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In this early spring atmosphere, we invite you, through these two literary works, to board a boat and journey down the Thames, filled with refreshing laughter and followed by a moment of reflection, to begin planting seeds of loving feelings in your soul.
THREE MEN IN THE SAME BOAT (NOT COUNTING THE DOG) – JEROME K. JEROME
Before being written as a novel, the work "Three Men in a Boat" was compiled by author Jerome K. Jerome based on real events from his personal experience during a boat trip from Kingston to Oxford. The original purpose of the book was to be a literary travel guide, interwoven with geographical, historical, and cultural knowledge of the areas along the Thames River, a river considered a symbol of London, a witness to the ups and downs of history. The Thames River is located in the heart of London and flows through southern England, passing through towns and cities such as Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Windsor, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond, and Oxford.
However, "fortunately," from the initial idea of a travel guide, Jerome K. Jerome, with his dramatic, quirky perspective and unique writing style, transformed the tranquil Thames into a "turbulent" river through the story of three close friends, Harris, George, and J., along with their dog Montmorency, as they embark on a relaxing boat trip on the Thames. Every sentence, every word, imbued with English humor and wit, contributed to the author's charm and erudition, making him a literary icon of English literature, elevating the novel to a classic that remains popular for over 100 years and one of the funniest works in literary history.
Three close friends, already well aware of each other's flaws, only truly see through each other's hearts after a seemingly peaceful vacation. The author describes their shared experiences, the mischief they cause each other throughout the trip, with a humorous, carefree tone that will make readers laugh until they cry. They, along with their eccentric pet dog Montmorency, are fed up with each other and sometimes even intensely resentful. In their minds (specifically, the narrator, "I"/J.), they even begin to conjure up violent and furious scenarios. Yet, they are all here, in the same boat, and there's no other way than to drift along together, trying to find a way to reconcile.
The River Thames is a river located in the heart of London and flows through southern England.
The image of the three best friends and their little dog easily evokes thoughts of human relationships and the journeys we take together. Some trips help us discover true companions. Others, once we reach our destination, we wish to forget and remind ourselves never to repeat them. But that doesn't mean we should stop ourselves from enjoying the wonderful things scattered along the way. Like the three best friends sailing down the Thames, we can never know whether, after the comical and sometimes absurd incidents on the boat, they will remain friends or embark on another journey together; the author doesn't reveal that. Jerome K. Jerome only reveals to the reader how magnificent the Thames sunset is and how the night sky, with its countless twinkling stars, is so different when viewed from the tranquil river.
“The gilded memory of a dying sun fades in the hearts of cold, sorrowful clouds. Silent as grieving children, the birds cease their songs, and only the mournful cries of the red grouse and the clucking of the water hens disturb the eerie stillness around the water, where the day is taking its last breath.”
Or:
“Night, on its gloomy throne, folds its black wings to cover the darkening world, and from its ghostly palace, illuminated by the blue stars, Night reigns in silence.”
And that's not all; thanks to that "stormy" journey, the land of England and its rich history unfolded before them once again, filling all three with emotion at the glorious events that had taken place in their homeland. The kings who had sacrificed themselves and fallen. The castles and fortresses that once shone brightly, once revered by princesses. The shouts of the marching armies now buried in the earth echoed in their ears, rippling with the rhythm of the waves, making the three feel that life was infinitely more worthwhile. That's the meaning of journeys. When we embark on a journey at the beginning of the year, we can't predict whether the trip will be smooth sailing or what ups and downs the year ahead will hold. But ultimately, our task isn't to speculate about such things; what we need to do is let ourselves drift with the current and look up at the sky, where the sunrise, sunset, and the velvety black night envelop our eyes. What a life worth living!
The River Thames, considered a symbol of London, is a witness to the many ups and downs of history.
THE MIRACLE OF NAMIYA GENERAL STORE - HIGASHINO KEIGO
And how worthwhile life is when we understand that "The gentleness of life lies in our own hands." This is also a quote from a contemporary literary work from Japan: The Miracles of the Namiya General Store. A unique and distinctive work by the mystery writer Higashino Keigo.
Each page of *The Miracles of the Namiya General Store* can make anyone who reads it feel a surge of happiness and warmth in their soul. Someone once said that choosing the right time to read a book can bring about sparkling miracles. Keigo's work can be read at any time, but it's especially suitable for the beginning of the year, because what could be more wonderful than starting the new year by planting seeds of happiness for yourself? Just like how the owner of the Namiya General Store wrote letters in reply, sharing his thoughts with the anonymous letter senders who sent letters to his store.
The story doesn't have many dramatic or sensational plot twists, but rather simple snapshots of life's moments when we stand at crossroads, facing life's choices, grappling with love, career, family, and self-identity. It addresses doubts such as: Are we right to pursue our passions to the end?
Should we waste time on something that we know will ultimately yield no results, but we can't stop now? Or, there will be times when you want to say so much, but the words just leave you alone, like the detail of the "letter with no words" in the story. At those times, what you need is probably not advice or dogmatic pronouncements about standards, morality, or golden rules. What you need is a sincere response, a response that shows the person you're talking to is truly listening, that they take your problems, big or small, seriously and that you're not alone on this planet.
A grocery store in Japan
None of us are isolated islands. We live together and constantly influence one another. Every action we take is a tiny seed that will grow into tall, shady trees or clusters of flowers that beautify life. What the owner of Namiya General Store does is sow seeds of pure kindness in the hearts of all.
The actions each person, each character in the story, takes for one another are also acts of sowing small but vibrant seeds into each other's lives. When you finish reading the work, you will suddenly realize that the three thieves – the main characters in the novel – despite their fallen lives, still possess deep within them the seeds of goodness, of the glimmer of hope and optimism that they themselves were unknowingly sown in when they lived in the orphanage. Even though the person who sowed this goodness in the hearts of the three thieves may not even be aware of their actions, the result is the warmth that envelops the hearts of three who seemed to have reached the brink of despair.
The work contains a truly extraordinary letter: a blank sheet of paper with not a single word written on it. Yet, that letter still received a reply. “Your map is still a blank sheet of paper. You are in a situation where you desperately want to decide your destination but don’t know where the road lies… A blank map is naturally confusing. Everyone will feel disoriented. But try changing your perspective. Because it’s a blank sheet of paper, you can draw any map you like. It’s all up to you. Everything is free, the possibilities are endless. This is wonderful. I hope you believe in yourself and live life to the fullest.”
Hopefully, on this spring journey, whether you choose to cruise along the seemingly tranquil but secretly turbulent Thames, or embark on a trip with a "blank map" where you personally mark significant landmarks, you will always be satisfied and fully enjoy your journey, and believe that the seeds you are sowing will one day burst forth with life.
