This year's new destinations...

1. San Clemente, CA
2. Nashville, TN
3. Kailua-Lanikai, Hawaii
4. Kauai, Hawaii
5. Malacca, Malaysia
6. Ichinoseki, Iwate
7. Hiraizumi, Iwate
8. Morioka, Iwate
9. Tottori, Tottori
10. Yonago, Tottori
11. Matsue, Shimane
12. Hakodate, Hokkaido
13. Osorezan (Mutsu), Aomori
14. Hirosaki, Aomori
15. Aomori, Aomori
16. Montreal, Quebec
17. Prince Edward County, Ontario
18. Toronto, Ontario
19. Cahuita, Costa Rica
20. La Fortuna, Costa Rica
21. San Jose, Costa Rica
22. Otaru, Hokkaido
23. Ise, Mie

Bangkok Winter Break 2018-2019: Part Two

Spirit house (protective shrine) in Thonglor.

Lunch was at another southern Thai restaurant, Phuket Town.

Coconut soup with pak-maiang leaves (local southern green leaves) and young coconut tip and shrimp.

Statue in Thonglor.

A Thai friend I met last visit brought me to a local favorite, Som Tam Nua. The first two dishes were salty egg som tam and a spicy pork soup.

Whole pork-style laarb.

Shaved pork over spicy noodles.

My Thai friend brought me to a cooking demonstration after the meal at Hom: Hostel and Cooking Club near Nana BTS station. The instructor works in the kitchen at The Jim Thompson House.

The demonstration dish was a fried noodle dish seasoned with soy sauce and oyster sauce made with chicken.

Couldn't resist the carrot cake for breakfast this time at Luka Moto cafe.

I went on a bit of a journey to get to Issaya Siamese Club Restaurant in the Sathorn neighborhood of Bangkok. It is located in a gorgeous colonial house complete with a garden.

I should have asked about portion sizes-this appetizer was massive.Kradook moo Ob sauce-spice rubbed pork ribs glazed Issaya House blended chili paste.

Gai ObKhao Yai Chicken-Issata-spice rubbed, charcoal grilled and flameed tableside. Excellent, but I couldn't finish it after the ribs.

My old hangout from my last trip two years ago, the Black Canyion Coffee shop at the Siam Society near Asoke BTS station.

This vendor is selling bugs AND cakes.

I was recommended a stop at Just A Drink (Maybe), a gin bar also in Thonglor from the people who brought us Iron Balls Gin Distillery and Teens of Thailand in Yarowat-places I visited last time.

I asked for a recommendation from the bartender on tasting a new gin-this one, Generous Gin ,was from France and had a floral accent.

I had a psico sour and enjoyed the view at Above Eleven.

I checked out hipster mecca 12X12 since it is located in Thonglor where I am staying. It's basically a music bar-not really my thing.

Jim Thompson: The Unsolved Mystery

The Jim Thompson mystery, how a successful American silk manufacturer disappeared in the wilds of Malaysia was probably one of the first things I read in a guidebook about Thailand before visiting. So my first vacation while on the JET program was in Thailand and it was then that I first visited the beautiful traditional Thai-style Jim Thompson House preserved in Bangkok by the river. On subsequent return visits I often stop by to sit at the lotus pond of the cafe. I finally decided to read William Warren's definitive account of the mystery, Jim Thompson: The Unsolved Mystery (1999). To be honest I  much preferred the first half of the book which recounts Thompson's life and his success with Thai silk. The background information about Thailand during and after WWII was also quite fascinating, I did not know that Thailand declared war on the US-I had always assumed they were neutral. The second half of the book meticulously looks at the many suggested answers to the mystery of Thompson's disappearance-perhaps too much attention. But it is a very compelling story with lots of good background information about Thompson adopted home of Thailand.

The Fallen Idol

Many years ago, Roger Ebert suggested that Carol Reed's The Third Man, might challenge Orson Welles' Citizen Kane as the greatest film ever made-a sentiment that I agree with. So ti comes as no surprise that his film The Fallen Idol (1948), is also something of a masterpiece. It is another well-done adaptation of a Graham Greene story about a young boy Phil (Bobby Henrey) who gets caught up in the investigation of his beloved butler, Baines (Ralph Richardson) in a murder case after his wife falls down a staircase and is killed. I don't remember how well it follows the Greene story, but the film has excellent cinematography and first rate performances from the cast.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a show from last year that generated a lot of buzz and some awards. But I just got around to watching the first season and it is appealing because of the setting-New York in the late 50s. As well as and the inclusion of real cultural icons such as Lenny Bruce-the fact that the show focuses on the late 50s stand up comedy scene alone makes it a compelling show. The star Mrs. Maisel-is energetically played by Rachel Brosnahan with precision. There is a cast of great supporting performances-Tony Shahoub and Alex Biorstein in particular. But it is far from a realistic portrayal-they costumes and splendor in which the family lives is....cinematic in its relation to reality. The fact that she rarely spends any time at home with her infant daughter and toddler son is grossly glossed over. Fair enough child rearing is not nearly as interesting as stand up routines at seedy Village Clubs.

Bangkok Winter Break 2018-2019: Part One

I found the PlayHaus Hotel Thonglor last time I was in Bangkok and had a cocktail in the first floor lounge bar. It is in a great location near a ton of great restaurants and bars and has basic rooms for about $40 a night, so I decided to stay here since I spend most of my time out and about, so don't need too much space.

My first stop was at an old favorite, Soul food Mahanakorn, they have a relaxed atmosphere and great appetizers-Isaan sausage here and tiger shrimp satay below.

Christmas day shopping at the malls near Siam BTS station-there were several art installations in the malls.

Ran into my my friend David and Jo (who I had already made plans for dinner with) and had lunch in the mall-some spicy pork and noodle soup.

The first time for me to see the new King on the currency.

Getting a happy hour beer on the patio at The FOX Thonglor.

Dinner with old friends David (and current colleague at Meiji) and his wife Jo at southern Thai food restaurant Khuak Kling Pak Sod.

Khua Kling Moo Sab-stir-fried spicy Southern Thai-style dry Khua Kling curry with minced pork.

As afar as I know my first proper southern Thai food restaurant so tried many new dishes such as Moo Wan-Stir-fried pork with sweet soy sauce. This was a really unusual dish-it had a sweet anise (licorice) taste.

Sataw Pad Kapi Goong-stir-fried stink beans and prawns with 'Kapi' shrimp paste. The stink beans did not stink, this was probably my favorite dish.

Ga Lam Plee Chan Nam Pla-stir-fried cabbage with fish sauce. The one familiar dish on the menu for me.

I believe this green curry was, Gaeng Kiew Warn Nua-creamy coconut green curry with eggplant and beef. This one was dangerous as those little green bean-looking things floating in the curry are fiery hot chili peppers.

Ashtray art.

Luka Sakshuka (a spicy middle eastern egg dish) at Luka Moto my breakfast/cafe go-to for my current location.

I found out it's the 250 anniversary of the Thonburi district in Bangkok so I decided to start my day out there. I'm pretty sure this is my first visit to Wat Arun (also known as Temple of Dawn). It is the inspiration for one of the novels in Yukio Mishima's The Sea of Tranquility tetralogy-The Temple of Dawn.

Wat Prayoon and the white stupa.

Khao Mor a 180 year old man-made mountain usually found in the old gardens of Siamese royals and nobles.

I've been reading William Warren's biography, Jim Thompson: An Unsolved Mystery, and felt the need to return to his pleasant retreat to read next to the pond.

My friend David wanted to try out the a new modern Laotian restaurant, Funky Lam, which is what my breakfast cafe, Luka Moto, becomes at night. It was great, above is Kaipen-river seaweed with three types of spicy dips.

Medium cooked wagyu laarb.

Banna flower fritters.

Som tam (papaya salad) with tempura softshell crab.

Fried spring rolls.

Bangkok In-Flight Movies

There were limited choices on the flight from Haneda to Hong Kong. Thus:

Crazy Rich Asians (2018) is the kind of film I would only watch on a flight with few other choices. It is a very conventional romantic comedy -one of my least favorite genres. However, the all-Asian cast and Singapore location add some life to the film as do the inclusion of comedic actors such as Jimmy 0. Yang (who I know best form Silicone Valley) and Ken Jeong (Community). The leads were appealing actors as well, so better than average romcom in my book.

There were more choices on the flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok, but the flight was only two hours, so only time for one film:

I was intrigued that Alex Garland's Annihilation (2018) had been included on some best films of the year lists, so I decided to take a chance on it and I liked it much more than anticipated. It is one of those suspect science fiction stores that require suspended disbelief, which leads the viewer on a thrilling ride. I liked both leads Natalie Portman and Oscar Isaac and the flashback narrative structure was effective in slowly revealing the back story. The all-female search party was an innovative idea as well. It was a very entertaining scifi thriller-and I would include it on my best of the year list as well.

T-Men

I was very impressed with the visual style of Anthony Mann's 1947 film noir classic T-Men. It is supposedly based on a true story. It's a thrilling story about two federal treasury agents infiltrating and busting a successful counterfeiting ring. The agents are played by Dennis O'Keefe and Alfred Ryder get assigned to track down a counterfeiting ring uttering high-quality paper.The framing and cinematography from cinematographer John Alton set this film apart from other film noir despite an average script. I would be interested to see more collaborations from Mann and Alton in the future.