The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Picture taken by Y.S., my girlfriend, in a café in Tokyo “And in that moment, I swear we were infinite” Before I share my own opinions and feelings about the book, I will, in short, address the critical readers who have rated this book negatively. It is interesting to me how a lot of these low rating readers of the book seem to take an issue with the fanbase, rather than with the book itself. They claim that the book has formed a cult-like following. I frequently come across the same critique with Haruki Murakami’s writings. This might have a simple explanation. People who love these books and recommend them set high too high expectations for future readers, who therefore end up disappointed. If someone says that X has changed their life, don’t expect it to...
Read MoreHappy birthday, miss Sugar!
“Heaven is a place on Earth with you”, Lana Del Rey (“Video Games”) It has been almost a year now. We met in a lovely summer evening in Nishi-Funabashi station and walked down the road to a coffee house. After texting for about three weeks, I finally had the chance to meet the beauty queen, gorgeous, very well spoken and intelligent Japanese lady. Going up the escalator, I was getting a little nervous, but managed to push away insecurities. I just had to be myself and hoping that who I am, is enough. Her train, coming from the opposite direction of mine, had arrived a couple of minutes before mine and she was already waiting by the gates of the South Entrance. She noticed me pass and waved me over. She was stunning, her eyes shining...
Read MoreBond of brothers
“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.”― Helen Keller It was an unusual foggy August morning for central Japan, as I made my way down to Inage Station. My thoughts were entangled and even my shadow appeared out of focus. “Stay calm. One step at a time.”, I told myself, but the idea of another goodbye came clumping over every other thought. S., was leaving Japan. The one guy who I knew I could rely on, the one person who was always there for me, for everyone. My bro. S. It was early April ’18, more than four years ago when we first met. We formed part of the respectful MEXT (a Japanese government financed scholarship) winners, together with a bunch of other students at Chiba University. Living in the same dormitory just a couple...
Read MoreThe goodbye of an introvert!
Okay, just a little bit about me! I’m an introvert, as in loner, who thinks that going outside is overrated, who doesn’t like answering a phone call, who prefers to address others by writing over talking to them etc. But, in the last couple of years, it has become a little bit better. I learned to maintain a conversation, to some extend! I learned to play the normal guy as much as I hate everything that has “normal” on it. (Why, than, do I do it? Because this way, you can save some time from wasting, when you actually have to go outside and interact with people). When I’m around no more than three people with whom I’m familiar, I can maintain a more or less normal conversation. True, I often feel the need to throw out jokes or...
Read MoreTorn
Dear God, I know you told us, Not to ask you about tomorrow’s food, Cause you haven’t asked us, About tomorrow’s sins. But I’m looking at this angel sleeping on my arms, And I’m wondering, About tomorrow. I’m torn between so many worlds, My Albanian roots calling, My Japanese life, Asking me to stay. Only yesterday, I flew in through Germany, Where I once grew up, Fleeing from the monstrosities, Taking over the Balkans. God, The day before yesterday, I played with the toes of my high school friend. We were sitting in the park and I just reached to her toes, And discovered a wormhole through time. She’s married now, And I had to assure her, That me reaching down her toes, Didn’t have any erotic hidden meanings! My...
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