High speed download, no ads. Millions of people are satisfied with this service, update every day. I know it's autumn when we rake the leaves in piles, when doorstep jack-o'-lanterns wear their crooked smiles Leaves are falling, geese are flying, and warm coats are -- reluctantly -- being worn to school.
That can mean only one thing: It's autumn! Eileen Spinelli and Nancy Hayashi invite you to enjoy autumn's many delights -- from warm socks worn on chilly mornings to tempting piles of crackly leaves on the lawn -- in this sweet, funny look at fall.
Simple text and bold, beautiful paper sculpture convey the animal life, plant life, weather, colors, clothing, and feelings associated with the fall season. Through vivid photos and engaging nonfiction text, this fun and fact-filled Rookie Read-About Science book answers the question, How do you know its winter? Sometimes these fictional portrayals are unflattering, for the obvious reason that the native speaker sounds—and therefore appears—superior.
When a real person is put at a linguistic disadvantage in a text, are there similar in this case, unintended consequences?
One wonders if a verbatim transcription is always the best approach. Due in part to her linguistic representation, and in part to her overall portrayal, Hiroko remains something of a cipher. The portrayal seems stuck on the surface, the surface of Hiroko—and by extension, Japan. The book grows more intimate, interestingly enough, in passages about the couple spending time with the Dalai Lama whom Iyer has known for years.
The second one authored principally by Mr. Pico Iyer was embarking on a book tour to promote Autumn Light when I caught him in his hotel room in Miami. As you can tell from the conversation, Pico is incredibly eloquent and insightful. I hope you enjoy listening to the conversation as much as I had participating in it. Video Nights in Kathmandu on Amazon.
The Lady and the Monk on Amazon. The Art of Stillness on Amazon. Real life, with old people being left to the care of nursing homes while their offspring struggle with their own lives. Death, quietly and inexorably going its way, claiming its own. Despite that, though, Autumn Light is never a morbid, pessimistic book. On the contrary, its core theme is about accepting that everything is only transitory.
As the good passes, so shall the bad—and no matter how much one may want to halt time, to stop the year at spring or never grow old, one cannot. Time will pass. To accept that gracefully and to make the most of it is to live with dignity.
How to see the world as it is, yet find light within that truth. View all 6 comments. Oct 16, G. There are some lovely observations on the autumn of life here as Pico Iyer joins his wife Hiroko to farewell her just-deceased father, tend to her mother, and contemplate what it all adds up to. Recalling the loss of his parents' home in California to fire, he writes: What do we have to hold on to? As I climbed all the way up to our house, the day There are some lovely observations on the autumn of life here as Pico Iyer joins his wife Hiroko to farewell her just-deceased father, tend to her mother, and contemplate what it all adds up to.
As I climbed all the way up to our house, the day after everything in our lives was reduced to rubble, I saw that everything that could be replaced--furniture, clothes, books--was, by definition, worthless. The only things that mattered were the things that were gone forever. Never mind. The book is full of poignant vignettes of Iyer's older neighbors he meets up with at the local health club to play ping-pong, and occasional insights into Japanese culture that ring completely true.
The Dalai Lama visits and Iyer observes: His form of Buddhism couldn't be more different from the ones practiced in Japan; he's always urging--to little avail, perhaps--his Japanese audiences to forgo their chanting and backbreaking meditation for a more analytical grappling with the central texts of Buddhism, of the kind Tibetan masters, much more philosophical, enjoy. Iyer tries to explain what this book is about to her: "When I came here, I was so taken by everything that was different, full of drama, so distinctly Japanese.
Car stuck in traffic jam. Quiet music playing. Autumn light. Dec 05, William E. Visiting Japan in March and I couldn't be more excited. This was a lovely little read that left me thinking while reinforcing my excitement.
Although now I sorta kinda wish I was visiting in Autumn View 1 comment. Oct 20, Anima rated it really liked it. The result is that his son barely speaks to him again. Japan opens up to the world, and then worries that the world is diluting Japan. Nothing I can do. You have to take a global perspective. So often what joins us all are the challenges that everyone must face.
As I climbed all the way up to our house, the day after everything in our lives was reduced to rubble, I saw that everything that could be replaced—furniture, clothes, books—was, by definition, worthless. I wanted to like this book.
It started out with some poetic writing, but that soon became overly-sentimental. The "story" itself wasn't really a story, which even the authors admits in the final couple of pages. I was hoping for more insight, but having lived in Japan for 26 years, there was nothing new for me here.
Reading this book was kinda like listening to some guys long-winded and boring story that really has no point, and really no ending. OK, some people will tell me that is the point of I wanted to like this book. OK, some people will tell me that is the point of the book--as the little blurb on Goodreads explains. Some might say it shows the subtleties of Japanese culture, but again, there was nothing new for me here.
He also didn't seem to know the difference between a house-hold shrine and an alter one being Shinto, the other, Buddhist. I was also very irritated by the pidgin English he gave his wife Hiroko. I felt it was demeaning and took away from her seemingly energetic personality. I read it to the end, but it put me to sleep after a page. I guess it was good for that. View all 4 comments. Jul 27, Calzean rated it really liked it Shelves: author-usa , culture-japan.
The author loves his wife, Japan and ping pong. Born to Indian parents who migrated to the USA he found Japan by mistake and has lived there with his Japanese wife for over 30 years. His recent book sums up his admiration and respect for the simple life, enjoying the pleasures of the mundane, the seasons and family.
His serenity and openness is a joy given his job is to fly into war torn nations and report on the worse of humanity. Here is a book which celebrates autumn, the world of the ageing The author loves his wife, Japan and ping pong. Here is a book which celebrates autumn, the world of the ageing Japanese and the greatest joy is to help others. Jun 27, Jeanette rated it liked it.
Very Japanese "eyes" to the impermanence of life and the physical world. But not utterly pessimistic in the telling. Not at all. It holds immense descriptive segments and reflects both the love of Japan and Japanese culture and his wife in particular that the author holds.
Most of it is surely true, and applies to the most beautiful season of autumn. And the autumn years of various outcomes.
The contemplation, meditation ideal is held throughout the memoir too. It's also too self-absorbed and "les Very Japanese "eyes" to the impermanence of life and the physical world.
It's also too self-absorbed and "less is more" and "least is best" for my taste. But I have never been a joiner and I also hold a much wider view of the individual and of individual worth as being high value. Oct 26, Debbi rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. This book easily landed on my favorites list. Beautiful images of Autumn and Japan. It was just what I needed to take my out of a sad book reading trend. Lovely and highly recommended.
Nearly didn't finish. I don't have too many of those. Iyer is a really talented writer. But ugh. Most of his statements about this culture are total b. As a language teacher working in Tokyo, and with a Japanese spouse, I know a lot of Japanese people see above, not bragging, I simply live and work here and not.
I've known a lot of cool, int Nearly didn't finish. I've known a lot of cool, intelligent Japanese women like her. My own daughter. And again, I call b. Linguistically, it's just extremely unlikely. There are some very specific grammatical and lexical characteristics of Japanese English.
Maybe the editors decided to cater to an American audience's stereotypes of Asian women. Or is the author simply not paying attention? I teach English for a living, and seriously the grammar and pronunciation truly defy logic. Two stars is being generous. Sorry, Mr. I like your writing style, you have skills, but please do better next time. The book mentions the Dalai Lama.
I've heard him speak amazing, life-changing, by the way. It's really sad that his English is rendered more accurately than the author's own wife's. Beautifully written. This is such a calm book to read.
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