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Gifted
A moving portrayal of a troubled mother–daughter relationship, shortlisted for Japan’s prestigious Akutagawa Prize.
In 2008, the unnamed narrator of Gifted is working as a hostess and living in Tokyo’s nightlife district. One day, her estranged mother, who is seriously ill, suddenly turns up at her door.
As the mother approaches the end of her life, the two women must navigate their strained relationship, while the narrator also reckons with events happening in her own life, including the death of a close friend — all under the bright lights of Tokyo‘s ‘sleepless town’, Kabukicho.
In sharp, elegant prose, and based on the author’s own experiences as a sex worker, Gifted heralds the breakthrough of an exciting new literary talent.
In 2008, the unnamed narrator of Gifted is working as a hostess and living in Tokyo’s nightlife district. One day, her estranged mother, who is seriously ill, suddenly turns up at her door.
As the mother approaches the end of her life, the two women must navigate their strained relationship, while the narrator also reckons with events happening in her own life, including the death of a close friend — all under the bright lights of Tokyo‘s ‘sleepless town’, Kabukicho.
In sharp, elegant prose, and based on the author’s own experiences as a sex worker, Gifted heralds the breakthrough of an exciting new literary talent.
144 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 2, 2024
Suzumi Suzuki’s debut novella’s focused on a woman in her twenties living and working in a Tokyo entertainment district, probably Kabukicho. It’s 2021, Suzuki’s narrator’s employed by a hostess bar, restricted in what’s available to her in the wider sex industry because of an extensive collection of tattoos – an issue in sections of Japanese society because of lingering associations with criminality. The narrator considers herself little more than “spoiled goods,” a body devalued by its visible markings. But her tattoos disguise past trauma, concealing burn marks inflicted by her mother. Yet, despite their scarred relationship, mother and daughter maintain a tentative bond. Now the mother’s dying, her only wish to stay in her daughter’s tiny apartment: her career as a poet never quite took off but once there, she believes she might be able to produce a final poem.
Suzuki’s novel proffers a series of reflections on women’s lives, restricted choices, mortality and loss. The narrator’s internal conflict over her mother’s illness is complicated by ongoing grief over the recent death by suicide of a close friend. Another hostess, like Suzuki a marginalised figure; it seems she’s already close to being forgotten. Suzuki’s narrative blends matter-of-fact accounts of her protagonist’s activities with an oblique depiction of the intricate ties between friends and within families. In many ways mother and daughter mirror each other. A single parent, the mother made a living singing in a bar - not unlike the one employing her daughter. They also share a “gift” of beauty but that’s as much curse as blessing: adding to men’s perceptions of them as objects to be owned or briefly paid for. A situation that made me wonder if the mother’s earlier abuse was an extreme manifestation of the so-called ‘whip of love’ or ‘ai-no-muchi.’ A once-tolerated type of intense parental discipline, here perhaps intended to prevent the daughter following in her mother’s footsteps.
Suzuki’s style’s deceptively simple, honing in on the minutiae of her narrator’s existence. But I thought this pared-back approach was a highly effective means of communicating the form grieving may take. The narrator ritualises her routines, suggesting she’s intent on just making it through each day, staving off intense emotions that might otherwise sink her. Suzuki’s well-versed in the nature of grief, she witnessed her own mother’s death from stomach cancer. Now a journalist and sociologist, Suzuki’s also a former sex worker. Although her situation was vastly different from her character’s, Suzuki’s story draws on her personal experiences. Overall, it’s a skilfully-constructed understated piece but, for me, its muted quality made it all the more powerful. Translated by Allison Markin Powell.
Thanks to Edelweiss and publisher Transit Books for an ARC
Suzuki’s novel proffers a series of reflections on women’s lives, restricted choices, mortality and loss. The narrator’s internal conflict over her mother’s illness is complicated by ongoing grief over the recent death by suicide of a close friend. Another hostess, like Suzuki a marginalised figure; it seems she’s already close to being forgotten. Suzuki’s narrative blends matter-of-fact accounts of her protagonist’s activities with an oblique depiction of the intricate ties between friends and within families. In many ways mother and daughter mirror each other. A single parent, the mother made a living singing in a bar - not unlike the one employing her daughter. They also share a “gift” of beauty but that’s as much curse as blessing: adding to men’s perceptions of them as objects to be owned or briefly paid for. A situation that made me wonder if the mother’s earlier abuse was an extreme manifestation of the so-called ‘whip of love’ or ‘ai-no-muchi.’ A once-tolerated type of intense parental discipline, here perhaps intended to prevent the daughter following in her mother’s footsteps.
Suzuki’s style’s deceptively simple, honing in on the minutiae of her narrator’s existence. But I thought this pared-back approach was a highly effective means of communicating the form grieving may take. The narrator ritualises her routines, suggesting she’s intent on just making it through each day, staving off intense emotions that might otherwise sink her. Suzuki’s well-versed in the nature of grief, she witnessed her own mother’s death from stomach cancer. Now a journalist and sociologist, Suzuki’s also a former sex worker. Although her situation was vastly different from her character’s, Suzuki’s story draws on her personal experiences. Overall, it’s a skilfully-constructed understated piece but, for me, its muted quality made it all the more powerful. Translated by Allison Markin Powell.
Thanks to Edelweiss and publisher Transit Books for an ARC
August 10, 2024
I found this an uneven book: at times upsetting, at others almost mundane. I struggled to see the writing as 'sharp, elegant prose' in this translation: it's plain and some sentences just don't parse well: 'I... then went for a quick drink at the club where the host who the woman from the bath-house said now had Eri's dog worked'.
At its best, though, this deals in an emotionally restrained way with a problematic mother-daughter relationship heightened by the presence of near death. The setting against the red light district of Tokyo exacerbates disconnected relationships and a sense of solitude only briefly alleviated by tentative connections. The ending is especially emotive with an unfinished poem saying what has been unsaid, but without sentimentality.
This ends up being a delicate evocation of these female lives: sensitive, restrained and undramatic. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Scribe UK for an ARC via NetGalley
At its best, though, this deals in an emotionally restrained way with a problematic mother-daughter relationship heightened by the presence of near death. The setting against the red light district of Tokyo exacerbates disconnected relationships and a sense of solitude only briefly alleviated by tentative connections. The ending is especially emotive with an unfinished poem saying what has been unsaid, but without sentimentality.
This ends up being a delicate evocation of these female lives: sensitive, restrained and undramatic. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Scribe UK for an ARC via NetGalley
August 12, 2024
I gravitate towards books translated from the Japanese because I love their forthright, concise writing style. We have that here, plus the book is just 120 pages...and that's the only reason I was able to stomach finishing it.
The main character was a young woman living in Tokyo's Red Light District, working as some sort of escort in bars, calling her clients a "host"- but not delving deeply into what that lifestyle was like. What she did dive deeply into was talking about how she entered her building, how she opened doors and used her key to enter her apartment, the sounds it generated...in excruciating and boring detail. She also intricately described certain actions she took like washing her hands. Yet she danced around the edges of describing really important issues like why her mother would inflict burns on her one fateful evening. There was a bizarre imbalance to what she put the spotlight on in this story. I don't know if this was an artful trope employed, but it just felt like I was wasting my time as I yearned to learn more.
Thank you to the publisher Transit Books who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
The main character was a young woman living in Tokyo's Red Light District, working as some sort of escort in bars, calling her clients a "host"- but not delving deeply into what that lifestyle was like. What she did dive deeply into was talking about how she entered her building, how she opened doors and used her key to enter her apartment, the sounds it generated...in excruciating and boring detail. She also intricately described certain actions she took like washing her hands. Yet she danced around the edges of describing really important issues like why her mother would inflict burns on her one fateful evening. There was a bizarre imbalance to what she put the spotlight on in this story. I don't know if this was an artful trope employed, but it just felt like I was wasting my time as I yearned to learn more.
Thank you to the publisher Transit Books who provided an advance reader copy via Edelweiss.
August 8, 2023
Nagu ikka jaapani ilukirjanduse tõlgete puhul, saab teada miskit uut Jaapani eluolu kohta. Masendav ja aus lugu ema kaotusest ja prostitutsioonist.
July 19, 2024
In this short book, our unnamed narrator lives, works, and parties in the nightlife district of Tokyo. She has no reason to ever leave this little corner of the city if not for her estranged mother who shows up one day and after a short stay, is sent to the hospital to live out the last few weeks of her life. While visiting the hospital in the day and working at night, our narrator reflects on her childhood and attempts to work out the reason for the physically violent act her mother subjected her to when she was younger.
The prose is simple and the tone distant. Despite the mother’s impending and eventual death, it’s not emotional or poignant. All in all, it’s not a waste of time but it’s too short to do all that much.
I don’t really recommend this book, but I also don’t not recommend. Basically, if this has been on your radar, give it a shot, it’s less than a hundred pages after all. If you’ve got a lot of great books lined up, don’t feel too bad about not getting to this one.
The prose is simple and the tone distant. Despite the mother’s impending and eventual death, it’s not emotional or poignant. All in all, it’s not a waste of time but it’s too short to do all that much.
I don’t really recommend this book, but I also don’t not recommend. Basically, if this has been on your radar, give it a shot, it’s less than a hundred pages after all. If you’ve got a lot of great books lined up, don’t feel too bad about not getting to this one.
September 9, 2023
Ah ma ei pannud seda õigel päeval kirja! Selles oli kuidagi puudu see jaapani kirjanduse õhulisus, mida ma hindan, tundus lugedes raske, tihke, kuigi lühike. Aga temaatika haakus mitme muu raamatuga, mida olen hiljuti lugenud. Hindaksin sellise 3,5-ga, kui Goodreads laseks.
September 21, 2024
A tough book for me to read, due to my mom passing not that long ago. Nevertheless, a good writer, and anything to do with the bar life in Tokyo will always be fascinating to me. And again, I stupidly thought this was an Izumi book.
April 9, 2024
«Dovunque mi trovi niente è reale. Che sia l'host club o la stanza d'ospedale di mia madre, c'è un divario tra quello che mi circonda e me stessa».
Questo romanzo breve, che supera appena le cento pagine, è davvero intenso per la sua capacità di non detti che nel lettore attecchiscono in forme differenti.
Siamo dentro a Tokyo, nel quartiere dei divertimenti dove vive e lavora la nostra protagonista, di cui non conosceremo mai il nome. La sua vita verrà scombussolata dal dover convivere con la madre, malata terminale, uscita dall'ospedale che desidera scrivere la sua ultima poesia. Il loro rapporto è frastagliato, e durante la storia riusciremo ad intravederne il motivo.
La prosa dell'autrice si alterna ad una lucidità stridente con momenti annebbiati, dove l'intera storia pare fluttuare.
La narrazione è intensa e spigolosa, l'autrice riesce a dipingere con bravura tutta la complessità umana dei sentimenti. La protagonista ci fa provare diverse emozioni senza dargli un nome... forse è proprio per questo che riesce ad impattarci con forza.
Attraverso il racconto di un uomo sconosciuto, la nostra protagonista, scopre luci ed ombre che non credeva avesse la madre, una donna quasi sconosciuta fuori dal ruolo di genitore.
E in questa penombra, in cui il loro rapporto non si è mai addentrato, ci sono tante piccole connessione tra le due donne che non hanno mai ammesso. Somiglianze odiate, errori ripetuti, fragilità nascoste. (Recensione completa ➡ respiridinchiostro.mapi)
Questo romanzo breve, che supera appena le cento pagine, è davvero intenso per la sua capacità di non detti che nel lettore attecchiscono in forme differenti.
Siamo dentro a Tokyo, nel quartiere dei divertimenti dove vive e lavora la nostra protagonista, di cui non conosceremo mai il nome. La sua vita verrà scombussolata dal dover convivere con la madre, malata terminale, uscita dall'ospedale che desidera scrivere la sua ultima poesia. Il loro rapporto è frastagliato, e durante la storia riusciremo ad intravederne il motivo.
La prosa dell'autrice si alterna ad una lucidità stridente con momenti annebbiati, dove l'intera storia pare fluttuare.
La narrazione è intensa e spigolosa, l'autrice riesce a dipingere con bravura tutta la complessità umana dei sentimenti. La protagonista ci fa provare diverse emozioni senza dargli un nome... forse è proprio per questo che riesce ad impattarci con forza.
Attraverso il racconto di un uomo sconosciuto, la nostra protagonista, scopre luci ed ombre che non credeva avesse la madre, una donna quasi sconosciuta fuori dal ruolo di genitore.
E in questa penombra, in cui il loro rapporto non si è mai addentrato, ci sono tante piccole connessione tra le due donne che non hanno mai ammesso. Somiglianze odiate, errori ripetuti, fragilità nascoste. (Recensione completa ➡ respiridinchiostro.mapi)
June 8, 2024
Gifted was a book I read from start to finish in a single evening. The prose was easy reading yet still packed with emotion, and I did find myself caught up in the world and characters. However, as it ended, I did find myself wishing there had been a little more too it, as it felt more like a vignette than a complete tale. There was a sense of gritty realism to it, though, which sets it apart from the cuter, magical realism focus of much contemporary Japanese fiction that gets translated into English, so if you are looking for something outside the usual fare, this book is worth a look. I am giving it four stars.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 7, 2024
[Rating: 3.5]
There was more this book could’ve offered but for a short read it was very interesting and kept me invested for the entirety of the time I spent reading it. I understand how this book may not sit well with other readers considering the odd translations presented at various times and the lack of a plot nor full display of emotion throughout the story.
But, as a matter of fact, this was what I found charming about the book - its ability to convey such a strenuous relationship between a mother and daughter without displaying much emotions at all - it got to me more than I'd realised. Again, there were more that could’ve been done to better portray the relationship between mother and done and honestly more emphasis placed on it; but for what it’s worth it was a pleasant read.
Kind of sad that it ended faster considering the potential this book had but I definitely will look forward to Suzuki’s other work!
There was more this book could’ve offered but for a short read it was very interesting and kept me invested for the entirety of the time I spent reading it. I understand how this book may not sit well with other readers considering the odd translations presented at various times and the lack of a plot nor full display of emotion throughout the story.
But, as a matter of fact, this was what I found charming about the book - its ability to convey such a strenuous relationship between a mother and daughter without displaying much emotions at all - it got to me more than I'd realised. Again, there were more that could’ve been done to better portray the relationship between mother and done and honestly more emphasis placed on it; but for what it’s worth it was a pleasant read.
Kind of sad that it ended faster considering the potential this book had but I definitely will look forward to Suzuki’s other work!
October 1, 2024
I must admit that I was expecting something different and did not enjoy perhaps because of this, the book as much as I should or could have. I was basically blocked by the distance with which the main character told about her life and her mother's life, as well as her death. I was never able to step into her shoes or feel any kind of interest or empathy for her characters. Maybe that was the point, a clinical detachment like that of prostitutes, but I would say that it did not lead me to appreciate the book.
Devo ammettere che mi aspettavo qualcosa di diverso e non ho apprezzato forse per questo, il libro come avrei dovuto o potuto. Mi ha bloccato fondamentalmente la distanza con cui la protagonista raccontava della sua vita e di quella della madre, oltre che della sua morte. Non sono mai riuscita a calarmi nei suoi panni, né a provare qualsiasi tipo di interesse o di empatia per i suoi personaggi. Magari era proprio quello lo scopo, un distacco clinico come quello delle prostitute, ma direi che non mi ha portato ad apprezzare il libro.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Devo ammettere che mi aspettavo qualcosa di diverso e non ho apprezzato forse per questo, il libro come avrei dovuto o potuto. Mi ha bloccato fondamentalmente la distanza con cui la protagonista raccontava della sua vita e di quella della madre, oltre che della sua morte. Non sono mai riuscita a calarmi nei suoi panni, né a provare qualsiasi tipo di interesse o di empatia per i suoi personaggi. Magari era proprio quello lo scopo, un distacco clinico come quello delle prostitute, ma direi che non mi ha portato ad apprezzare il libro.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
August 14, 2024
This is a poignant novella that delves into the complexities of a strained mother-daughter relationship set against the backdrop of Tokyo's Kabukicho nightlife district. The story unfolds as the unnamed narrator, a hostess working in Tokyo's red-light district, is unexpectedly visited by her estranged and terminally ill mother. As they navigate the final days of the mother’s life, the novella explores themes of parental cruelty, unresolved tensions, and the burden of past trauma.
Suziki’s writing style is marked by its hazy, dreamlike quality, which mirrors the disorientation and emotional detachment of the narrator. The story lacks a traditional plot, instead offering a slice-of-life narrative that immerses the reader in the protagonist's world of fleeting connections and unspoken emotions. The setting of Kabukicho, with its neon lights and transient relationships, further amplifies the sense of isolation that permeates the story.
What struck me most about Gifted is how deeply sad it felt, leaving me unsure of how I felt by the time I finished. There’s an almost oppressive sense of melancholy throughout, with so much left unresolved between the narrator and her mother. Their relationship is fraught with unspoken pain and regret, and Suziki does not provide any easy resolutions or moments of clarity. Instead, the novella lingers in that uncomfortable space where love, resentment, and guilt all coexist, making it a difficult but powerful read.
The intensely personal nature of the story made it feel almost voyeuristic, as if I was peering into the most private and uncomfortable moments of someone’s life. This raw, unfiltered portrayal of the narrator’s relationship with her mother, who had always seemed more interested in her own aspirations than in her daughter’s well-being, is both unsettling and deeply affecting.
However, the introspective style may not resonate with all readers. Some may find the prose uneven, with moments that feel underdeveloped or overly simplistic. Yet, for those who appreciate character-driven stories that explore the darker, more complex aspects of human relationships, Gifted offers a delicate and evocative portrayal of loss, solitude, and the fragile bonds that connect us.
In the end, I was left feeling conflicted. While I appreciated the emotional depth and the evocative writing, I couldn’t shake the sense of sadness and unresolved tension that lingered after I closed the book.
Suziki’s writing style is marked by its hazy, dreamlike quality, which mirrors the disorientation and emotional detachment of the narrator. The story lacks a traditional plot, instead offering a slice-of-life narrative that immerses the reader in the protagonist's world of fleeting connections and unspoken emotions. The setting of Kabukicho, with its neon lights and transient relationships, further amplifies the sense of isolation that permeates the story.
What struck me most about Gifted is how deeply sad it felt, leaving me unsure of how I felt by the time I finished. There’s an almost oppressive sense of melancholy throughout, with so much left unresolved between the narrator and her mother. Their relationship is fraught with unspoken pain and regret, and Suziki does not provide any easy resolutions or moments of clarity. Instead, the novella lingers in that uncomfortable space where love, resentment, and guilt all coexist, making it a difficult but powerful read.
The intensely personal nature of the story made it feel almost voyeuristic, as if I was peering into the most private and uncomfortable moments of someone’s life. This raw, unfiltered portrayal of the narrator’s relationship with her mother, who had always seemed more interested in her own aspirations than in her daughter’s well-being, is both unsettling and deeply affecting.
However, the introspective style may not resonate with all readers. Some may find the prose uneven, with moments that feel underdeveloped or overly simplistic. Yet, for those who appreciate character-driven stories that explore the darker, more complex aspects of human relationships, Gifted offers a delicate and evocative portrayal of loss, solitude, and the fragile bonds that connect us.
In the end, I was left feeling conflicted. While I appreciated the emotional depth and the evocative writing, I couldn’t shake the sense of sadness and unresolved tension that lingered after I closed the book.
August 3, 2024
This was shorter than I expected. I don't really know how to feel about this book. If I could describe it, it's a more mature, less edgier version of Hitomi Kanehara's Snakes And Earrings. But instead of a bloody love triangle portrayed in Kanehara's novel, Gifted showcases the shaky, distant relationship of a terminally ill mother and a daughter who works in the nightlife district. While I found the bubbling tension between the two interesting to read about, the plot felt draggy and almost nonexistent. We see the narrator's interactions with other characters who also work in the nightlife industry, but I felt unsatisfied by the end of the book as all their conversations and scenes felt that they added nothing to the book. This book felt pointless, in a sense. But there were some lines and scenes that were quite profound and fascinating which I really enjoyed.
Here are some of them:
Evocative, emotional, yet sparse, Suzumi Suzuki's writing is one to watch.
3.5 ★
Thank you to Edelweiss and Transit Books for the e-ARC!
Here are some of them:
"I'm sorry," my mother said. My delivery indeed must have come off as either angry or cold or exasperated. It's strange for my mother to apologize for not being able to eat more. And yet, I wanted her to apologize to me—it didn't matter what for.
With my mother, I always felt like an outsider.
Had it been her own skin that my mother wanted to burn? Or rather, was it that my skin, which had been created from her own body, was her skin too?
Evocative, emotional, yet sparse, Suzumi Suzuki's writing is one to watch.
3.5 ★
Thank you to Edelweiss and Transit Books for the e-ARC!
August 27, 2024
Gifted is a short novel about a woman working as a hostess in Tokyo who suddenly has to care for her terminally ill mother she left home to get away from. The unnamed narrator lives and works in Kabukicho, the famed entertainment district in Shinjuku, and her tattoos hide the burn scars from an incident with her mother when she was younger. Now, her mother is very ill, and stays with her between hospital visits, and the narrator must face her relationship with her mother as well as the other people in her life.
This book is a dreamlike experience to read, following the narrator's thoughts and her constant returning to her apartment, and offering glimpses into elements of her life rather than in-depth explorations given the short length. You never quite hear everything about her and her mother, but that feels right given that she doesn't know everything about her mother, and her mother's death isn't bringing some dramatic closure to their troubled relationship. Instead, you hear about how she unlocks her door—the main form of safety she seems to have—and snippets about her and others working in Kabukicho, not just the hostess and host clubs and the clients, but also the twenty-four hour drugstore, the difficulty getting a taxi. The way these parts are woven together was something I really enjoyed, though there were occasional points where the translation made for clunky sentences that were hard to get your head around.
Gifted offers a novella about a difficult mother-daughter relationship that also picks up on the tiny details of the narrator's life and offers glimpses into Kabukicho. Like the poetry the narrator's mother writes, this short book doesn't give you everything laid out as a chronological narrative, but leaves space for piecing things together or not knowing.
This book is a dreamlike experience to read, following the narrator's thoughts and her constant returning to her apartment, and offering glimpses into elements of her life rather than in-depth explorations given the short length. You never quite hear everything about her and her mother, but that feels right given that she doesn't know everything about her mother, and her mother's death isn't bringing some dramatic closure to their troubled relationship. Instead, you hear about how she unlocks her door—the main form of safety she seems to have—and snippets about her and others working in Kabukicho, not just the hostess and host clubs and the clients, but also the twenty-four hour drugstore, the difficulty getting a taxi. The way these parts are woven together was something I really enjoyed, though there were occasional points where the translation made for clunky sentences that were hard to get your head around.
Gifted offers a novella about a difficult mother-daughter relationship that also picks up on the tiny details of the narrator's life and offers glimpses into Kabukicho. Like the poetry the narrator's mother writes, this short book doesn't give you everything laid out as a chronological narrative, but leaves space for piecing things together or not knowing.
October 6, 2024
Published 24 October 2024. A short novella, translated from the Japanese, and set in Tokyo. The book is about a mother-daughter relationship. Our narrator is a twenty something hostess and now her mother, who she left home to get away from, is dying. What I was expecting was a coming together of these two before the mother's death - a death-bed reconciliation type of thing. What I got was something more melancholy. There are no meaningful conversations between mother and daughter, she is too ill. Our narrator revisits her past, the cruelty she received at her mother's hands, her 'escape' and her life as a hostess while her mother concentrated on writing poetry. We see lots of mundane activities - catching a taxi, the 24 hour drugstore, her unlocking routine when she gets home. We also learn a little about the lifestyle of a hostess in Japan. Surprisingly we also learn quite a lot about the mother, not from mother-daughter interactions, but from a man that our narrator meets at the hospital which could explain her mother's actions perhaps. There is a feeling of loneliness throughout this book, our narrator always felt that she was a burden to her mother and now drifts from club to club never making any meaningful relationships - just friends who work in the same clubs who sometimes show kindness. I found this full of empty spaces - like the mother's poetry - where you have to either try and piece things together or be content with not knowing. I would have liked a more emotional connection to the narrator - I felt there was a distance but that might be deliberate as she doesn't seem to have emotional connections to anyone.
August 5, 2024
3.5 I was surprised at how immersive and emotional this relatively tiny book was! Written in a dreamy, hazy style, without chapters, this is a slice-of-life examining a fractured relationship between a dying mother and her adult daughter. An artful, character-driven piece, we follow our unnamed narrator in her juxtaposed world of visiting her dying mother in the hospital and through the Kabukichō nightlife.
This book is driven almost entirely in vibes - there isn't a plot - and while those vibes feel sad, lonely, lost, at times, there's also an undercurrent of hope that stops the book feeling entirely bleak. There were some conversations and relationships that didn't make sense to me as a reader, largely because of the absence of plot. This could be a really great book for reading groups: short, readable, and highly discussable!
I liked the writing style a lot. I loved Eri's dog. But, I did come away from this wondering what, if anything, the book's purpose or message was.
I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you, Scribe UK!
This book is driven almost entirely in vibes - there isn't a plot - and while those vibes feel sad, lonely, lost, at times, there's also an undercurrent of hope that stops the book feeling entirely bleak. There were some conversations and relationships that didn't make sense to me as a reader, largely because of the absence of plot. This could be a really great book for reading groups: short, readable, and highly discussable!
I liked the writing style a lot. I loved Eri's dog. But, I did come away from this wondering what, if anything, the book's purpose or message was.
I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you, Scribe UK!
September 23, 2024
A poignant and unsettling account of a mother-daughter relationship in contemporary Japan. There is a lot to unpack here, despite the brevity of this short novel. The protagonist's personal choices and what influence her relationship with her mother had on them gets most of the attention.
I loved the tension between the surface level harshness of the narrative and the tender topics it explored, namely the emotional commitment between a daughter and her mother, despite all. This is particularly revealing as it is set against the background of Japanese nightlife and the role of the "hosts". There is also room to learn more and understand the mother, whose life choices were, in many ways, as constrained as those of the daughter.
I warmly recommend to anyone interested in contemporary Japan and the lives of "hosts" and "hostesses". It will also resonate with anyone trying to understand more about strained mother-daughter relationships and what makes them tick.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with early access to the book in return for an honest review.
I loved the tension between the surface level harshness of the narrative and the tender topics it explored, namely the emotional commitment between a daughter and her mother, despite all. This is particularly revealing as it is set against the background of Japanese nightlife and the role of the "hosts". There is also room to learn more and understand the mother, whose life choices were, in many ways, as constrained as those of the daughter.
I warmly recommend to anyone interested in contemporary Japan and the lives of "hosts" and "hostesses". It will also resonate with anyone trying to understand more about strained mother-daughter relationships and what makes them tick.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with early access to the book in return for an honest review.
December 7, 2023
Suzumi Suzuki debüütromaan “Kingitud elu” jutustab noorest jaapanlannast, kes töötab punaste laternate piirkonnas ning elab emotsioonitut ja tühja elu. Keeruline suhe sureva emaga sunnib teda heitma pilgu minevikule ja sellega leppima. Pärast pikka eemalolekut ja kodust lahkumist mõistab ta ema surma lähenemisel, et neil pole tegelikult midagi ühist, ning ema minevik ja teod jäävad talle mõistatuseks. Naine mõtiskleb oma keha üle, mis on sünni hetkel justkui täiuslik, kuid mille väärtust on aja jooksul kahandanud küll ema tehtud armid, tätoveeringud ja töö. Samuti jääb tema hingele kripeldama tuttava enesetapp, mida võrreldes ema kindla diagnoosiga oleks saanud ära hoida. Lugemine kulgeb oma raskemeelsest sisust hoolimata valu ja vaevata, kuna autor käsitleb teemasid stoilise ja ratsionaalse pilguga. Lühikeses 80-leheküljelises lugemises avaneb meile pilk ka Jaapani hostess-klubi kultuuri. Suzuki raamat on hea näide sellest, kuidas lühike tekst suudab edastada kõike vajalikku ilma liigsete sõnade või mõteteta.
February 16, 2024
Jaapani kirjaniku eluloolise sisuga raamat ühest noorest naisest, kes lahkus oma kodust juba 17 aastaselt. Suhted emaga olid keerulised, neiu töötas hostessina ühes baaris. Ta oli tänulik oma emale, kes kinkis talle nö ilusa keha kuid ka armid, mis selle väärtust kahandasid.
Haigestunud ema võttis ta enda juurde elama ja hiljem külastas teda haiglas igapäevaselt. Lootes rohkem teada saada ema mineviku tegude kohta, mis olid ja jäid talle arusaamatuteks/mõistatusteks.
Raamatut lugedes ei jätnud see erilist muljet, nüüd analüüsides ja sisusse rohkem süvenedes on tunda emotsionaalset kurbust, kurbust, mida noor naine pidi läbi elama, mida pidi kuulma oma ema kohta kellegi võõra suust. Juba suhteliselt noorena pidi naine matma oma ema ja ka sõbranna.
Õnneks oli see raamat lühike, tore on lugeda erinevaid raamatuid ja rikastada sellega enda mõttemaailma,. Raamat on tõesti kiiresti loeta, siis on seda hea võtta lennukisse Euroopa lühilendudel- 3 tundi lendu ja osa aega on raamatu lugemisega sisustatud.
Head lugemist!
Haigestunud ema võttis ta enda juurde elama ja hiljem külastas teda haiglas igapäevaselt. Lootes rohkem teada saada ema mineviku tegude kohta, mis olid ja jäid talle arusaamatuteks/mõistatusteks.
Raamatut lugedes ei jätnud see erilist muljet, nüüd analüüsides ja sisusse rohkem süvenedes on tunda emotsionaalset kurbust, kurbust, mida noor naine pidi läbi elama, mida pidi kuulma oma ema kohta kellegi võõra suust. Juba suhteliselt noorena pidi naine matma oma ema ja ka sõbranna.
Õnneks oli see raamat lühike, tore on lugeda erinevaid raamatuid ja rikastada sellega enda mõttemaailma,. Raamat on tõesti kiiresti loeta, siis on seda hea võtta lennukisse Euroopa lühilendudel- 3 tundi lendu ja osa aega on raamatu lugemisega sisustatud.
Head lugemist!
June 14, 2024
Questo romanzo tratta temi delicati: lutto, rabbia, ansia ma anche speranza e la possibilità per una madre e una figlia distanti da troppo tempo di riconciliarsi.
Le pagine sono intrise di tensione e aspettativa, il fatto che la scrittura sia in prima persona contribuisce a portare ancora di più il lettore a contatto con le emozioni della protagonista, la prosa è delicata e al tempo stesso cruda nel racconto della vita notturna e dei quartieri del divertimento di Tokyo.
La particolarità è che lo stile sembra distaccato ma si sente la delicatezza e il peso della storia che si sta raccontando. La madre e la figlia protagoniste di "l'ultima poesia" vivono separate da anni eppure il loro rapporto, così come le cicatrici sul braccio della ragazza, sembra non essere mai arrivato a una vera rottura.
Sarà la malattia e la permanenza della madre in ospedale a fornire alla giovane una nuova prospettiva sulla vita e sul loro rapporto.
Le pagine sono intrise di tensione e aspettativa, il fatto che la scrittura sia in prima persona contribuisce a portare ancora di più il lettore a contatto con le emozioni della protagonista, la prosa è delicata e al tempo stesso cruda nel racconto della vita notturna e dei quartieri del divertimento di Tokyo.
La particolarità è che lo stile sembra distaccato ma si sente la delicatezza e il peso della storia che si sta raccontando. La madre e la figlia protagoniste di "l'ultima poesia" vivono separate da anni eppure il loro rapporto, così come le cicatrici sul braccio della ragazza, sembra non essere mai arrivato a una vera rottura.
Sarà la malattia e la permanenza della madre in ospedale a fornire alla giovane una nuova prospettiva sulla vita e sul loro rapporto.
August 10, 2023
Jaapanlaste lugemiseks peab hetke väga valima. Nende veidi nurgeline jaa hakitud stiil ei tõmba mind just iga kord käima (ma ei olnud sel raamatul esimene laenutaja, aga lehed olid nii kanged ja murdmata, et kahtlustan, et eelmised lugejad jätsid üldse pooleli:)). Seekord lugemine sujus. Ma ei hakka seda rahvast ja kultuuri ilmselgelt kunagi mõistma, see jääb mulle kaugeks, võõraks, segaseks. Minu piiratud mätta otsast vaadatuna koguni mingil määral perversseks ja masendavaks. Olgu siis nii.
On noor naine, kes töötab hostess´ina, tööst vabal ajal elab oma üksildast ja emotsioonitut elu. Suhted ema ja sõpradega on, nagu need on. Ema haiguse ja surma järel püüab mingil määral elu teistele rööbastele juhtida. Sellest, et ta töölt ära tuli, peaks lugeja vist välja lugema, et see tal ka õnnestus... Samas ei näi edasine siiski kuskilt otsast jätkusuutlik olevat (või pidada jätkusuutlikuks saadud paberkotti rahaga, ent kauaks...), lisaks suhtlus mingi teise host´iga, kellega koos juua ja magada.
Selline möh-lugemine. Samas kinnitan, et lugesin "valu ja vaevata", nii et ju miski selles tekstis mind köitis, aga jah... Lühike tekst, nii et lugeda soovitan igatahes. Erinevus rikastab ja kõik need muud loosungid.
On noor naine, kes töötab hostess´ina, tööst vabal ajal elab oma üksildast ja emotsioonitut elu. Suhted ema ja sõpradega on, nagu need on. Ema haiguse ja surma järel püüab mingil määral elu teistele rööbastele juhtida. Sellest, et ta töölt ära tuli, peaks lugeja vist välja lugema, et see tal ka õnnestus... Samas ei näi edasine siiski kuskilt otsast jätkusuutlik olevat (või pidada jätkusuutlikuks saadud paberkotti rahaga, ent kauaks...), lisaks suhtlus mingi teise host´iga, kellega koos juua ja magada.
Selline möh-lugemine. Samas kinnitan, et lugesin "valu ja vaevata", nii et ju miski selles tekstis mind köitis, aga jah... Lühike tekst, nii et lugeda soovitan igatahes. Erinevus rikastab ja kõik need muud loosungid.
August 29, 2024
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review!
2.5 stars rounded up!!
I had to read some reviews after I finished this just to see if I was in the wrong or had a different experience but I found a few that basically voiced my exact thoughts and feelings.
I feel like this would have had a bigger impact if the events that happened had more focus on them rather than other, not really important instances. It's as if the focus was put on anything else than the things that happened to her.
The dynamic and words she wrote about the relationship was interesting and I really liked some of the prose.
However, I am excited to have found Suzumi Suzuki and will keep an eye out for future work as her
2.5 stars rounded up!!
I had to read some reviews after I finished this just to see if I was in the wrong or had a different experience but I found a few that basically voiced my exact thoughts and feelings.
I feel like this would have had a bigger impact if the events that happened had more focus on them rather than other, not really important instances. It's as if the focus was put on anything else than the things that happened to her.
The dynamic and words she wrote about the relationship was interesting and I really liked some of the prose.
However, I am excited to have found Suzumi Suzuki and will keep an eye out for future work as her
September 13, 2024
I received this book from NetGalley and Scribe UK in exchange for a free and honest review.
This translated book is set in Tokyo and follows a protagonist in her mid twenties who has a strained relationship with her mother. Her mom was an unemotional and unattached parent that caused her bodily harm. Her mom dying in hospital is making her rethink a lot of things about her life especially around her friendships and employment. She is employed as a hostess in a bar and is used to the night life, a chance meeting illuminates her mother's mysterious past and could possibly explain her behaviour. An interesting study of a tense mother-daughter relationship and Tokyo's nightlife. I would recommend.
The translation by Allison Markin Powell was seamless too.
This translated book is set in Tokyo and follows a protagonist in her mid twenties who has a strained relationship with her mother. Her mom was an unemotional and unattached parent that caused her bodily harm. Her mom dying in hospital is making her rethink a lot of things about her life especially around her friendships and employment. She is employed as a hostess in a bar and is used to the night life, a chance meeting illuminates her mother's mysterious past and could possibly explain her behaviour. An interesting study of a tense mother-daughter relationship and Tokyo's nightlife. I would recommend.
The translation by Allison Markin Powell was seamless too.
July 17, 2024
i didn’t totally vibe with this one but it still managed to keep my attention during its 120 page story of a woman taking care of her mum while also living/working in the red light district of tokyo. the complicated relationship between mother and daughter was perfectly captured and really gave depth to the struggles of grieving a dying parent.
if you’re into literary fiction, grief fiction and stories of sex workers and their lives this might be just your thing!
/// ARC courtesy of edelweiss and transit books.
if you’re into literary fiction, grief fiction and stories of sex workers and their lives this might be just your thing!
/// ARC courtesy of edelweiss and transit books.
October 1, 2024
'- When the door closes, no explanation is needed,
- I wish you would close it gently.'
A Tokyo hostess/sex worker takes her ailing mother into her home to take care for her. The visit only lasts nine days as her mother is soon returned to hospital, her illness gradually sapping the life out of her. What transpires in this short novel (presumably inspired by the writer's own or part experience) is an exploration of a troubled mother-daughter relationship. Old wounds are exposed as they are both forced to confront events from the past, even as the daughter faces the reality of a future without her mother.
In many ways this reminded me of, or worked as a companion piece to, Simone de Beauvoir's memoir 'A Very Easy Death', which covers similar ground. What Suzumi Suzuki manages to convey in this short book is the emotional complexity of the relationship, and the several recurring references to doors that sprinkle the book all come to make sense when the daughter finds a poem written by her mother entitles simply 'Door'.
Excellently translated by Allison Markin Powell, this is a fascinating and emotional piece of writing, definitely worth revisiting. 4.5 stars.
- I wish you would close it gently.'
A Tokyo hostess/sex worker takes her ailing mother into her home to take care for her. The visit only lasts nine days as her mother is soon returned to hospital, her illness gradually sapping the life out of her. What transpires in this short novel (presumably inspired by the writer's own or part experience) is an exploration of a troubled mother-daughter relationship. Old wounds are exposed as they are both forced to confront events from the past, even as the daughter faces the reality of a future without her mother.
In many ways this reminded me of, or worked as a companion piece to, Simone de Beauvoir's memoir 'A Very Easy Death', which covers similar ground. What Suzumi Suzuki manages to convey in this short book is the emotional complexity of the relationship, and the several recurring references to doors that sprinkle the book all come to make sense when the daughter finds a poem written by her mother entitles simply 'Door'.
Excellently translated by Allison Markin Powell, this is a fascinating and emotional piece of writing, definitely worth revisiting. 4.5 stars.
August 26, 2023
Jaapani kirjandus mulle meeldib. Ka selles raamatus ei pidanud pettuma. Muidugi on pilguheit Jaapani ööellu põnev, aga asjaolu, et peategelane töötab hostessina, ei ole siinkohal siiski nii oluline kui tema suhe emaga. Meeldis ka napp ja konkreetne stiil ja et raamat on õhuke: sai ühe õhtuga läbi loetud.
September 1, 2024
«Scusa» mi disse. Penso che le mie parole e il mio atteggiamento mi avessero fatto sembrare arrabbiata, fredda ed esasperata. Era strano che mi chiedesse scusa perché non riusciva a mangiare. Malgrado ciò volevo che mia madre mi chiedesse scusa. Desideravo che si scusasse con me, per qualsiasi cosa fosse.
June 21, 2024
Tundus paljulubav, ent osutus tühjaks. Mul oli raske taluda pksildase minategelase enesekesksust, tühiseid tegemisi, pisiasju (kotid, huuleläige, toidu komponendid). Kõnetas vaid viimane lehekülg. / Samas Nukkelt taas väga hea tõlge!
September 1, 2024
Despite the narrator’s emotional restraint and fixation on the mundane, I found the ending to be so poignant and powerful. Though short, it manages to capture the way the days feel condensed when navigating the final days of a sick parent’s life (at least, for me).
January 27, 2024
Meeldivalt lühike raamat (80 lk). Tekkisid paralleelid Woody Allen'i filmiga "A Rainy Day in New York".
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