The Intellectual Link

Today, I received a long awaited book from Amazon - Natsume Soseki's "Kokoro". I am actually new to this writer. In fact, this will be the first book by him I am reading.

This is a short introduction of him from Wikipedia:

"Natsume Sōseki (夏目 漱石?, February 9, 1867 – December 9, 1916), born Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目金之助?), is widely considered to be the foremost Japanese novelist of the Meiji Era (1868–1912). He is best known for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat and his unfinished work Light and Darkness. He was also a scholar of British literature and composer of haiku, Chinese-style poetry, and fairy tales. From 1984 until 2004, his portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note."

So, why my interest? Every time we visit a new country, I like to pick up something of its culture, be it a book, a CD or a film, but it's always a gamble, when you don't speak the language. Japan fascinates me - its customs, its language, its literature, its pop culture, its fashion, its food etc. But for someone who does not speak Japanese, it is not the easiest to gain access or have a deeper understanding. Recently, I was reading one of my favorite Japanese writers, Banana Yoshimoto's "Amrita" and shared this with a Japanese friend, Shin. I was hoping that he could recommend other interesting writers, when he had the biggest surprise for me - his great-grandfather was a novelist. I was thinking, "How cool is that?!" We asked for his name, whereupon Hubby went to check up the name on Internet. And we turned up that introduction from Wikipedia...

A great-grandfather who is a writer, and not only that, he is considered to be the foremost novelist of the Meiji era?! And he used to grace the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note?! I think even Shin's wife is stunned :)

The health visitor said the other day that research indicates that the mother's academic qualifications have a direct bearing on her child's development. Not the dad's, but the mum's. I don't think it's about a genetic connection, but more of an interaction link. I think it just means the mother is often the parent with the greater contact time with the child and her intellectual bent would determine the kind of activities she engages the child in.

I love words and I would love to write, but I doubt I would ever have the greatness to be a novelist. Otherwise, my dear Julien, you would be able to say that you have a writer for a mum. I'm afraid you'll just have to be contented with a blog-writing mum. But while I will never be a Natsume Soseki, I can and will read Natsume Soseki to you one day. For now, just know that you already have a little library waiting for you, with books suitable for age 0+ to the teens. That's my gift to you, my boy - hopefully, a love for reading. And for you, if you want, I will draw you a S$1000 note one day with my picture on it :)