SELF-PORTRAITS Stories

It's easy to imagine the voice of Brian Nishii as that of the great Japanese writer Osamu Dazai (1909-1948) as Nishii delivers these searingly personal short stories, each of which depicts a morsel of Dazai's short life. Nishii presents the stories in a conversational tone that sounds as if Dazai is telling them to friends. From anecdotes to sweeping portraits of mid-twentieth-century Japan, Dazai's works demonstrate a sharp and questioning eye. Especially memorable are "One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji" and "Eight Views of Tokyo." Nishii's lively narration of dialogue, in particular, is reminiscent of oral storytelling. Dazai's stories may not be for everyone, but Nishii's skillful narration makes them worth listening to. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2024]