Ahahah, we are going to get along, I think. XD That's exactly how I sound when I start flailing over Genji. Re: Monte-Cristo, also, that's generally what I thought--some of the people who've recommended it have said things like "AND I DON'T REALLY LIKE READING AND/OR LITERATURE USUALLY" which, well, makes me go o.O but pretty much supports what you said up there.
Oh, I wouldn't've suggested reading Genji in the original language. XDDDDD Even if you were fluent in modern Japanese, classical's another thing entirely, and Genji's language in particular is very poetic and weird--it'll be awhile yet before I can read it, that's for darn sure.
Okay, if you want the old stuff, I'd say check out the Kagerou Nikki/Kagerou Diary/Gossamer Diary, the Tosa Nikki and The Pillow Book, all of which should have multiple, easy-to-find English translations. Arntzen's translation of the Kagerou Diary is the one I read most recently, and it does a great job of mimicking the style of the Japanese--whether that's a good or a bad thing kind of depends on your tastes. XD Also, all of these works are contemporaries of Genji, and Genji makes reference to all of them at various points, so reading them will give you some context for that, too.
Oh, and Tales of Ise, what am I thinking. XDDD Tales of Ise, supposedly the autobiographical text of Ariwara no Narihira, is also from around the same time period, and it's been speculated by several scholars that Narihira was the inspiration for Murasaki's Genji. Of the super-classical stuff, Ise and the Pillow Book are my favorites.
I'm much more inclined towards Edo-and-later, tho. :P Edo period lit's often considered too vulgar or too pop-culture to count as "true" literature, but it's good stuff. :D I recommend anything by Ihara Saikaku and Hiraga Gennai--the latter's harder to find in English but he's freaking hilarious.
That enough, for now, or would you like more? :D I HAVE MORE. Also let me know if you'd like summaries or cultural context or whatnot for the stuff I've listed so far~ *geekgeekgeekitygeek*
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2008-07-15 12:08 am (UTC)Oh, I wouldn't've suggested reading Genji in the original language. XDDDDD Even if you were fluent in modern Japanese, classical's another thing entirely, and Genji's language in particular is very poetic and weird--it'll be awhile yet before I can read it, that's for darn sure.
Okay, if you want the old stuff, I'd say check out the Kagerou Nikki/Kagerou Diary/Gossamer Diary, the Tosa Nikki and The Pillow Book, all of which should have multiple, easy-to-find English translations. Arntzen's translation of the Kagerou Diary is the one I read most recently, and it does a great job of mimicking the style of the Japanese--whether that's a good or a bad thing kind of depends on your tastes. XD Also, all of these works are contemporaries of Genji, and Genji makes reference to all of them at various points, so reading them will give you some context for that, too.
Oh, and Tales of Ise, what am I thinking. XDDD Tales of Ise, supposedly the autobiographical text of Ariwara no Narihira, is also from around the same time period, and it's been speculated by several scholars that Narihira was the inspiration for Murasaki's Genji. Of the super-classical stuff, Ise and the Pillow Book are my favorites.
I'm much more inclined towards Edo-and-later, tho. :P Edo period lit's often considered too vulgar or too pop-culture to count as "true" literature, but it's good stuff. :D I recommend anything by Ihara Saikaku and Hiraga Gennai--the latter's harder to find in English but he's freaking hilarious.
That enough, for now, or would you like more? :D I HAVE MORE. Also let me know if you'd like summaries or cultural context or whatnot for the stuff I've listed so far~ *geekgeekgeekitygeek*