Welcome to Litsy!

My first book of 2025!
I loved the melancholic, dreamy vibe but it did make the abrupt revelation of Yaiyo's past somewhat jarring: I seem to have had more difficulty assimilating it than she herself did.
And I think if you are going to introduce a taboo relationship (or two!) then it really needs to be given more space and depth if the reader is to have any response besides wanting to push it away.

I‘m fond of Japanese literature but not a fan of this book. Themes of long-buried memories, and childhood are woven into the story with a melancholic, dreamlike tone. The starting was lovely; along the way, I just lost interest in the story and the protagonist. I also didn‘t like the two relationships depicted in the story (can‘t say anymore without spoilers).

This book started off interesting enough, but once they got into the relationship aspects it got a little taboo and weird, I think. Also, I‘m not sure if it was the translation of the book, but the way the story was told seemed very choppy.

Enjoyable but nowhere near as magic as her other books. Still some of the language and imagery was pretty and the whimsical otherworldly vibe of Japan shone through

Yoshimoto's prose (or Yoneda's translation of it) is smooth, comforting, and understated in this strange, quiet, short little novel about growing up and learning about the parallel stories running alongside our childhood understanding of the world. Yayoi's story is perhaps more dramatic than many, but I suspect that the discomfort of learning that the world isn't quite what you thought it was is a fairly universal experience of adolescence.

This Japanese novel was written in 1988 but has only recently been translated into English. I loved these characters and the mysterious atmosphere Yoshimoto created.

A girl is mysteriously drawn to her young, single aunt and frequently runs away from her parents to her aunt‘s house. She has premonitions that their lives are more tied together than anyone will admit. When the secret is exposed, she seeks comfort from her brother.

Yayoi sets out to find her flighty aunt, and returns with memories of her past.

Family ✨ Loneliness ✨ Lost

This book was meandering and I didn‘t feel like it had a point. I also think part of the story was distorted or lost in its Japanese to English translation.

Yayoi doesn‘t remember her early childhood until a visit with her aunt. The revelation was sad and well written but some of the fall out read as icky to me.

Got some yummy covers in my latest book haul 😍😍😍

(Sushi Pusheen is also excited!)

I'm a fan of Banana Yoshimoto ever since Kitchen. In her previous bestseller, The Premonition has been translated for western readers and focuses on protagonist Yayoi who has dreams of her traumatic childhood. To deal with this, she seeks out her eccentric aunt and goes a journey self-meditation and human experiences.