In “Memoirs of a Geisha,” we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl’s virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion.
This book definitely deserves the reputation it has earned. I always see it in the second-hand shops, so I – unfairly – assumed it was ‘good’ but nothing special. This was one of those books where I knew within the first few pages that I would love it.
The relationship dynamics that Sayuri has with each character feels realistic. Golden is able to subtly display the impact each character left on Sayuri, no matter how small – in regard to the roles they played in her life. His writing style is immersive, and his storytelling allows the mind to wander into the pages of the book.
I love how female-centred this story is. Regardless of any transgressions the women committed, they have strength in their own right and are respected in their role.
It is a common misconception that a Geisha is likened to a prostitute – whilst this is addressed in the book – it is not pushed or stigmatized like it could have been. Although, I do not want to praise an author for doing the bare minimum – as it should be expected that a male, white author would respect a traditional, Japanese (female dominated), profession.
I really did not like the ending of this book. Throughout the story, the readers ‘watch’ as Sayuri becomes wise and independent as a result of years of adversity. Whilst she did pine for the Chairman, it did not feel intense or reciprocated enough to derail her self-made image. Which is why the whole book lost some integrity when Golden gave into the ‘happily-ever-after’ ploy. By doing this, it continues the narrative that, whilst a woman can have an elaborate list of achievements and hardships, a man loving her back makes it all worth it. Sickening.
The worst part of it (to me) is that the Chairman is made out to be some sort of protagonist. He groomed Sayuri until adulthood, watched as she suffered through life and then confesses his ‘strong’ feelings for her, whilst married. He is just as bad as the rest of the men, save for the Baron.
I would recommend anyone give this book a go, especially if you are interested in Japanese history or the Japanese culture.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
In “Memoirs of a Geisha,” we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl’s virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as illusion.
This book definitely deserves the reputation it has earned. I always see it in the second-hand shops, so I – unfairly – assumed it was ‘good’ but nothing special. This was one of those books where I knew within the first few pages that I would love it.
The relationship dynamics that Sayuri has with each character feels realistic. Golden is able to subtly display the impact that each character left on Sayuri, no matter how small – respective to the roles they played in her life. His writing style is immersive, and his storytelling allows the mind to wander into the pages of the book.
I love how female-centred this story is. Regardless of any transgressions the women commit, they have strength in their own right and are respected in their role.
It is a common misconception that a Geisha is akin to a prostitute – whilst this is addressed in the book – it is not pushed or stigmatized like it could have been. Although, I do not want to praise an author for doing the bare minimum – as it should be expected that a male, white author would respect a traditional, Japanese (female dominated), profession.
I know that some of the behaviours exhibited in the story were accurate to the time, however there are some grey areas I am sceptical of. I am also not a big fan of a certain aspect of the book, but I digress, as I do not want to spoil anything.
I would recommend anyone give this book a go, especially if you are interested in Japanese history or Japanese culture.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
Miri thinks she has got her wife back, when Leah finally returns after a deep-sea mission that ended in catastrophe. It soon becomes clear, though, that Leah may have come back wrong. Whatever happened in that vessel, whatever it was they were supposed to be studying before they were stranded on the ocean floor, Leah has carried part of it with her, onto dry land and into their home.
To have the woman she loves back should mean a return to normal life, but Miri can feel Leah slipping from her grasp. Memories of what they had before – the jokes they shared, the films they watched, all the small things that made Leah hers – only remind Miri of what she stands to lose. Living in the same space but suddenly separate, Miri comes to realize that the life that they had might be gone.
Whilst it is accurate to describe this book as ‘horror’, it is not in the way you would think – as it is nothing like the horror books I have read prior. The best way I can describe it, is that it is ‘symbolic horror’, which I am pretty sure I just made up.
Armfield’s storytelling was exceptional, I have never been more captivated by an author’s style of writing before. She has such a relatable way of conveying points. It felt conversational. By this I mean quotes like, ‘It went on too long and too helplessly. The way anyone who sneezes more than four times abruptly loses sympathy of an audience’. To me, this is such a human experience, articulated in a clever and witty way.
The juxtaposition between Miri and Leah’s point of view was jarring. It makes it hard for the reader to decide who to sympathize with more. ‘Watching’ Miri mourn her living wife and revisit their fondest memories, then reading Leah’s final letters to Miri was devastating. I felt a pang in my heart during their final parting – the fact they had to let go of each other but insured that the other person was allowed their closure was touching.
The biggest takeaway I got from this story is to treasure the relationship you have with your loved ones, and not to take it for granted.
I would recommend this to someone who is trying to get into horror as it is a tame gateway book. Though, I would recommend anyone give this book a go, as Armfield’s writing style is very charming and fresh.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
Miri thinks she has got her wife back, when Leah finally returns after a deep-sea mission that ended in catastrophe. It soon becomes clear, though, that Leah may have come back wrong. Whatever happened in that vessel, whatever it was they were supposed to be studying before they were stranded on the ocean floor, Leah has carried part of it with her, onto dry land and into their home.
To have the woman she loves back should mean a return to normal life, but Miri can feel Leah slipping from her grasp. Memories of what they had before – the jokes they shared, the films they watched, all the small things that made Leah hers – only remind Miri of what she stands to lose. Living in the same space but suddenly separate, Miri comes to realize that the life that they had might be gone.
Whilst it is accurate to describe this book as ‘horror’, it is not in the way you would think – as it is nothing like the horror books I have read prior. The best way I can describe it, is that it is ‘symbolic horror’, which I am pretty sure I just made up.
Armfield’s storytelling was exceptional, I have never been more captivated by an author’s style of writing before. She has such a relatable way of conveying points. It felt conversational. I caught myself (frequently) thinking, ‘I have noticed that before as well’.
The juxtaposition between Miri and Leah’s point of view was jarring. It makes it hard for the reader to decide who to sympathize with more. I enjoy this as it provides an accurate depiction of what the characters in the book would be experiencing.
The biggest takeaway I got from this story is to treasure the relationship you have with your loved ones, and not to take it for granted.
I would recommend this to someone who is trying to get into horror as it is a tame gateway book. Though, I would recommend anyone give this book a go, as Armfield’s writing style is very charming and fresh.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.
My emotions were being played with the entire duration of this book. The anger you feel for Demon and the way the foster system is set up is overwhelming, especially because it is based on a real plight that plagues this world.
The writing is exceptional. The way Kingsolver describes the volatile environment, the character’s unique mannerisms and the ongoing emphasis on social issues made it feel biographical.
I do not normally read books like this, mainly because it centres around emotionally provoking subjects – but I added it to my to-be-read due to the overwhelming praise.
I have rated it a four, because it is bleak, depressing and full-on. I am not someone who gravitates towards books like this, so I could not enjoy it the way someone who seeks it out would. So, part of my rating reflects personal taste rather than book quality.
I would recommend this to someone who is into grittier books, that focus on realistic problems. Although I think it is important that everyone read it, to remind us of the world we live in.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
Greta lives with her friend Sabine in an ancient Dutch farmhouse in Hudson, New York. The house, built in 1737, is unrenovated, uninsulated, and full of bees. Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a sex coach who calls himself Om. She becomes infatuated with his newest client, a repressed married woman she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss, since she’s tall, stoic, and originally from Switzerland. Greta is fascinated by Big Swiss’s refreshing attitude toward trauma. They both have dark histories, but Big Swiss chooses to remain unattached to her suffering while Greta continues to be tortured by her past.
One day, Greta recognizes Big Swiss’s voice at the dog park. In a panic, she introduces herself with a fake name and they quickly become enmeshed. Although Big Swiss is unaware of Greta’s true identity, Greta has never been more herself with anyone. Her attraction to Big Swiss overrides her guilt, and she’ll do anything to sustain the relationship…
I would love to know what sparked this idea in Beagin; there is an air of originality to it.
Something I discovered whilst reading, is that something is only as embarrassing as you make it. Greta displays some rather absurd behaviours but has a care-free outlook which almost nullifies it.
Beagin’s writing is well-structured and left an impression of maturity. The unconventional way Greta sees the world and the observations she makes feels unique to Beagin. Being able to sense the writer voice through their work, which is always a plus for me.
The plot is interesting. It is a snapshot into a slightly eccentric person’s life. There is not beginning or end per say.
The relationship between Greta and her roommate Sabine feels distant even though they have an obvious bond. Greta observes some behavioural changes in Sabine yet chooses to ignore them – either out of worry for overstepping or being too caught up in her own life. The fact that Sabine was addicted to drugs and Greta was none the wiser, further proves the disconnect. In saying that – I know drug users can hide it well.
The tie between Greta and Flavia (Big Swiss) is complex, it is one of those relationships that makes no sense to anyone who is outside of it. Even though it is told from Greta’s perspective, I could not understand her choices when it came to Flavia.
In terms of the book being funny, for me it was humorous in a way you can appreciate, rather than laugh out loud. Greta would make clever remarks like “Yes, people age horribly. They suffer strokes. Their bodies and brains fall apart. But the male ego? Firmly intact until the bitter end.” As well as just generally witty observations that make you want to applaud Beagin’s writing.
I would definitely recommend you add this to your list, Big Swiss has its own distinctive quality, setting it apart from others.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
Greta lives with her friend Sabine in an ancient Dutch farmhouse in Hudson, New York. The house, built in 1737, is unrenovated, uninsulated, and full of bees. Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a sex coach who calls himself Om. She becomes infatuated with his newest client, a repressed married woman she affectionately refers to as Big Swiss, since she’s tall, stoic, and originally from Switzerland. Greta is fascinated by Big Swiss’s refreshing attitude toward trauma. They both have dark histories, but Big Swiss chooses to remain unattached to her suffering while Greta continues to be tortured by her past.
One day, Greta recognizes Big Swiss’s voice at the dog park. In a panic, she introduces herself with a fake name and they quickly become enmeshed. Although Big Swiss is unaware of Greta’s true identity, Greta has never been more herself with anyone. Her attraction to Big Swiss overrides her guilt, and she’ll do anything to sustain the relationship…
I would love to know what sparked this idea in Beagin; there is an air of originality to it.
Something I discovered whilst reading, is that something is only as embarrassing as you make it. Greta displays some rather absurd behaviours but has a care-free outlook which almost nullifies it.
Beagin’s writing is well-structured and left an impression of maturity. The unconventional way Greta sees the world and the observations she makes feels unique to Beagin. Being able to sense the writer voice through their work, which is always a plus for me.
The plot is interesting. It is a snapshot into a slightly eccentric person’s life. There is not beginning or end per say.
The relationships were endearing in a peculiar yet distant way – this will make more sense if you have read it/ once you read it.
I would definitely recommend you add this to your list, Big Swiss has its own distinctive quality, setting it apart from others.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
It is a perfect July morning, and Elle, a fifty-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at “The Paper Palace”—the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: last night Elle and her oldest friend Jonas crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside. Now, over the next twenty-four hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn’t forever changed the course of their lives. As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
REVIEW
THEMES: EMOTIONAL, FAMILY SECRETS, BETRAYAL, MEDIUM-PACED.
Heller’s writing is incredible, the layered relationships, complex characters and unexpected conclusions – are all so well explained and planned out.
The story follows Elle a daughter, wife and mother. It jumps between past and present tense, providing context on her background and relationships.
The sister’s ending/death felt unfinished. What seemed like an important subplot that ran throughout the story, got cut off at the end. As if Heller wanted to give the family ‘privacy’, which is rather inconsistent with how intimately you get to know them.
The events that take place are intense, Heller explores sensitive subjects and themes that arouses the emotions and piques curiosity.
The relationships are a realistic representation of a fractured family, where each character has their own respective outlook. Heller allows all the characters to make mistakes without persecuting them and painting them in a negative light.
I was reading through reviews, and someone mentioned that they noticed the women’s ‘depth’ always stemmed from abuse, which is tiring and one-dimensional. And I agree, I am not saying that this is always the case, but I do for this book. Which is why I brought my rating down a tad.
Be prepared for some confronting subjects that involve sexual abuse.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
It is a perfect July morning, and Elle, a fifty-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at “The Paper Palace”—the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: last night Elle and her oldest friend Jonas crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside. Now, over the next twenty-four hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn’t forever changed the course of their lives. As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
REVIEW
THEMES: EMOTIONAL, FAMILY SECRETS, BETRAYAL, MEDIUM-PACED.
Heller’s writing is incredible, the layered relationships, complex characters and unexpected conclusions – are all so well explained and planned out.
The story follows Elle a daughter, wife and mother. It jumps between past and present tense, providing context on her background and relationships. Whilst there are some ends that were left untied – and it was not entirely clear whether that was deliberate – the story flowed well.
The events that take place are intense, Heller explores sensitive subjects and themes that arouses the emotions and piques curiosity.
The relationships are a realistic representation of a fractured family, where each character has their own respective outlook. Heller allows all the characters to make mistakes without persecuting them and painting them in a negative light.
Be prepared for some confronting subjects that involve sexual abuse.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
This is a list of the Japanese Fiction books that I have read so far, whilst the title is a little general, I did not want to box them all in one genre. Most of them have a common theme, one of them is completely different, as you will notice. A reminder that these are my opinions, what I dislike in a book, you may love. I like recommending all types of books, I do not limit my recommendations to only what I like (which sounds a little contradictory but makes sense in my head). Please enjoy!
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What You Are Looking For is in The Library
By Michiko Aoyama
Released 2020, 253 Pages,
So asks Tokyo’s most enigmatic librarian, Sayuri Komachi. She is no ordinary librarian. Naturally, she has read every book on her shelf, but she also has the unique ability to read the souls of anyone who walks through her door. Sensing exactly what they’re looking for in life, she provides just the book recommendation they never knew they needed to help them find it.
Every borrower in her library is at a different crossroads, from the restless retail assistant – can she ever get out of a dead-end job? – to the juggling new mother who dreams of becoming a magazine editor, and the meticulous accountant who yearns to own an antique store. The surprise book Komachi lends to each will change their lives for ever.
Which book will you recommend?
This is one of my favourite books of all time.
When I read this book, I was stuck in a loop (routine wise). I did not have any expectations when I picked it up but reading it has helped my life more than I could have imagined. It has taught me to explore different interests and take advantage of life, to see what sparks motivation.
Aoyama’s ability to find inspiration in the most unexpected ventures is true genius. Even though the book was short, I felt that I got to know each character just the right amount. Aoyama explores the different problems people face in various aspects of their life (home, work, relationships etc.), making it relatable to a diverse audience.
I recommend that everyone read this book and hope it helps others like it helped me. At the very least, provide a pleasant read.
SPACE
Before The Coffee Gets Cold (series)
By Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Released 2015-2023.
What would you change if you could go back in time?
In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a café which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee shop offers its customers a unique experience: the chance to travel back in time.
In Before the Coffee Gets Cold, we meet four visitors, each of whom is hoping to make use of the café’s time-travelling offer, in order to: confront the man who left them, receive a letter from their husband whose memory has been taken by early onset Alzheimer’s, see their sister one last time, and meet the daughter they never got the chance to know.
But the journey into the past does not come without risks: customers must sit in a particular seat, they cannot leave the café, and finally, they must return to the present before the coffee gets cold . . .
These books are great on audiobook (which is how I read them) whether it’s going for a walk, working out at the gym or drawing. What I noticed was, If I accidentally zoned out and missed a minute or two, I could easily catch up without having to wind back.
All of the books are enjoyable, with sweet little stories, which act as life lesson – allowing readers to reflect upon their own life. Naturally it becomes repetitive, it could have stopped at the third or fourth, if you ask me, but that is expected with books like this.
I would read this book If you wanted something light and fluffy, that also has a message. There are definitely other books with messages like this, that have moved me more, but I would not dissuade someone from reading.
SPACE
The Full Moon Coffee Shop
By Mai Mochizuki
Released 2020, 256 Pages.
In Japan, cats are a symbol of good luck. As the myth goes, if you are kind to them, they’ll one day return the favor. And if you are kind to the right cat, you might just find yourself invited to a mysterious coffee shop under a glittering Kyoto moon.
This particular coffee shop is like no other. It has no fixed location, no fixed hours, and seemingly appears at random to adrift young people at crucial junctions in their lives.
It’s also run by talking cats.
While customers at the Full Moon Coffee Shop partake in cakes and coffees and teas, the cats also consult them on their star charts, offer cryptic wisdom, and let them know where their lives veered off course.
Every person who visits the shop has been feeling more than a little lost. For a down-on-her-luck screenwriter, a romantically stuck movie director, a hopeful hairstylist, and a technologically challenged website designer, the coffee shop’s feline guides will set them back on their fated paths. For there is a very special reason the shop appeared to each of them…
The Full Moon Coffee Shop was the first Japanese fiction I read, unless you include ‘No Longer Human’ by Osuma Dazai – which is debatably (semi) autobiographical.
In retrospect it is not my favourite, but I am glad it was my gateway book, if you will. Like ‘What You Are Looking For is in The Library’, it consists of short, interlinked stories where characters experience hardships in their lives. There was something very relaxing about reading this book – making it a good pallet cleanser.
There is a lot of astrology talk. At first, I tried to read it all and grasp the concepts that were spoken of, but it was a lot, so I ended up skimming most of it.
I would recommend this to someone who enjoys short stories, especially ones with magical realism. If you like astrology, then that’s definitely a bonus.
SPACE
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
By Hiro Arikawa
Released 2012, 277 Pages.
With his crooked tail—a sign of good fortune—and adventurous spirit, Nana is the perfect companion for the man who took him in as a stray. And as they travel in a silver van across Japan, with its ever-changing scenery and seasons, they will learn the true meaning of courage and gratitude, of loyalty and love.
Short, sweet and simple. Is how I would describe this book in three words. Arikawa does a good job of getting acquainted with the characters in short snippets, allowing readers to get to know their personalities without injecting over-the-top plotlines.
As someone who has three cats, this made me wonder whether my cats can understand me. Listening to the characters speak and act as though Nana could not understand was embarrassing, because that is what I do with my cats.
This book further fed my interest in animal communication, which is a perk. It is an enjoyable short read, especially for cat lovers.
space
Days At the Morisaki Bookshop
By Satoshi Yagisawa
Released 2010-2011.
Twenty-five-year-old Takako has enjoyed a relatively easy existence—until the day her boyfriend Hideaki, the man she expected to wed, casually announces he’s been cheating on her and is marrying the other woman. Suddenly, Takako’s life is in freefall. She loses her job, her friends, and her acquaintances, and spirals into a deep depression. In the depths of her despair, she receives a call from her distant uncle Satoru.
An unusual man who has always pursued something of an unconventional life, especially after his wife Momoko left him out of the blue five years earlier, Satoru runs a second-hand bookshop in Jimbocho, Tokyo’s famous book district. Takako once looked down upon Satoru’s life. Now, she reluctantly accepts his offer of the tiny room above the bookshop rent-free in exchange for helping out at the store. The move is temporary, until she can get back on her feet. But in the months that follow, Takako surprises herself when she develops a passion for Japanese literature, becomes a regular at a local coffee shop where she makes new friends, and eventually meets a young editor from a nearby publishing house who’s going through his own messy breakup.
But just as she begins to find joy again, Hideaki reappears, forcing Takako to rely once again on her uncle, whose own life has begun to unravel. Together, these seeming opposites work to understand each other and themselves as they continue to share the wisdom they’ve gained in the bookshop.
I absolutely love the covers of these books, they are so charming.
‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’ was a pleasurable read. Takako’s circumstances were relatable and represents an unfortunate time everyone experiences at least once, which, off the bat allows the readers to form a connection.
Yagisawa was not afraid to accentuate characters flaws and show the messier side of life, which I respect as a reader and a person. This story depicts the strength of family bonds and, that you cannot force someone to find their way in life – it is up to them.
‘More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’ fell a bit flat to me. The plot veered away from what made the first book shine, which (to me) changed the whole tone of the duology.
I would recommend the first book but am lukewarm on the second, though, if you really like/d book one, give it a try.
SPACE
We’ll Prescribe You a Cat
By Syou Ishida
Released 2023, 297 Pages.
Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.
Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labour, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.
Cats and magical realism causing self-discovery and the betterment of life, sign me up. The idea of being prescribed a cat will never not be an endearing concept to me, I wish that was a form of therapy.
‘We’ll Prescribe You a Cat’ is a collection of short stories, however, it also explores the past and present, which is unique (to other books of similar style).
I still think back to certain storylines in this book and relate it to my own life and see what I can apply from its resolution. I love when books do subtle linking, as it reminds you of the previous stories – which I find clever.
The only significant aspect I feel the story lacked was a strong bond to the characters. The plot and idea were well-developed, but I did not feel fully connected with the characters, making it hard to follow their ‘self-discovery’ journey.
This is a fun, light story I would recommend to cat and magical realism lovers.
SPACE
The Lonely Castle in the Mirror
By Mizuki Tsujimura
Released 2017, 368 Pages.
How can you save your friend’s life if she doesn’t want to be rescued?
In a tranquil neighbourhood of Tokyo, seven teenagers wake to find their bedroom mirrors are shining.
At a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives into to a wondrous castle filled with winding stairways, watchful portraits and twinkling chandeliers. In this new sanctuary, they are confronted with a set of clues leading to a hidden room where one of them will be granted a wish. But there’s a catch: if they don’t leave by five o’clock, they will die.
As time passes, a devastating truth emerges: only those brave enough to share their stories will be punished.
If you struggled in school, or any academic setting then this is the book for you.
Tsujimura so accurately describes the anxiety of attending school and how it can affect young people. The different reasons whether academic pressure, anxiety, external commitments or bullying – Tsujimura creates a judgement-free environment, which creates a safe space for readers.
The story is beautifully written. The exploration of friendship and how shared suffering can enable healthier healing journeys, is insightful and touching.
I would recommend this to anyone who struggled in school, someone who has a child/friend struggling, or someone who wants to learn more about how the pressures of school can affect a young person.
SPACE
The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea
By Yukio Mishima
Released 1963, 181 Pages.
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea tells the tale of a band of savage thirteen-year-old boys who reject the adult world as illusory, hypocritical and sentimental, and train themselves in a brutal callousness they call “objectivity.” When the mother of one of them begins an affair with a ship’s officer, he and his friends idealize the man at first; but it is not long before they conclude that he is in fact soft and romantic. They regard their disappointment in him as an act of betrayal on his part, and react violently.
This book has been put last because there is a dramatic shift of tone from the books prior.
‘The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea’ explores some very disturbing topics and creates an uncomfortable and – if I am being frank – unwelcome atmosphere. Ninety percent of the characters in this book are troubled in some way, shape or form.
Despite it all, I loved it. For such an unsettling book, it was easy to read and rather enjoyable. It evoked a wide range of emotions, which was refreshing and forces you to see the good in the ugly.
Warning: There are sexually disturbing ‘scenes’, animal abuse and generally unpleasant topics broached throughout.
I would recommend, I suppose, to horror lovers or readers who enjoy ‘weird’ books (like me).
The Book Slump 