Reviews

This is a book I feel more people should read, it will change your perspective around the sensitive topic of age gaps versus love. I went into this subtly expecting the older love interest to be creepy, but found myself caring deeply for the connection both Tsukiko and 'Sensei' grow to have for one another. I wish I could go back and reread this for the first time.

Kawakami's writing style really resonates with me, between her descriptive details of nature and food to the characters gradual build up of pure, non-sexual love over prolonged periods of time. Her use of language is strategic with every sentence holding significant value in the carrying on of the plot.

(* Slight Spoiler *)
The novel is centered around focal themes of loneliness and time, as we watch the main character, Tsukiko, whose adult life is dormant, slowly begin to blossom and bloom once 'Sensei' reappears in her life. Her eyes begin to open up around her, as she becomes more and more aware of not only the ways in which she has lived thus far, but in the faces of others and in nature around her. However, their carefully cultivated and eccentric love, reminiscent of the fleeting cherry blossom, must pass as all natural remnants of life must due to the inevitable passing of time. The ending is bittersweet and left me with a slight 'book hangover'.

ellaroshea's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Beautifully written, with the soothing, cool and lonely tone so much translated Japanese literature has. The feel of this book is what I loved most about it; it paints everyday life in dark, gentle language, as well as being incredibly influenced by nature and the simplicity of day-to-day activities, like eating. Tsukiko and Sensei's relationship was quiet, witty and tentative, and I found it very interesting how connectedness and loneliness intertwined. I will say that the age difference between them, as well as the way Sensei sometimes addressed Tsukiko as a woman, made me a bit resistant to liking their partnership wholly- if you bear that in mind, I think this book definitely still merits reading for the beautiful literary style.

geeky_erin's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Quiet, contemplative, dreamy - a lovely read for a rainy day, best with tea (or sake). Fair warning, it's a bit strange - the sense of loneliness and melancholy is present throughout - and I found the trip through magical realism distracting. But there is connection beneath the separateness, and the growth of companionship in their May-December romance, without the emphasis on physicality, had a sweetness that I found appealing. Not for those looking for a lot of character development or complicated plot; it's more sparse - like a haiku.

lucimolri's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

No se por qué me esperaba otra cosa, cuando la sinopsis dice claramente lo que es.

Me ha incomodado un poco, aunque está muy bien escrito. Seguramente leeré más cosas de la autora.

SPOILER: la muchacha no necesita a un hombre mayor, lo que necesita es terapia 💀

Content Warnings

More...