Socrates in Love by Katayama Kyoichi

This edition translated by Akemi Wegmuller

I just managed to finish the book yesterday night, but somehow, for a book which spawned a highly successful movie and drama series, I wasn't too moved by it. Perhaps it is due to the translation, perhaps it is due to the conditioning and expectations after having watched both the drama and movie prior to reading this book.

I had purchased it without knowing that it is the written version of the movie and series, also known in Japan as せかちゅ (Sekachu), short for 世界の中心で愛を叫ぶ (Sekai no chushin de ai wo sakebu) for various reasons beyond the control of the author. (Who named the book Socrates in Love.)

Even though the language and prose of this English translation did not move me as much as the movie and drama, which I watched in Japanese with Chinese subtitles and was a tearjerker, it did provide much more insight and details that were edited or missed due to the faster pace from the two screen versions.

For now, I guess I had better get a move on on a book I had started reading a while ago but have yet to finish - 東京タワー by リリー フランキー (Lily Franky). =)