Things Become Other Things: A Walking Memoir by Craig Mod
We will meet for a discussion of the book Things Become Other Things: A Walking Memoir by Craig Mod
To attend this event, you should have read this book and be able to partake in discussions on this book.
From the publisher: Things Become Other Things: A Walking Memoir is a meditative and visually evocative exploration of the Japanese landscape, chronicling a long-distance journey through the country's "kissa" (coffee shop) culture and rural paths. Craig Mod uses the physical act of walking as a lens to examine the concept of impermanence—the "shikata ga nai" of a world in constant flux. As he moves from the small, aging villages of the countryside to the more modern fringes, Mod documents the quiet disappearance of a traditional way of life. The memoir is as much about the internal shifts of the walker as it is about the geography, blending sharp observations on architecture and community with a deep appreciation for the stillness found in long-form movement.
The narrative is distinguished by its focus on the "small" moments: a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, a fleeting conversation with a shop owner, or the way light hits a weathered cedar wall. Mod’s prose is rhythmic and precise, reflecting the steady cadence of a walk that spans hundreds of kilometers. He grapples with the tension between preservation and progress, observing how spaces and memories inevitably transform—how things "become other things." It is a profound reflection on the value of paying attention, arguing that the true essence of a place is often found in the overlooked details that only reveal themselves at three miles per hour.
Bring an open mind and a smile! I hope to see you there.