Danica Davidson
July 22, 2021 
Hayao Miyazaki has been working on his movie adaptation of How Do You Live?, but it might be another three years before we see the finished product. We have less of a wait to read the original novel, written by Genzaburo Yoshino and originally published in 1937. Algonquin Young Readers has revealed they will publish the very first English translation.
The book will come out on October 26, translated by Bruno Navasky and with a foreword by Neil Gaiman. Miyazaki has said that How Do You Live? was his favorite book in childhood.
Algonquin Young Readers gave this description of the book in their press release:
“HOW DO YOU LIVE? begins with fifteen-year-old Copper, who has recently suffered the loss of his father, gazing out over his hometown of Tokyo, watching the thousands of people below, and beginning to ponder life’s big questions. How many people are in the world? What do their lives look like? Are humans really made of molecules? The book moves between Copper’s story and his uncle’s journal entries, in which he gives advice and helps Copper learn pivotal truths about the way the world works. Over the course of a year in his life, Copper, like his namesake Copernicus, embarks on a journey of philosophical enlightenment, and uses his discoveries about the heavens, earth and human nature to determine the best way to live. Yoshino perfectly captures the beauty and strangeness of pre-war Japan – the changing of the seasons, the fried tofu and taiyaki stands, and the lush landscapes, as Copper explores the city on his bike and learns from friends and family what really matters most in life.”
Source: Press release via ANN
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, and its sequel, Manga Art for Intermediates, with professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
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