By the way, I'm currently reading Botchan. Going to try reading it in Japanese, slowly slowly. The story of the rambunctious boys is reminiscent of Botchan, and some other Japanese literature. Seems to be a bit of a trope. "rambunctious boys become productive men" or something.
I'd never thought of rambunctious boys as a trope, but you may be on to something. What it made me think of was how independent they were, and I think I was when I was growing up in Tokyo, compared to the current norm in the US for pre-teens.
I first read Botchan during one of those summers in Okayama. I may even have been reading my grandparents' copy. It's definitely a book I want to revisit at some point.
Seeing "always something unexpected" is really gratifying. Thanks!
Good update! You're still the only substack I look forward to, always something unexpected!
By the way, I'm currently reading Botchan. Going to try reading it in Japanese, slowly slowly. The story of the rambunctious boys is reminiscent of Botchan, and some other Japanese literature. Seems to be a bit of a trope. "rambunctious boys become productive men" or something.
I'd never thought of rambunctious boys as a trope, but you may be on to something. What it made me think of was how independent they were, and I think I was when I was growing up in Tokyo, compared to the current norm in the US for pre-teens.
I first read Botchan during one of those summers in Okayama. I may even have been reading my grandparents' copy. It's definitely a book I want to revisit at some point.
Seeing "always something unexpected" is really gratifying. Thanks!