Today is the last day of December and the time has come to list the e-books I read this month. It appears that I've settled into a book-a-week habit.
In other months I'd managed to write a bit about the book I had just finished and link to that post when I did my monthly list. I haven't done that for some time, so I'll write something about each book now.
The Last Children of Tokyo is a dystopian sci-fi novel written by Yoko Tawada. The novel was originally published in Japanese as Kentoshi. The Last Children of Tokyo is the translated title published in the U.K., with The Emissary being the title in the U.S.. I prefer the British title.
In the novel, we're told that the world has suffered a man-made, global catastrophe, although the exact nature of that catastrophe is never specified. Personally, I feel the novel suffers by this omission. There is a certain vagueness throughout the novel. I suppose that was the writer's intention, but I didn't care for it.
The English Governess at the Siamese Court is the original memoir upon which The King and I was based. In 1862, Anna Leonowens accepted a post as teacher to the children and wives of King Mongkut of Siam (Thailand). Leonowens' memoir looks at the life and customs of the people of Siam. In Margaret Landon's 1944 fictionalized retelling of Leonowens' story she concentrates more on the personal relationship between the King and Leonowens and it is Landon's version that would ultimately lead to the various films and stage productions.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself is the autobiography of Harriet A. Jacobs. Jacobs composed the autobiography after her escape to New York and details the added suffering that female slaves endured.
Blood From A Stone is #14 in Donna Leon's series featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti. This series continues to remain a favorite of mine.
Here is the completed list for December -
The Last Children of Tokyo by Yoko Tawada
The English Governess at the Siamese Court by Anna Harriette Leonowens
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Written by Herself by Harriet A. Jacobs
Blood From A Stone by Donna Leon