Beauty and Chaos: Slices and Morsels of Tokyo Life

Tokyo is as complex as a long novel as confusing as an avant-garde film and sometimes as strikingly beautiful as calligraphy.Part memoir part travelogue and part culture guide Beauty and Chaos taps into the daily mysteries and poignant moments that make living in Tokyo a baffling delight. After two-plus decades writing teaching and living in Tokyo American novelist and literature professor Michael Pronko reveals whats beneath the gleaming puzzling exteriors of the biggest city in the world. Whether contemplating Tokyos bonsai houses pachinko parlors chopstick ballet or the perilous habit of running for trains Pronko explores Tokyos back alleys and curious interactions to find the citys deeper meanings and daily pleasures.Tokyo emerges a fascinating city full of chaotic commotion and serene beauty-one of the most amazing confusing places in the world.Gold Award eLit Awards for Essays/Creative Non-FictionGold Award Non-Fiction Authors AssociationGold Award First Place Readers Favorite for Cultural Non-Fiction Best Nonfiction Books of 2015 Doing DeweyA clear-eyed but affectionate portrait of a city that reaches beyond simple stereotypes. An elegantly written precisely observed portrait of a Japanese city and its culture. Kirkus ReviewsMore at: www.michaelpronko.com