Helpful Score: 10
A young person in modern times deals with the death of her grandmother by taking up the company of another person dealing with personal loss. It's touching without being overly sentimental, refreshingly clear and honest portrayal of life on earth. wonderful.
Helpful Score: 6
Written in simple, yet poetic text. nice descriptions. A young womans grandmother (who she lived with) died. how she dealt with grief, friends she made in the process, healing nature of kitchen. a favorite. also includes shorter second story, as many of yoshimoto's books do.
Helpful Score: 6
Very touching story, written in a fun, unusual style. This is a great introduction to Japanese literature, IMO.
Helpful Score: 2
From Library Journal
In this translation of a best-selling novel first published in Japan in 1987, the young narrator, Mikage, moves into the apartment of a friend whose mother is murdered early in the tale. What seems like a coming-of-age melodrama quickly evolves into a deeply moving tale filled with unique characters and themes. Along the way, readers get a taste of contemporary Japan, with its mesh of popular American food and culture. Mikage addresses the role of death, loneliness, and personal as well as sexual identity through a set of striking circumstances and personal remembrances. "Moonlight Shadows," a novella included here, is a more haunting tale of loss and acceptance. In her simple and captive style, Yoshimoto confirms that art is perhaps the best ambassador among nations. Recommended for all fiction collections.
- David A. Berona, Westbrook Coll. Lib., Portland, Me.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
In this translation of a best-selling novel first published in Japan in 1987, the young narrator, Mikage, moves into the apartment of a friend whose mother is murdered early in the tale. What seems like a coming-of-age melodrama quickly evolves into a deeply moving tale filled with unique characters and themes. Along the way, readers get a taste of contemporary Japan, with its mesh of popular American food and culture. Mikage addresses the role of death, loneliness, and personal as well as sexual identity through a set of striking circumstances and personal remembrances. "Moonlight Shadows," a novella included here, is a more haunting tale of loss and acceptance. In her simple and captive style, Yoshimoto confirms that art is perhaps the best ambassador among nations. Recommended for all fiction collections.
- David A. Berona, Westbrook Coll. Lib., Portland, Me.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The writing style was fine and there was enough to it to keep me reading, but overall I found the book a little depressing. Each of the three stories - two in a pair, and one separate - deal with overcoming the death of a loved one. I would read more by the author only if it had a different theme.
"Kitchen" is the first book I've read by Ms. Banana, and I was so pleasantly surprised at the simplicity of her writing style combined with the power of her message.
The author's very offbeat vibe is retained in this book by skillful translation to English. It also retains its uniquely Japanese flavor, but through it all, the book is very accessable." amazon
The author's very offbeat vibe is retained in this book by skillful translation to English. It also retains its uniquely Japanese flavor, but through it all, the book is very accessable." amazon
The writing style was fine and there was enough to it to keep me reading, but overall I found the book a little depressing. Each of the three stories - two in a pair, and one separate - deal with overcoming the death of a loved one. I would read more by the author only if it had a different theme.
The writing style was fine and there was enough to it to keep me reading, but overall I found the book a little depressing. Each of the three stories - two in a pair, and one separate - deal with overcoming the death of a loved one. I would read more by the author only if it had a different theme.
The writing style was fine and there was enough to it to keep me reading, but overall I found the book a little depressing. Each of the three stories - two in a pair, and one separate - deal with overcoming the death of a loved one. I would read more by the author only if it had a different theme.
loved her style of writing.... i am now searching for more books by her
The writing style was fine and there was enough to it to keep me reading, but overall I found the book a little depressing. Each of the three stories - two in a pair, and one separate - deal with overcoming the death of a loved one. I would read more by the author only if it had a different theme.
I enjoyed this book. I did find it very descriptive and I was a bit confused about the references to plants and the climbing incident. Overall a quick enjoyable read.
I first read this on December 7, 2014 and then a re-read on September 21, 2015:
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto - 4 stars (Same rating as first reading)
Book Description
With the publication of Kitchen, the dazzling English-language debut that is still her best-loved book, the literary world realized that Yoshimoto was a young writer of enduring talent whose work has quickly earned a place among the best of contemporary Japanese literature. Kitchen is an enchantingly original book that juxtaposes two tales about mothers, love, tragedy, and the power of the kitchen and home in the lives of a pair of free-spirited young women in contemporary Japan. Mikage, the heroine, is an orphan raised by her grandmother, who has passed away. Grieving, Mikage is taken in by her friend Yoichi and his mother (who is really his cross-dressing father) Eriko. As the three of them form an improvised family that soon weathers its own tragic losses, Yoshimoto spins a lovely, evocative tale with the kitchen and the comforts of home at its heart.
In a whimsical style that recalls the early Marguerite Duras, "Kitchen" and its companion story, "Moonlight Shadow," are elegant tales whose seeming simplicity is the ruse of a very special writer whose voice echoes in the mind and the soul.
My Review
I enjoyed this book very much. It was a very quick read about loss, grief and recovery. Although the book is short, it is charming and thought-provoking. If you want to read a story that you'll always remember and be touched by, this is the book for you.
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto - 4 stars (Same rating as first reading)
Book Description
With the publication of Kitchen, the dazzling English-language debut that is still her best-loved book, the literary world realized that Yoshimoto was a young writer of enduring talent whose work has quickly earned a place among the best of contemporary Japanese literature. Kitchen is an enchantingly original book that juxtaposes two tales about mothers, love, tragedy, and the power of the kitchen and home in the lives of a pair of free-spirited young women in contemporary Japan. Mikage, the heroine, is an orphan raised by her grandmother, who has passed away. Grieving, Mikage is taken in by her friend Yoichi and his mother (who is really his cross-dressing father) Eriko. As the three of them form an improvised family that soon weathers its own tragic losses, Yoshimoto spins a lovely, evocative tale with the kitchen and the comforts of home at its heart.
In a whimsical style that recalls the early Marguerite Duras, "Kitchen" and its companion story, "Moonlight Shadow," are elegant tales whose seeming simplicity is the ruse of a very special writer whose voice echoes in the mind and the soul.
My Review
I enjoyed this book very much. It was a very quick read about loss, grief and recovery. Although the book is short, it is charming and thought-provoking. If you want to read a story that you'll always remember and be touched by, this is the book for you.
This is a great story for someone who's experienced loss of a loved one, and includes the story "Moonlight Shadow", which won the Nihon Department of Arts Prize in 1986.
Different book but not bad.
I haven't read this book.
