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calarco 's review for:
Strange Weather in Tokyo
by Hiromi Kawakami
A book club read, even after discussing Hiromi Kawakami’s [b:Strange Weather in Tokyo|18283207|Strange Weather in Tokyo|Hiromi Kawakami|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1375634096l/18283207._SY75_.jpg|2974590], I would struggle to define it as a piece of literature.
One the one hand, the slice-of-life prose is reminiscent of Takashi Hiraide’s [b:The Guest Cat|17574849|The Guest Cat|Takashi Hiraide|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1363582979l/17574849._SX50_.jpg|24515019], though that is where I would say the similarities end. Strange Weather in Tokyo also reads like a dreamy series of vignettes, as Tsukiko remembers her varying encounters at an izakaya she haunts after work with her former high school teacher that she calls “Sensei.” Being in her late 30’s, Tsukiko is stuck in a state of arrested development, that leaves her somewhat untethered in time and space as she processes events.
“I had been very much the adult when I was in elementary school. But as I continued on through junior high and high school, on the contrary, I became less grown-up. And then as the years passed, I turned into quite a childlike person. I suppose I just wasn’t able to ally myself with time.”
This could be attributed to childhood trauma that is alluded to, as well as the strict and structured nature of school in Japan, as a lack of creative outlets can lead to dispassion in adulthood. Either way, Tsukiko makes questionable choices, as she tries to feel something significant, or anything at all. I can’t say I’m thrilled with the dynamic between Tsukiko and Sensei given their past, as it leads to an inevitable power imbalance at awkward times, but this is Tsukiko’s tumultuous story and I am just here to read along.
Overall, this was an intriguing read. If anything, go in with and open mind, and for goodness sake do not let the distracting cover give you any first impressions, because this is a book that definitely should not be judged by its cover.
One the one hand, the slice-of-life prose is reminiscent of Takashi Hiraide’s [b:The Guest Cat|17574849|The Guest Cat|Takashi Hiraide|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1363582979l/17574849._SX50_.jpg|24515019], though that is where I would say the similarities end. Strange Weather in Tokyo also reads like a dreamy series of vignettes, as Tsukiko remembers her varying encounters at an izakaya she haunts after work with her former high school teacher that she calls “Sensei.” Being in her late 30’s, Tsukiko is stuck in a state of arrested development, that leaves her somewhat untethered in time and space as she processes events.
“I had been very much the adult when I was in elementary school. But as I continued on through junior high and high school, on the contrary, I became less grown-up. And then as the years passed, I turned into quite a childlike person. I suppose I just wasn’t able to ally myself with time.”
This could be attributed to childhood trauma that is alluded to, as well as the strict and structured nature of school in Japan, as a lack of creative outlets can lead to dispassion in adulthood. Either way, Tsukiko makes questionable choices, as she tries to feel something significant, or anything at all. I can’t say I’m thrilled with the dynamic between Tsukiko and Sensei given their past, as it leads to an inevitable power imbalance at awkward times, but this is Tsukiko’s tumultuous story and I am just here to read along.
Overall, this was an intriguing read. If anything, go in with and open mind, and for goodness sake do not let the distracting cover give you any first impressions, because this is a book that definitely should not be judged by its cover.