Better Than Friday - 192
Good evening everyone, covid appears to be dwindling - nothing nearly as bad this time round.
Hope this finds you well, thanks very much for your continued support.
1. Book to read: A Chinese Decadent Novel - 'Drowning' by Yu Dafu
Fascinating recommendation from Seneca - A rarity in Chinese literature.
Reminds me of 'No Longer Human' by Dazai.
2. Nightcreeper by The Blackwater Fever
Eerie expansive dusk driving music.
Robert Walser discusses this ballerina in his 'Berlin Stories' I'm currently reading.
4. Sunnylou Publishing - Fantastic looking publisher
Excellent publisher, responsible for item 1, again mentioned by Seneca.
Planning on purchasing more from them.
A powerful Y2K Noir about power, pornography, and control, set in Paris and Tokyo. Very William Gibson at his best.
Brought to my attention by the instagram of Paris-based filmmaker Michael William West
Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
Comments (4)
I went out and got myself a copy of “Drowning” after reading this. Finished it today it also reminds me of “No Longer Human.” What an ending. If you’re interested in other disturbing Chinese literature, I recommend Lu Xun’s short story, “A Madman’s Diary” (狂人日記). Very short and massively influential. It’s inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s story of the same name, and also features the themes of isolation, mental illness, and culture conflicts. It’s a sharp examination of Chinese culture and also changed the Chinese literary landscape. You might enjoy it — it’s a pretty quick read. Maybe 1-2 hours tops. Thanks for the reccs as always Cliff!
Anytime! - Terrific, can't wait. Thanks very much for the rec, will pick that one up too.
Demonlover rips
Demon Lover! Damn! Love me some demons!