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patchworkculture's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
ameliegoddardmc's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful book comprised of existential musings of a working-class Japanese woman, navigating through life in search of content and connection.
Breasts and Eggs follows Natsuko as she steers the mundane struggle of growing older as a woman, and the difficulties being asexual when expected to find a partner, alongside her seemingly stagnant career as a writer.
This book led me to feel such an odd sense of nostalgia and comfort in the mundanities of what it is to be so self aware to the point it encompasses you, this a very raw and personal exploration of what it is to be, ultimately, lonely as a woman.
Every second of this book was worth reading, please take the chance to lose yourself in it.
Breasts and Eggs follows Natsuko as she steers the mundane struggle of growing older as a woman, and the difficulties being asexual when expected to find a partner, alongside her seemingly stagnant career as a writer.
This book led me to feel such an odd sense of nostalgia and comfort in the mundanities of what it is to be so self aware to the point it encompasses you, this a very raw and personal exploration of what it is to be, ultimately, lonely as a woman.
Every second of this book was worth reading, please take the chance to lose yourself in it.
nicirvine19's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
strbgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Mieko Kawakami you’ve done it again. I’m seriously in love with her and her writing, can’t seem to get enough and it was no different this time. It was a much longer novel than usual but also so needed to understand the emotions and complexities of Natsu’s thought and how it fluctuates constantly by different elements truly showing that characters in a book are multi dimensional and don’t just stick to one trope and run with it.
mgxwawa13's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
j9wan's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5
The first and second part don't seem connected in style, plot or premise, but it still works anyway. Some interesting points, nice book to prompt thought. Bet it would be good for a book club discussion.
alisarae's review against another edition
5.0
Ok first off: yes, the writing style is exactly like Murakami's, but by a woman, so it's more interesting. Casual narrations of people going about their daily lives, drinking alcohol, memories linked to old music, feelings of isolation. There are surreal dream sequences/hallucinations that are a counterpart to Murakami's "real" surrealism. If "Men Without Women" is Murakami's title, I think we can accurately describe this book as "Women Without Men". Ha.
Breasts and Eggs were originally published as separate books. Same characters, but there is a gap of a decade or so between the books. The first one is about Natsu's sister's obsession with breast implants and the second is about Natsu's own obsession with meeting her future child, the one who lives in her eggs. Eggs is a more complex and developed story than Breasts, and I was so satisfied with the ending. The story is a calm narration of Natsu going about her life and talking to different female acquaintances about wanting to be a single mother, and each character presents a POV for or against the idea. It's a good discussion of what modern working women are up against when thinking about their futures and family planning.
I liked how real and honest Natsu's psychology is. The emotions and the negotiation of how much of her thoughts/self to share with the people around her is delicately articulated. This was such a good book.
Breasts and Eggs were originally published as separate books. Same characters, but there is a gap of a decade or so between the books. The first one is about Natsu's sister's obsession with breast implants and the second is about Natsu's own obsession with meeting her future child, the one who lives in her eggs. Eggs is a more complex and developed story than Breasts, and I was so satisfied with the ending. The story is a calm narration of Natsu going about her life and talking to different female acquaintances about wanting to be a single mother, and each character presents a POV for or against the idea. It's a good discussion of what modern working women are up against when thinking about their futures and family planning.
I liked how real and honest Natsu's psychology is. The emotions and the negotiation of how much of her thoughts/self to share with the people around her is delicately articulated. This was such a good book.
alyssatuininga's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I was suggested this book by a few people after having read Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo. This one is by a Japanese author but is a look into the current state of womanhood in Japan. It is at once beautiful, heartbreaking, and so very frustrating. I absolutely loved the writer’s style and her prose. It is raw and explores so many issues facing women in modern society. This book is character-based so if that is not your thing it may feel slow but for me, it was a fantastic glimpse into other women’s lives.
plompverlori's review against another edition
3.0
3,5*
Het eerste deel was zo mooi dat het bijna zonde was om verder te lezen en de ervaring te bedoezelen. Niet dat het laatste deel slecht was, maar het voelde alsof het los van elkaar had moeten worden gepubliceerd.
Ik ging bladzijdes overslaan, de passages werden convoluted en ik wilde dat ik terug kon gaan naar het begin.
Het eerste deel was zo mooi dat het bijna zonde was om verder te lezen en de ervaring te bedoezelen. Niet dat het laatste deel slecht was, maar het voelde alsof het los van elkaar had moeten worden gepubliceerd.
Ik ging bladzijdes overslaan, de passages werden convoluted en ik wilde dat ik terug kon gaan naar het begin.
zdpadilla's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape