I wasn’t sure what to expect with Kitchen, although I had previously heard good things about Banana Yoshimoto’s work. I wasn’t disappointed with this gentle yet sorrowful meditation on grief and loss, comprising two stories, Kitchen and Moonlight Shadow.

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In Kitchen, a young woman who has grieved for every member of her family, most recently her grandmother, finds solace in the homely feel of kitchens. Her friendship with a young man her grandmother knew from the florist blossoms (pun unintended) when he invites her to live with him and his mother, bonding over food and tea.

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Moonlight Shadow, a much shorter story, sees a young woman mourning her boyfriend meet a mysterious stranger who can possibly help her come to terms with his death and gain some closure.

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I actually preferred the shorter story, but both were beautifully written and translated. Yoshimoto’s prose is simple and sparse yet emotionally impactful and Megan Backus captures this perfectly; I felt like I was grieving along with Mikage and Satsuki.

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Sometimes I questioned the actions of the characters, mostly in Kitchen, but overall it was short and sweet, sad yet with a glimmer of hope.