"Horie weaves fables out of everyday existence in these three captivating tales of relationships and lives revisited . Across these ruminative stories, Horie suddenly drops in moments of piercing wisdom and revelation, revealing that, for better or worse, there is no escape from one's memory. -- Publishers Weekly "A gentle, stirring novella of history and memory that simmers with raw emotional ferocity. Horie uses descriptive imagery in a distanced narrative style. His characters maintain an inner strength and Zen-like independence that wavers under the emotional weight of shared memories, which merge in unexpected ways to convey a yearning for deeper connections. The Bear and the Paving Stone adds to the bold collection of contemporary Japanese literature published by Pushkin Press." -- Shelf Awareness "It is a rather beautiful, very funny, often bitter or sadly gentle book that will entice and satisfy while leaving one thirsting for more." -- Bookanista "Whimsical stories, celebrating, language, friendship and life.

" -- Japan Times.