This is a literary work and as such its strength lies in the characters and their relationships with each other. The theme of the book is grief with the effects of true love as the secondary theme.

The main character is Chihiro, a graphic artist, a mural painter, whose bar-owner mother has just died. Chihiro was born to unmarried parents and is slowly falling in love with a complicated, mysterious man, Nakajima, who is studying to be genetics researcher.

Something awful, a childhood trauma, in the quirky Nakajima’s past makes him unable to relate to people normally. Although Chihiro and Nakajima share a lot together, Nakajima doesn’t tell her what happened to him until the end of the novel when Chihiro’s love and understanding produce hope and trust in Nakajima.

The lake is an actual place in Nakajima’s backstory together with the two friends he shared his childhood trauma with, as well as being a metaphor for Nakajima’s grieving psychological state. In fact, there is grief in each of the characters including Nakajima's two friends. Each person grieves for something.

The two main characters reflect and ruminate a lot, and although outwardly they may be enjoying simple pleasures, the theme of grief runs as the undercurrent throughout the story with the ending turning more hopeful.

There is something, some element or feeling, that is fascinating as it penetrates the reader’s psyche throughout the book. I think this comes from the author’s style of writing and especially her way of entering into the depths of her characters’ souls.

This was an easy book to read and not very long. One could finish it in two or three hours.

experiencing the styles of writing by the authors of other nations.

the quirky characters

is Banana Yoshimoto, the second well-known author in Japan after Haruki Murakami.
Banana Yoshimoto has written several award-winning books with titles like Kitchen, Asleep, and The Lizard.

I really enjoyed reading it, but if you look for a complicated, twisted direct action in a story, this book isn't for you. Anything twisted or complicated lies within the characterization.

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Created Aug 25, 2016 at 7:51pm • Submit your own review...