danielle2121's review
Far too slow for me, it felt like one big info dump and I’m not invested in any of the characters.
kaneebli's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and War
Minor: Child death, Torture, Death of parent, and Misogyny
lauren_endnotes's review
"Once cracks open in your feelings for someone, they will never return to the way they were before."
.
From THE LITTLE HOUSE by Kyoko Nakajima, translated from the Japanese by Ginny Tapley Takemori, 2010/2019.
#JanuaryinJapan
Taki, a woman in her twilight days, looks back at her life. She composes a series of journal entries for her nephew, reminiscences of a woman from northern Japan who moves to Tokyo to enter domestic service. She describes meeting her new employer, a young widow who along with her baby, is contemplating a new match. They marry, and move into the "little house", a landmark of sorts in its western style in 1930s Tokyo.
This is an intensely domestic novel - as in it takes place almost entirely in between the walls of the eponymous "Little House", following the daily rituals of Taki's caretaking for the "Mistress" and the "Young Master".
Moving between 1930/40s Tokyo and modern day, this story includes Taki's memories, and her own conversations with Takashi, her great nephew, in present day. There's some intriguing notes to mine here: Takashi questions her regularly about the beginning of the War, the political and militaristic landscape of early Shōwa Japan, but this was not Taki's world and she offers very little insights at that level. Her's was a small world, noting the subtlety of day to day, and the deep devotion and love for her employer family.
I liked the quietness of THE LITTLE HOUSE. Witnessing the lives of people far from the front lines in this period. I liked the perspective shifts in the latter half of the story and the meta-ness in the final sections.
.
From THE LITTLE HOUSE by Kyoko Nakajima, translated from the Japanese by Ginny Tapley Takemori, 2010/2019.
#JanuaryinJapan
Taki, a woman in her twilight days, looks back at her life. She composes a series of journal entries for her nephew, reminiscences of a woman from northern Japan who moves to Tokyo to enter domestic service. She describes meeting her new employer, a young widow who along with her baby, is contemplating a new match. They marry, and move into the "little house", a landmark of sorts in its western style in 1930s Tokyo.
This is an intensely domestic novel - as in it takes place almost entirely in between the walls of the eponymous "Little House", following the daily rituals of Taki's caretaking for the "Mistress" and the "Young Master".
Moving between 1930/40s Tokyo and modern day, this story includes Taki's memories, and her own conversations with Takashi, her great nephew, in present day. There's some intriguing notes to mine here: Takashi questions her regularly about the beginning of the War, the political and militaristic landscape of early Shōwa Japan, but this was not Taki's world and she offers very little insights at that level. Her's was a small world, noting the subtlety of day to day, and the deep devotion and love for her employer family.
I liked the quietness of THE LITTLE HOUSE. Witnessing the lives of people far from the front lines in this period. I liked the perspective shifts in the latter half of the story and the meta-ness in the final sections.
sophs0899's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mnam_mnam's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
teenage_blue's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
i can feel another crack on my heart..
im sure that i’ll catch myself thinking about this book from time to time even after ten years
also, this book is kinda reminiscent of another book called ’i’ll be right there’ by shin kyung-sook for reasons that i can’t quite explain..maybe its just that similar feeling that i felt after reading these two books..both of them tugs at my heartstrings❤️
im sure that i’ll catch myself thinking about this book from time to time even after ten years
also, this book is kinda reminiscent of another book called ’i’ll be right there’ by shin kyung-sook for reasons that i can’t quite explain..maybe its just that similar feeling that i felt after reading these two books..both of them tugs at my heartstrings❤️
angmagbabasa's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
everyone_dani's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
thepoptimist's review
3.0
A quiet little book set in Japan in the lead-up to World War 2. Taki remembers her time as a maid for the Hirai family, the wife Tokiko not much older than herself at the time. It's remembrance of a time in Tokyo - the optimism of the 2600th Anniversary and the possibility of hosting the Olympics and the creeping spectre of war played out by this small, affluent family living in a red roofed house.
It is "Mono no aware" or "the pathos of things" and the ephemeral nature of beauty as shown in an unopened letter or a tin toy.
Tokiko's husband brings in a new colleague to help with designs at the toy factory and it's clear that Itakura is smitten with Tokiko. Taki knows that a good maid is responsible for the happiness of her employer's marriage. She remembers a story told by her first master about a maid burning a document "by accident", taking action in a way that the master never could, and could never ask for, and how that is what makes a truly great maid. Taki has her own decisions to make for the good of the household, for the sake of the marriage and reflected back from a distance of decades, what did her choice ultimately accomplish.
It is "Mono no aware" or "the pathos of things" and the ephemeral nature of beauty as shown in an unopened letter or a tin toy.
Tokiko's husband brings in a new colleague to help with designs at the toy factory and it's clear that Itakura is smitten with Tokiko. Taki knows that a good maid is responsible for the happiness of her employer's marriage. She remembers a story told by her first master about a maid burning a document "by accident", taking action in a way that the master never could, and could never ask for, and how that is what makes a truly great maid. Taki has her own decisions to make for the good of the household, for the sake of the marriage and reflected back from a distance of decades, what did her choice ultimately accomplish.
jennoctavia's review
5.0
Taki was very young when she left her village to Tokyo working as maid. Her longest family she served was Hirai’s family where she bond closely with the Mistress and the young Master.
The story about Taki’s memory before and after the World War II where we were taken back to the time she spent at Hirai’s family and after she left the family.
It was a very nostalgic book. I loved it!
The story about Taki’s memory before and after the World War II where we were taken back to the time she spent at Hirai’s family and after she left the family.
It was a very nostalgic book. I loved it!