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Sept-Oct '03: Battle Royale - Koushun Takami
[url]http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/bookclub/[/url]
> Calendar > September
by Koushun Takami
Publisher: Viz Communications (February 2003)
ISBN: 156931778X
about 600+ pages.
Sorry about the delay, I had such a hard time deciding between your recommendations...
Synopsis: (Taken from the back of the actual book)
Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller is based on an irresistible premise: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill one another until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan--where it then proceeded to become a runawy bestseller--Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dogmeat-dog world. Made into a controversial hit movie of the same name, Battle Royale is already a contemporary Japanese pulp classic, now available for the first time in the English language.
Hey I read that this summer out of boredom and was pleasantly surprised.
I'm sure it's just a result from the translation but it got really irritating how it says "that's right" like every other page. It is a good book though. I've yet to see the movie since it's unavailable in North America.
Everybody should read this book. Whatever it loses in the translation cannot detract from the fact that this is an incredible story, based on a brilliantly simple idea but fleshed out so that you gain a real understanding of all 45 of these children. Before they kill each other.
As fans of Chuck Palahniuk we are the perfect audience for a story like this. What better way to end a book than the promise of killing off every significant character bar one?
If you've watched and enjyoed the film, this book explains a lot of the motivation behind peoples' actions, and tells the stories of a lot of kids that didn't really make it onto the big screen. If you haven't yet watched the film then get a copy now. Don't bother renting it, buy it, you'll want to watch this one with everybody that you know.
For anyone that has finished reading this book, you should try to pick up the manga comics currently being translated by Tokyopop. The film, manga and book were all written by the same author, so the mangas give another slant on the familiar characters.
Im an owner of the book, I havn't read it yet, but I have the movie on DVD. You can usually find it on Ebay.
The book looked pretty intimidating, 600 pages and translated, and the translation was like uber professional and the words were very wordy....that and I'm not good at remembering japanese names so it makes it harder for me to follow. I'll tackle it someday. Great movie though, even if it isn't anything like the book.
yeah i purchased the book months back but didnt have a chance to read it yet. josh tried to read it while he was here..and you're right..all those japanese names can be confusing esp if you dont know any japanese. i listed that in my recommendations on my profile page (about hosts..etc). now i just have to read it...but ...dammit school reading is just too much
[img]http://img93.exs.cx/img93/3678/hoos13as.jpg[/img]
Oh God. I've been struggling with the Japanese version for years. When did the English translation come out?
The movie is golden. There are tons of ways to see it, from illegal fansub downloads to cult movie rental shops. If you can't find it, go hit a Japanese movie place and get it in Japanese and find a script. It's just that worth it.
For another really great Japanese book, check out "Coin Locker Babies" by Ryu Murakami. It's an epic and the translations for it are fairly good. Supposedly Takashi Miike (dir: Ichi the Killer, Audition, Visitor Q) wants to do a screen version of it.
[COLOR=SandyBrown]I recommended 3 books and it seems all 3 made it up there! Dont know if it was just i who recommended them. The 3 i recommended i believe were The Anomolies, Torture the Artist, and Battle Royale.
Battle Royale is my favorite book of all time. The movie was good, but the book has so much more weight and the statement is so much more powerful. The reasons for Battle Royale in the movie and in the book are completely different and its that difference that makes the book so much more profound.
The translation is nearly perfect, and with the frequency in which kids get picked off even if you have trouble japanese names you should be fine.
This book is a 1984 meets Lord of the Flies kind of story with lots of guns and school girls, and all kidding aside is one of the most honest, thought provoking looks at the human psyche i have ever read.
READ THIS.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=DarkRed][CENTER]~eeq~[/CENTER][/COLOR]
[COLOR=SlateGray][SIZE=2][I]"When you are born in this world you are given a ticket to the freak show, and in america you get a front row seat."[/I] ~George Carlin[/SIZE][/COLOR]
I read Battle Royale last summer and loved it... does anyone know if Takhami has another book in japanese or English??????????
Dark past, bright future, living abroad, well read. You're like the reincarnation of James Dean, hopefully with better driving skills ( Tomstrong on me, best compliment I ever got! )
hi guys, i'm trying to get a hold of this book but got confused in the process.
can someone confirm whether these two are the same book?
[url]http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Royale-Koushun-Takami/dp/156931778X/ref=sr_1_1/102-0182479-2463338?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185131698&sr=1-1[/url]
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Battle-Royale-Volume-1-Koushun-Takami/9781569317785-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'Koushun+Takami'#CustomerReviews
one has a volume 1 as the title and the other doesn't, both having the same covers.
thanks
They are the same.
What's probably happening is that the web site put in volume 1 because they are getting a little confused with the book itself and the graphic novel series. However, the ISBNs and the publication dates match on both books. You can take a look at the graphic novel page here [URL="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Battle-Royale-Vol-1-Koushun-Takami/9781591823148-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'Koushun+Takami'"]http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Battle-Royale-Vol-1-Koushun-Takami/9781591823148-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'Koushun+Takami'[/URL] and see what they aer probably confusing it with. You'll notice that both the ISBN and publication date are different from the ones on the two links you posted.
[QUOTE=tomstrong83;1004431]They are the same.
What's probably happening is that the web site put in volume 1 because they are getting a little confused with the book itself and the graphic novel series. However, the ISBNs and the publication dates match on both books. You can take a look at the graphic novel page here [URL="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Battle-Royale-Vol-1-Koushun-Takami/9781591823148-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'Koushun+Takami'"]http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Battle-Royale-Vol-1-Koushun-Takami/9781591823148-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'Koushun+Takami'[/URL] and see what they aer probably confusing it with. You'll notice that both the ISBN and publication date are different from the ones on the two links you posted.[/QUOTE]
cool thanks for the help.
Anyone know if Toshun Takhami has another book out? A novel not Manga that is.
Dark past, bright future, living abroad, well read. You're like the reincarnation of James Dean, hopefully with better driving skills ( Tomstrong on me, best compliment I ever got! )
.JPG "Golfcat's picture")
[QUOTE=Golfcat;1005882]No. That is his only work.
He said "I made enough money, so I am not going to write anymore."[/QUOTE]
OH no, I cant believe that. Dang I will have to reread Battle Royale again.
While we are on the subject have you ever read In The Miso Soup by Ryu Murikami? Or Out by Natsou Kirono. I love Japanese fiction.
Dark past, bright future, living abroad, well read. You're like the reincarnation of James Dean, hopefully with better driving skills ( Tomstrong on me, best compliment I ever got! )
[QUOTE=Barca Boy;1005938]OH no, I cant believe that. Dang I will have to reread Battle Royale again.
While we are on the subject have you ever read In The Miso Soup by Ryu Murikami? Or Out by Natsou Kirono. I love Japanese fiction.[/QUOTE]
Out was friggin amazing.
Try Coin Locker Babies by Ryu Murikami if you haven't read it. It's a pretty good story.
I haven't read In The Miso Soup yet though.
Everybody thinks their whole life should be at least as much fun as masturbation - Tender Branson
[QUOTE=PGoutis01;1006032]Out was friggin amazing.
Try Coin Locker Babies by Ryu Murikami if you haven't read it. It's a pretty good story.
I haven't read In The Miso Soup yet though.[/QUOTE]
You are in for a treat with In The Miso Soup, its like a Japanese American Psycho.
Coin Locker Babies is the only one of his I havent read but I have a copy and Im saving it for a special trip.
Natsuo Korino has a new book out called Grotesque if you are interested.
Feel free to recomend a few more Japanese books when you feel like it.
Dark past, bright future, living abroad, well read. You're like the reincarnation of James Dean, hopefully with better driving skills ( Tomstrong on me, best compliment I ever got! )
[QUOTE=Barca Boy;1006043]You are in for a treat with In The Miso Soup, its like a Japanese American Psycho.
Coin Locker Babies is the only one of his I havent read but I have a copy and Im saving it for a special trip.
Natsuo Korino has a new book out called Grotesque if you are interested.
Feel free to recomend a few more Japanese books when you feel like it.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for the recommendation. I put it on my wish list.
[URL=http://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Taichi-Yamada/dp/1932234039/ref=sr_1_6/103-6347686-7374230?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185373920&sr=1-6]Strangers [/URL] by Taichi Yamada was pretty good. It was a super fast read too.
I also love the whole Ring Trilogy. If you've read those - pick up Dark Water by him too. It's a short story collection. It's really good. And the title story is what the movie was based on.
Everybody thinks their whole life should be at least as much fun as masturbation - Tender Branson
[QUOTE=Barca Boy;1006043]You are in for a treat with In The Miso Soup, its like a Japanese American Psycho.
Coin Locker Babies is the only one of his I havent read but I have a copy and Im saving it for a special trip.
Natsuo Korino has a new book out called Grotesque if you are interested.
Feel free to recomend a few more Japanese books when you feel like it.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=PGoutis01;1006623]Thanks for the recommendation. I put it on my wish list.
[URL=http://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Taichi-Yamada/dp/1932234039/ref=sr_1_6/103-6347686-7374230?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185373920&sr=1-6]Strangers [/URL] by Taichi Yamada was pretty good. It was a super fast read too.
I also love the whole Ring Trilogy. If you've read those - pick up Dark Water by him too. It's a short story collection. It's really good. And the title story is what the movie was based on.[/QUOTE]
I think I recommended "Calling You" by Otsuichi before. It's a short story collection. It's a major shame this is the only one published in English.
[QUOTE=Golfcat;1006905]I think I recommended "Calling You" by Otsuichi before. It's a short story collection. It's a major shame this is the only one published in English.[/QUOTE]
Thanks Golfcat for the recomendation, I still have to check it out.
PGoutis you should also check out Strangers By Taichi Yamada. Ive read the Ring trilogy and loved them, very atmospheric.
Dark past, bright future, living abroad, well read. You're like the reincarnation of James Dean, hopefully with better driving skills ( Tomstrong on me, best compliment I ever got! )
[QUOTE=Barca Boy;1006948]PGoutis you should also check out Strangers By Taichi Yamada.[/QUOTE]
I put that in my post too
Everybody thinks their whole life should be at least as much fun as masturbation - Tender Branson
Ryu Murakami, author of Coin-Locker Babies, has a newish book out right now. It's called [I]Piercing.[/I]
[URL=http://www.amazon.com/Piercing-Ryu-Murakami/dp/014303863X/ref=sr_1_1/002-9665051-5131261?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185418548&sr=8-1]http://www.amazon.com/Piercing-Ryu-Murakami/dp/014303863X/ref=sr_1_1/002-9665051-5131261?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185418548&sr=8-1[/URL]
[QUOTE=tomstrong83;1007091]Ryu Murakami, author of Coin-Locker Babies, has a newish book out right now. It's called [I]Piercing.[/I]
[URL=http://www.amazon.com/Piercing-Ryu-Murakami/dp/014303863X/ref=sr_1_1/002-9665051-5131261?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185418548&sr=8-1]http://www.amazon.com/Piercing-Ryu-Murakami/dp/014303863X/ref=sr_1_1/002-9665051-5131261?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185418548&sr=8-1[/URL][/QUOTE]
Oh I saw that. I was wondering how it was. I haven't heard anything from friends or anything.
Everybody thinks their whole life should be at least as much fun as masturbation - Tender Branson
[QUOTE=PGoutis01;1006977]I put that in my post too[/QUOTE]
Oops, he has a new one- In search of a distant voice.
Dark past, bright future, living abroad, well read. You're like the reincarnation of James Dean, hopefully with better driving skills ( Tomstrong on me, best compliment I ever got! )
[QUOTE=PGoutis01;1007174]Oh I saw that. I was wondering how it was. I haven't heard anything from friends or anything.[/QUOTE]
Ive read Piercing and its very good. All his books are well worth reading. Im going to read Grotesque next week so I will let you guys know what I thought of it. I need my fix of Jap-Lit.
Dark past, bright future, living abroad, well read. You're like the reincarnation of James Dean, hopefully with better driving skills ( Tomstrong on me, best compliment I ever got! )
[QUOTE=tomstrong83;1007467]I just cecked it out from the library and I'll probably get to it this weekend. I'll let you know.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Barca Boy;1007476]Ive read Piercing and its very good. All his books are well worth reading. Im going to read Grotesque next week so I will let you guys know what I thought of it. I need my fix of Jap-Lit.[/QUOTE]
Nice! (for both of those)
Everybody thinks their whole life should be at least as much fun as masturbation - Tender Branson
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