Murakami is coming to Berkeley

This just in! Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami, who rarely makes public appearances, will be speaking at Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall on October 11. Tickets go on sale August 10. His reading and lecture in Japanese and English will be followed by a conversation with A Wild Haruki Chase: Reading Murakami Around the World contributor Roland Kelts. Sue Gilmore of the Contra Costa Times (and also of related papers, such as the Mercury News), was so excited to learn of Murakami's speaking engagement that "her world brightened" when she heard the news. She also gives a great shout out to A Wild Haruki Chase in that article. Thanks, Sue!

During the discussion between Kelts and Murakami, we're sure many of the issues discussed in A Wild Haruki Chase will arise, so get your copy today, bring it to your book group, read it on the BART, and start thinking of the best questions you can.



The word on the street is that there will be an academic discussion about Murakami's work the following day, including a presentation by translator (and A Wild Haruki Chase contributor) Jay Rubin. We'll post more info soon. Both events are presented in association with our friends at the Center for Japanese Studies.

Wes "Scoop" Nisker at Book Passage tonight

"Brilliant, consciousness expanding, profound, mysterious, and very funny." --Jack Kornfield

Wes "Scoop" Nisker will bring his signature blend of Buddhism, science, and humor (and, if the audience is good, a little song and dance) to Book Passage in Corte Madera tonight, beginning at 7 p.m.

Crazy Wisdom Saves the World Again! will be available for purchase, and Scoop will sign books after his presentation! (INFO)

New excerpts from The Berkeley Book of College Essays

Are you or your children looking to get a head start on those pesky college admissions essays?

Stone Bridge Press has made a new series of excerpts--including complete, successful admissions essays--from The Berkeley Book of College Essays available online. Just go to the book page, click on "EXCERPT," and get ready to get inspired!

“This is a useful, provocative, and entertaining new book. It is radically different in wholesome ways from most of the other ‘How To’ essay books that crowd the bookstore shelves…. And it is a great cultural survey of Berkeley: female Boy Scouts, male dancers, you name it. What a great group of kids.”
--Jonathan Reider, Director of College Counseling at San Francisco University High School and former Admissions Officer at Stanford University

In the Blogs: Kurosawa's other half and a Kyoto guide for locals

Following Teruyo Nogami's sold-out appearance at the Japan Society in New York, she and her book, Waiting on the Weather: Making Movies with Akira Kurosawa, have been popping up all over the blogosphere. Chris MaGee and Jason Gray talk about the (Japanese) Cinema Today article on Nogami-san, and Karl Ufert and (Stone Bridge author) Patrick Galloway report on the New York event. Perhaps the Flavorpill listing helped pull in that sold out crowd?

Ufert saw Nogami-san as a "magical 81 year-old lady with [a] shock of white hair, vibrant personality and lightning fast responses (through a translator)." (more...)

Also in the blogs, Dancing on Temple Tops takes a peak at Judith Clancy's Exploring Kyoto: On Foot in the Ancient Capital, noting that while the book is great for tourists, it's "also the guide that even we Kyoto residents buy and use." Awesome!