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A review by anushka_adishka_diaries
Territory of Light by Yūko Tsushima
4.0
“The length of the silence equalled the depth of the abyss.”
'Territory of Light' by Yuko Tsushima (transl. from Japanese by Geraldine Harcourt) is a story of a single mother and her 3 year old daughter, following the parents separation.
In 12 short vignettes, the mother-daughter's journey in rented office apartment, a new locality and changes to their lives come alive. Each page is filled with 'Light'–happy, sad, painful and liberating.
The weight of separation takes a toll–the mother slipping into depression (there's no clear mention but the words speaks out) and the daughter with her anger issues, attention seeking and matureness before time, hits a soft spot. But it's always them against the world, and that's a solace.
The writing is sheer beauty. The journey of parenting–at times overbearing and at times ladden with overpowering love, all ties up together in a beautiful mess; one you would crave more of.
Classics might be difficult read, but this one flew by quite naturally, barring some metaphorical inklings which I had to go back to for better understanding.
The book doesn't follow linearity or definitive ending; but if you cherish episodes of best and worse times together and finding home in that bond, then you should definitely pick this one. This is a story of Life and its Territory of Light.
This demands freeing your mind from judgements and understanding the psyche of the characters. It's not about justifying the actions but looking into the world of single parenting that isn't a walk down the path of roses.
'Territory of Light' by Yuko Tsushima (transl. from Japanese by Geraldine Harcourt) is a story of a single mother and her 3 year old daughter, following the parents separation.
In 12 short vignettes, the mother-daughter's journey in rented office apartment, a new locality and changes to their lives come alive. Each page is filled with 'Light'–happy, sad, painful and liberating.
The weight of separation takes a toll–the mother slipping into depression (there's no clear mention but the words speaks out) and the daughter with her anger issues, attention seeking and matureness before time, hits a soft spot. But it's always them against the world, and that's a solace.
The writing is sheer beauty. The journey of parenting–at times overbearing and at times ladden with overpowering love, all ties up together in a beautiful mess; one you would crave more of.
Classics might be difficult read, but this one flew by quite naturally, barring some metaphorical inklings which I had to go back to for better understanding.
The book doesn't follow linearity or definitive ending; but if you cherish episodes of best and worse times together and finding home in that bond, then you should definitely pick this one. This is a story of Life and its Territory of Light.
This demands freeing your mind from judgements and understanding the psyche of the characters. It's not about justifying the actions but looking into the world of single parenting that isn't a walk down the path of roses.