I AM A JAPANESE WRITER, by Dany Laferrier

I Am a Japanese Writer, by Hatian-Canadian author Dany Laferrier, has an interesting premise - it is a book about writing a book - or more correctly, about not writing a book. The protagonist, a black Canadian writer with Caribbean roots, declares that he will write a book proclaiming his status as a Japanese writer. His "book" creates a cultural sensation in Japan and opens up a huge cultural debate abot identity and authorship. The book, in fact, does (or does not) get written based on events in the novel we read. The word events is used loosely, as the book is largely plotless, consisting of 67 loosely connected meditations on writing, culture (Japanese, American, Canadian, Caribbean), the Japanese poet Basho, and other various and assorted topics. There is a philosophical feel to the whole novel, albeit couched in the kind of postmodern metalanguage we have all learned to work through. The book is interesting and the protagonist strangely attractive despite his gruff and opinionated personality.

For a review of the book from The Globe and Mail, click here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/i-am-a-japanese-writer-by-dany-laferrire/article1777818/