Turning Japanese | Five Novels about Japan

I'm an avid reader and if I'm not too busy with creative projects or planning trips, I'm reading. Most of the time, reading is how I relax. I love the feeling of being able to forget all my stress and escape into another world. I noticed recently that most of the books I've been reading lately were somehow related to Japan. I think I subconsciously chose those books with the intention of hyping myself up for my trip. I wanted to share these books and a few other favorites. Even if you can't travel to Japan, you can still experience Japanese culture through these novels!

1. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
I feel a bit silly having this on the list because by now, everyone has at least heard of this book or film. This was probably one of the first books I read that was set in Japan. If you've never heard of the novel, it's the story of a young geisha in Kyoto during World War II. Before reading this book, I didn't know much about the world of the geisha. I knew it was very secretive and a very special. I always wondered what it was like to be a geisha. It's actually quite an interesting story and although it's not my favorite, it showed me a world that would've always been a mystery.

2. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
This novel is set in Tokyo and is a coming of age story of a young Japanese man named Toru Watanabe. I really loved the story and read it in two days. I really liked the tone of Norwegian Wood. I tend to read a lot of coming of age novels and really enjoyed reading about Toru's troubles with two very different women in his life. It was interesting reading about what relationships are like in Japan. Even though we come from different cultures, one thing will always be the same, the endless search for love and a connection with another.

3. Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
I know it's very strange that I have such a violent book on a list about traveling to Japan, but I think it deserves to be noted. Back when I read Hunger Games, Markus told me that it was just a tamer version of Battle Royale. I didn't believe him, but after reading it, the similarities were uncanny. There is no doubt that this book is violent and to a certain degree, soul crushing. It doesn't waste any time and gets right into the battle. It's pretty intense and I would probably never read it again. Despite all of this, it's such a Japanese book. It has that sort of signature style that you would expect from a Japanese film or anime.

4. Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Just a few weeks ago, I finished reading my second Murakami novel. As I stated before, I really enjoyed Norwegian Wood and Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is one of his most popular. When Markus asked me to describe this book to him, it was a bit hard. I basically said, "It's about this guy that loses his cat and his wife and he has a lot of weird dreams." It wasn't my favorite book by Murikami but it when it was good, it was good. While I was reading this book, I was also planning our Japan trip. As I continued to read, I started to feel excited because I knew that soon I would be visiting the places that he was describing.

5. A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
This is the latest book I've read and it's quite good. The concept is quite interesting and really unique. Ruth in British Columbia finds a diary on the beach and features the world of sixteen year old Nao from Tokyo. I enjoyed Nao's story more than Ruth's because Nao felt so real. I could imagine her pain and her struggles. I could empathize with her constant loneliness and bullying from her classmates. It's an amazing book because of this. Also, there is so much about Japanese pop-culture and history. It's a story that connects the past, the present and the future. I loved this book and was the the perfect book to read before a trip to Japan.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my top five Japanese novels. Were there any novels that I left out or ones that I should read? I love to hear from my readers, so please leave me a comment! 

Homes & Masks | Harry Potter Studio Tour 4 of 6

Hagrid's Home

The other areas of the first studio had sets and props from other famous places in the world of Harry Potter. There were the homes of Hagrid, Sirius Black and the Weasley family. I will say that it's super awkward seeing this sort of headless mannequins dressed as all the characters. I do like that they had something, but seeing my favorite characters clothing without heads is slightly off putting.

The Leaky Cauldron

Weasley's Home

Sirius Black's Home

The second studio was filled with even more interesting things. The first part delved into special effects and showcased a lot of the monsters and makeup. It was crazy seeing how detailed and intricate the masks were for some of the characters. I'm pretty sure being a make-up artist for films like these is an awesome job. Although, I do think they could've displayed Dobby a bit better. It was a bit jarring seeing his head propped up on a desk. Poor Dobby, murdered and displayed for all the world to see. 

Typography and Publications | Harry Potter Studio Tour 3 of 6

Lately, I've found myself drawn to typography and graphic design. I've found that it's very inspiring and it helps my writing. I know it's a bit strange that looking at book covers and calligraphy can spark ideas, but it does. So at this point, whatever works right? 

While on the Harry Potter Studio Tour, there was a small little section in the first studio. It wasn't one of the highlights, and it was right before the exit. In a huge glass display they showcased of all the publications created for the films. It was probably my favorite part of the tour. I took heaps of photos and was so excited to see the actual letters and newspapers. They always look amazing on camera, but up close they were gorgeous. The production crew spared no detail and everything was beautiful. Now if I could only create something just as awesome.

Daily Prophet and Wanted Posters

3D Quibbler

The Daily Prophet

From Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

From Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

Deathly Hallows Necklace

Letter from Lily Potter to Sirius Black

Dark Arts textbooks

The Perils of Writing | Finding Inspiration

For the past seven years, I've been writing a novel. I know what you're thinking, "Seven years? Is the chick crazy?" To answer your question, Yes, I am 100% crazy. The story I've been writing has changed so many times. It began with too many characters and then too little. It was once set in America, then it changed to Korea. It began as a coming of age story, then evolved to a love story and now it's a combination of both.  I re-wrote the first draft more times than I could count. Then, sometime in my fourth year, I scrapped it and started a second draft. Up until recently, I was writing the second draft. In November, I tossed that out the window and started all over again. Currently, I'm on my third draft and its nothing like the original story, but I'm glad how it's progressed.

I have a very vague idea of what the story is about, but the when and how, is still to be determined. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing. There are some nights where I've been very inspired and the story just flows out. It's such a euphoric feeling. I haven't written like this in years. It's like the story is already written and I'm trying to catch up. Then, there are other days where I can't put down a single word. Those days are the worst and come more often then I would like. Thankfully, I've discovered a few ways to spark inspiration and decided to share with all of you. 

1. Make a playlist of songs that resemble your characters.
The other day, I was sitting on the bus and my music was on shuffle. Usually, I don't listen to the words of songs, just the melody and the way it sounds. That morning, a song caught my attention. It's like the words broke through and reached inside me. The song resonated with me so completely that I almost started crying. The song was a perfect description of my main characters struggle. For those three minutes, I was my main character and felt the same emotions. It was an amazing experience and later I wrote about 1800 words.

2. Create Pinterest boards specifically for your characters. 
Sometimes, I can't visualize my characters. I know what they like and how they dress, but when I'm in the thick of writing a story and at my wits end, it's helpful to have something to look at. Then I can focus on the descriptive part of my writing. I can pin anything about the character on their specific board, their favorite books or what they would wear. It's a valuable tool that can expand and grow as your character is fleshed out.

3. Play your favorite films in the background while you're writing. 
I always listen to music when I'm writing. I cannot function without music, but sometimes I get tired of it. When I want variety, I play movies. I tend to put on Wes Anderson movies. I put the volume down low, but can still hear it. Since I know his films quite well, I can write while it's playing. When a scene that I particularly enjoy comes on, I can take a break and watch it. I get a visual overload as well as examples of dialogue. It helps to be able to take a break in the middle of writing.

4. Step away from the computer and go outside. 
I know that when I've been sitting at a computer for eight hours and nothing is flowing, a change of scenery can help. I tend to just sit and ruminate at my computer for hours. I don't know how to quit. I can work on things for a whole day and only get up to eat and use the bathroom. Although this can be a good thing, it doesn't mean the quality of my writing is good. I like to go outside, find a place to sit and people watch. Markus and I loved to people watch back home, but people watching in Korea is nothing like it is in America. I've gotten so much inspiration from experiencing a new culture.

5. Re-read your favorite books, but pay attention to the details.
I love re-reading my favorite books. One of my favorite writers is Sarah Addison Allen. Her books are very whimsical and much more than love stories. She's a great writer and she has a great writing style. Sometimes, I re-read books, but only the bits that I like. This year, I started re-reading my favorite books, but looking for the things that you didn't notice before. Like, how does the author describe their characters? What are the characters movement while they're talking? It's these little details that we sometimes read quickly, but are important to the story. 

So, dear readers, these are the ways that I spark my creativity. I hope that they helped you! Do you have any interesting ways that you find inspiration? If you do, please share in the comments!

Credits:
Cute drawing of Markus and I/ Hairy at the Heels

Offices of Hogwarts | Harry Potter Studio Tour 2 of 6

After we were led out of the Great Hall, we were led into a large room filled with sets and locations from the films. I really felt like I was stepping into the films and the first part of the tour was filled with little bits of Hogwarts. There was the Headmaster's Office, Portrait Hall and the Potions Classroom.

I was really impressed with the Headmaster's Office. It was quite big and amazing. I loved the walls that were lined with old books. The walls were filled with portraits and I could easily imagine one of them coming to life and speaking. The Potions Classroom was filled with vials and jars of different specimens. It was definitely a wizard's dream.

Headmaster's Office

Potions Classroom

Great Hall, Hogwarts | Harry Potter Studio Tour 1 of 6

I don't know about you, but I love Harry Potter. I remember when Markus and I were dating, he convinced me to watch The Sorcerer's Stone. I had resisted for a very long time because I thought there was too much hype. I'm glad that he convinced me to watch it in 2001. I would've missed out on 10 years of Harry Potter all because of some stupid reason.

The fantastical world of Harry Potter is everything I wanted as a child. I always dreamed of going to a British school with awesome teachers and cool friends. Who wouldn't want to attend Hogwarts? I know there is a lot of danger involved, but that's the exciting bit. Who doesn't like a little bit of adventure in their lives? 

As we planned our trip to England, Markus and I both agreed that nothing was going to keep us from the Harry Potter Studio Tour. We were unable to go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, so I was  determined to make it to the Studio Tour. The tour is much different than the theme park. There is a considerable lack of roller coasters, but it's where the actual filming took place. I do enjoy rides, but I think this was much better than its counterpart in Orlando. This was the real Hogwarts. This was where the actors spent 10 years of their lives and visiting was a dream come true. 

The first room of the tour was the Great Hall. Walking through the huge wooden doors and seeing the same room from the movies was absolutely surreal. I couldn't believe that I was in the same place, so much happened in that room. Houses were chosen, hearts were broken, duels were fought and kisses were made. Everything began and ended in that room. When I think of Hogwarts, that's the first thing that comes to mind. It's probably the most iconic room in all of Hogwarts and my favorite part of the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Used Books and More | Manchester, England

While in Manchester, we found this amazing used bookstore. I'm kicking myself in the bum, because I can't remember the name of the store. We found it as we were strolling about in the city center. It was quite dusty, but also cozy. In the front there were heaps of old novels and paperbacks. They even had sections specifically for Doctor Who. I spent most of my time perusing that area. I was able to purchase a tiny little Dalek, Weeping Angel and Cyberman. I know they're meant to be menacing, but when they're so tiny, all I can say is, "aw".

I really enjoy used bookstores like this. Manchester and Edinburgh had many similar kinds of establishments. In Florida, we used to have this amazing used bookstore, All Books and Records. It was huge and filled with books, DVDs, CDs and comics. It was a haven for Markus and I. Then one Saturday we drove there and it was unexpectedly closed. We never found out why, it was boarded up and the sign was gone. It was like a piece of us had suddenly gone missing. In the growing age of technology, stores like this are slowly disappearing. It makes me sad, but it makes me cherish the ones that are still open even more.

The Eagle and Child | Oxford, England | 3 of 4

In honor of the recent release of The Hobbit, I wanted to share our time at The Eagle and Child pub, also commonly known as the Bird and Baby. This Oxford pub is famously known as the meeting place for The Inklings, a literary group comprised of many writers such as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. They would meet and discuss their unpublished works. My dream was to go to Pemberley and this was where Markus wanted to go. He is an avid fan of Tolkien and his works. Markus is a bit of a hobbit himself and it would only be fitting to have a pint at such a famous place.

The actual pub is quite small, but The Inklings would meet in the back room for privacy. I loved the feel of the place. It was definitely the quintessential British pub, warm and cozy. We sat for about an hour and sampled some local beer. We spent our time at the pub talking and enjoying each other's company, much like The Inkling must have done.

Chatsworth House | Derbyshire, England 4 of 5

After traipsing about the outside of Chatsworth House, we finally made it inside and it was gorgeous. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside. It was quite grand and majestic, everything you would expect an estate home to look like. It's amazing to think that Europe is filled with similar homes. Growing up in Florida, I always yearned for history like this.  

Since Chatsworth House served as a filming location for Pride and Prejudice, there were many familiar parts of the house. I was very happy to walk around and see places I recognized from the movie. There were so many beautiful paintings that could rival any art museum. I was completely blown away by the amount of artwork and beautiful decor. It was amazing.