Comments for Lesley Downer http://www.lesleydowner.com A Passion for Japan Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:37:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on How do you fall in love when your society has no word for it? by Moji http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-society-has-no-word-for-it/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Moji Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:37:58 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-society-has-no-word-for-it/#comment-157 One need look no further than Homer's Iliad to see a famous ancient world example of love. Furthermore, as Zack mentioned, the bible (and virtually all Western mythologies) are full of love stories. One need look no further than Homer’s Iliad to see a famous ancient world example of love. Furthermore, as Zack mentioned, the bible (and virtually all Western mythologies) are full of love stories.

]]> Comment on Concubines, courtesans and geishas by Anna http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/11/09/concubines-courtesans-and-geishas/comment-page-1/#comment-156 Anna Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:30:41 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/?p=126#comment-156 Dear Lesley, Just a message to thank you for your wonderful books, which I absolutly adored and read over and over. I am a college student at the momment and I did my AS English coursework on the geisha Okichi who I created a diary for from the time while she allegedly became Harrison's mistress to her death years later. I found “Geisha: The Secret of a Vanishing World” really helpful to help me achieve this and it helped me get an A grade combined with the other half of my coursework which is fantastic. I love Japanese culture and history and your books gave me a great insight into this especially your novel, The Last concubine as it gave me access into other aspects of the history, particuarily of women's lives which I had not originally thought about. I really hope to visit Japan one days and gain more knowledge on the subject of geisha, cortesans and concubines as the subject is fasinating yet undoubtedly tragic. Thank you for your books and I hope you keep producting. Thanks very much :) Anna Young Dear Lesley,

Just a message to thank you for your wonderful books, which I absolutly adored and read over and over. I am a college student at the momment and I did my AS English coursework on the geisha Okichi who I created a diary for from the time while she allegedly became Harrison’s mistress to her death years later. I found “Geisha: The Secret of a Vanishing World” really helpful to help me achieve this and it helped me get an A grade combined with the other half of my coursework which is fantastic.

I love Japanese culture and history and your books gave me a great insight into this especially your novel, The Last concubine as it gave me access into other aspects of the history, particuarily of women’s lives which I had not originally thought about. I really hope to visit Japan one days and gain more knowledge on the subject of geisha, cortesans and concubines as the subject is fasinating yet undoubtedly tragic.

Thank you for your books and I hope you keep producting.
Thanks very much :)

Anna Young

]]> Comment on How do you fall in love when your society has no word for it? by Japanese words http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-society-has-no-word-for-it/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Japanese words Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:52:52 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-society-has-no-word-for-it/#comment-126 Another that is somewhat similar is the lack of a way to say "I missed you" in Japanese. Another that is somewhat similar is the lack of a way to say “I missed you” in Japanese.

]]> Comment on How do you fall in love when your society has no word for it? by Asa http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-society-has-no-word-for-it/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Asa Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:18:46 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-society-has-no-word-for-it/#comment-125 Savagemike: There are literal ways of saying "I have a feeling of love for you", but the sentence would be confusing and come across in an awkward way. I think that the Japanese have always accepted love, though they may be to proud/embarrassed to express it vocally. Their actions show their affection. Savagemike:
There are literal ways of saying “I have a feeling of love for you”, but the sentence would be confusing and come across in an awkward way.

I think that the Japanese have always accepted love, though they may be to proud/embarrassed to express it vocally. Their actions show their affection.

]]> Comment on The Last Concubine shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year by Mark C http://www.lesleydowner.com/2009/01/14/the-last-concubine-shortlisted-for-romantic-novel-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Mark C Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:53:57 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/?p=142#comment-111 You woz robbed, Lesley! You woz robbed, Lesley!

]]> Comment on Concubines, courtesans and geishas by Abbey http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/11/09/concubines-courtesans-and-geishas/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Abbey Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:54:15 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/?p=126#comment-102 Dear Lesley, I would like to thankyou for producing your works in an entertaining writing style. Being a young Australian student, your works revitalise my passion for one of our close neighbours each time i read them. Would you ever consider comming to Australia to give a talk? Thanks again, Abbey Dear Lesley,
I would like to thankyou for producing your works in an entertaining writing style. Being a young Australian student, your works revitalise my passion for one of our close neighbours each time i read them.
Would you ever consider comming to Australia to give a talk?

Thanks again,
Abbey

]]> Comment on The Last Concubine shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year by Cahya http://www.lesleydowner.com/2009/01/14/the-last-concubine-shortlisted-for-romantic-novel-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Cahya Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:39:54 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/?p=142#comment-101 Hi Lesley kombanwa, Firstly, I introduce my self: My name is Cahya from Indonesia (I hope you recognize my country). And I just read your book in Indonesia language, it's very awesome. I did not believe it that the writer is came from outside Asia. I choose your book because I miss very much Japanese litterature, btw I'm also fans of Eiji Yoshikawa, so when I read this book, all my thoughts dreamed about the land of warrior same like Eiji's description. Thank you for bringing it back, I wait for your next amazing work. Ciao, Cahya Hi Lesley
kombanwa,

Firstly, I introduce my self: My name is Cahya from Indonesia (I hope you recognize my country). And I just read your book in Indonesia language, it’s very awesome. I did not believe it that the writer is came from outside Asia.
I choose your book because I miss very much Japanese litterature, btw I’m also fans of Eiji Yoshikawa, so when I read this book, all my thoughts dreamed about the land of warrior same like Eiji’s description.
Thank you for bringing it back, I wait for your next amazing work.

Ciao, Cahya

]]> Comment on The Last Concubine shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year by Susanna Kearsley http://www.lesleydowner.com/2009/01/14/the-last-concubine-shortlisted-for-romantic-novel-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Susanna Kearsley Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:46:45 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/?p=142#comment-99 Hi Lesley, Just wanted to say what a pleasure it was to meet you last week in London, and how honoured I am to share the shortlist with you. I spent time in Japan myself as a teenager and am very much looking forward to reading your book before we meet up again at the luncheon! With my very best, Susanna Hi Lesley,
Just wanted to say what a pleasure it was to meet you last week in London, and how honoured I am to share the shortlist with you. I spent time in Japan myself as a teenager and am very much looking forward to reading your book before we meet up again at the luncheon!
With my very best,
Susanna

]]> Comment on The Last Concubine shortlisted for Romantic Novel of the Year by Peter Crawshaw http://www.lesleydowner.com/2009/01/14/the-last-concubine-shortlisted-for-romantic-novel-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Peter Crawshaw Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:13:59 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/?p=142#comment-97 Hi Lesley - enjoyed your book and learnt an awful lot about Japan - and why not link to Lovereading - where people can buy your book as well as reading an Opening Extract! See you at the awards lunch on 10th Feb Best regards Hi Lesley – enjoyed your book and learnt an awful lot about Japan – and why not link to Lovereading – where people can buy your book as well as reading an Opening Extract!

See you at the awards lunch on 10th Feb

Best regards

]]> Comment on How do you fall in love when your society has no word for it? by Savagemike http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-society-has-no-word-for-it/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Savagemike Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:42:36 +0000 http://www.lesleydowner.com/2008/02/15/how-do-you-fall-in-love-when-your-society-has-no-word-for-it/#comment-96 I may be wrong here, but there are actually 2 Japanese words for love: Ai and Koi. You can say "ai shite iru" to someone in Japanese and that means "I love you". Also, you can call your boyfriend/girlfriend "Koibito" (literally love-person). Maybe I misunderstand the point of the post? I may be wrong here, but there are actually 2 Japanese words for love: Ai and Koi.
You can say “ai shite iru” to someone in Japanese and that means “I love you”.
Also, you can call your boyfriend/girlfriend “Koibito” (literally love-person).

Maybe I misunderstand the point of the post?

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