These two works - one a kind of essay and the other (Essays in Idleness) a series of mini-essay like vignettes of thought, are only connected in being representative of Japanese Buddhism approaches to life in the medieval period. One (Hojoki) is a short essay on the impermanence of life and his retreat to the mountains, his observations on his life there and his previous existence. It is quite lovely.
The other is more like, I suppose, a Pillow Book. Kenko seems to be torn between the mundane and the divine, appreciating points of etiquette, dress or style, damning drink only to end up extoling it. They are charming and in the end slight musings from another time.
It seems like an excellent translation.