Translated by Ted Goossen
45th book of 2022
A bossy child who lives under a white cloth near a tree; a schoolgirl who keeps doll’s brains in a desk drawer; an old man with two shadows, one docile and one rebellious; a diplomat no one has ever seen who goes fishing at an artificial lake no one has ever heard of. These are some of the inhabitants of People From My Neighborhood. In their lives, details of the local and everyday—the lunch menu at a tiny drinking place called the Love, the color and shape of the roof of the tax office—slip into accounts of duels, prophetic dreams, revolutions, and visitations from ghosts and gods. In twenty-six “palm of the hand” stories—fictions small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand—Hiromi Kawakami creates a universe ruled by mystery and transformation.
CW: Animal death, bullying, body shaming, torture
Rating
Review
I like what I read, even if I don’t really know what I read.
This was the strangest book I read this year. In the beginning, I was trying to understand everything that was happening, and I finally decided to stop and just go where the book was going (a girl who collected dolls’ brains? yeah, sure!) I think it’s the best way to read this book, as the more you dive into it, the more it becomes weird and weirder.
The element that makes you dive a lot into the book is the little knowledge about the main character. We have the point of view of someone we know little about, contrary to her friends and neighbours who we know well through their (strange) adventures. We even have their future for some, but nothing about the main character. You can easily project yourself in her.
The way the book is constructed reminds me of a neighbourhood. Like you have very short stories (1 page or 2) representing all the houses and people that compose that neighbourhood. However, those small stories create a bigger picture, giving you a clear idea of the neighbourhood. If you don’t have those small stories, you can’t feel the essence of this neighbourhood.
This book makes me want to read more of this kind of book.
Liz.
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