Strange weather in Tokyo

This is as much a story about two lost souls as it is a modern fable to sake and ramen. Hiromi Kawakami's off beat love story was shortlisted for the Man Asian Literature Prize and has gone on to strengthen Kawakami's position as one of the most popular writers of Japanese fiction today.

 The novel is first person narrated by Tsukiko, a late thirties single girl, who meets 'Sensei', an older gentleman and her former school teacher in a traditional local bar. Both Tsukiko and Sensei are alone in the city. Their essentially solitary social life is interrupted only by their late night encounters with each other. They find common ground more in the shared silence of each other's company more than in profound discussion however, they begin converse more and more freely as the sake flows.

As with Banana Yoshimoto's The Lake the prose is always succinct and precise as Kawakami uses language sparingly to bring Tsukiko to life. Their loneliness is never desperate and Kawakami expertly and gently brings them together in a number of set pieces, such as mushroom picking in the autumn or at a spa hotel in the summer, in which the relationship plays out against the changing seasons.

A reluctant romance inevitably develops between the unlikely couple but the tentative and reserved nature of the relationship is at once both strikingly contemporary and plainly old-fashioned.   

Strange Weather in Tokyo is not as kooky as Murakami but for a sense of modern 'japaneseness' this is as authentic as sashimi dipped in soy.  

Not as provocative as The Talented Mr Ripley or as dangerously sinister as Strangers on a Train.

Part murder mystery and part mid 20th century travelogue Patricia Highsmith's The Two Faces of January (1964) is a ideal poolside companion. Sun drenched locations, from Athens and the Corinth Canal to Crete and the Temple of Knossos, whisk you away to the romance (and danger) of a more exotic Europe of the past.

The novel follows three key characters whose lives become tangled in the kind of personality crisis which Highsmith delivers so well. Evading the police in the USA Chester MacFarland and his wife Collette travel to Europe only to become embroiled in a further police hunt once they meet fellow con-artist Rydal Keener. Rydal is immediately drawn to Chester, who reminds him of his late father, and to Collette who bears a resemblance to Agnes; Rydal's first love.

The two mens' strangely symbiotic relationship is strained by the claustrophobic love triangle which develops in the sweltering Greek heat between themselves and Collette.

The novel is at its best as the boundaries in relationships between the three friends blur. The two anti-hero leads are hard to understand at times but work as psychotic loners from the same mould as Highsmith's own Tom Ripley.  

The Two Faces of January is not as provocative as The Talented Mr Ripley or as dangerously sinister as Strangers on a Train but in this novel Highsmith packs a dramatic punch of murder, blackmail and violence.

This beautifully simple novella deserves a suitably succinct review..

Banana Yoshimoto's The Lake is, like much in Japan, simple and straight forward but never austere. Prose is precise with not a single word wasted (unlike much literature on the shelves!)

The Lake is a reluctant love story, between recently bereaved Chihiro and her neighbour Nakajima, who share a Tokyo apartment block. Both find themselves in the city having moved away from another life in the country. For Chihiro the move followed the death of her 'mama san' mother. The truth about Nakajimi's former life lies in the Lake itself.

Very little actually happens in the story and yet as the reader we feel strangely drawn to these lonely characters as their relationship slowly develops. 

Looking for plot twists and turns? Then this is not the book for you but for a haunting and alternative love story between two remarkable characters this is a stunning read. 

For more reviews, news and recommendations follow:

twitter: @wordsshortlist

instagram: your_next_read

www.facebook.com/thewordsshortlist  

On the bookshelf this month.....


The Two Faces of January - Patricia Highsmith

Strange Weather in Tokyo - Horomi Kawakami

The Lemon Grove - Helen Walsh

The Lake - Banana Yoshimoto

Akira (Book1) - Katsuhiro Otomo


For reviews, news and recommendations follow:

twitter: @wordsshortlist

instagram: your_next_read

www.facebook.com/thewordsshortlist  

Pack in your hand luggage as you'll want to get started as soon as you arrive at the airport!

The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair - Joel Dicker

What the media say….

'A global phenomenon' Le Monde.

'All the ingredients of a world bestseller' Die Zeit.

'A great noir' Corriere della Sera

What The Word’s Shortlist says….

Joel Dicker’s novel is a slick literary crime thriller that brilliantly weaves together two story lines. The novel was so successful in French language markets that not only was it lauded with awards but can even claim to have knocked Fifty Shades off the best seller list!

Celebrated writer Harry Quebert is the only suspect in the murder, some 33 years earlier, of Nola Kellergan. There are echoes of Nobokov's Lolita in both the nature of the relationship between the two and the New England setting. Central to the plot, and the case against Quebert, is that the body of the 15 year old Nola is found buried in his own garden along with a manuscript copy of the novel he was to become famous for.

Marcus Goldman is Quebert’s protégé and a successful young novelist living in New York. Suffering from serious second novel writer’s block Goldman commits to travelling to New England to help clear his mentor’s name. Both characters are hugely self-absorbed and indulgent but the perfect ingredients for a crime fiction page turner!

The novel is fast paced with enough twists and turns to keep you reading to the end and finely plotted throughout. The story is packed full of insight into the writing process and the angst of living up to the expectation of being a critically successful literary genius. Whilst this might border on pretentious in places it certainly makes a great read for bibliophiles.

Characterisation is good and the dialogue is natural and believable, with the possible exception of Mrs Goldman who is drawn from every Jewish matriarchal stereotype you’ve ever come across. We can forgive however, given that the character of Marcus is so well penned.

The plot isn’t as gritty as Steig Larsson or monumental as Roth, although the promotion around the novel suggests otherwise, but the story does end with the brilliant twist you’d hope for. 

This isn’t a masterpiece but the idea of a famous and much loved work of fiction being linked to a real life (fictional) murder is brilliantly compelling. Well worth a holiday read, pack in your hand luggage as you’ll want to get started as soon as you arrive at the airport!

With Young Adult fiction flying of the shelves on both sides of the Atlantic is it time to find out what you're missing? Shake up your reading list with two current YA heavy weights...


The Fault in our Stars by John Green

1. This novel re-imagines the theme of star-crossed lovers with terminally ill cancer sufferer Hazel and amputee Gus who meet at a teen support group. This central motif is refreshingly unlike many other titles in the genre.

2. Similarly individual is the antagonist Peter Van Houten whose fictional novel An Imperial Affliction is a key plot device which keeps the work on the right side of sentimental. Fans of the written word will appreciate that Hazel and Gus's relationship develops around their favourite novel!

3. The book was launched with massive social media noise. Read and then check out #TFIOS for the ongoing twitter chat around the film adaptation's release.


Divergent by Veronica Roth

1. Part 1 of a trilogy of books that are currently being adapted for the big screen. The novel features a strong female lead, Beatrice Prior, who must complete a mandatory aptitude test for all 16 year olds that determines which faction she will live in; Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless or Erudite.

2. The novel is set in an engaging post-apocolyptic Chicago. This near future dystopia is recognisable enough to relate to, the brilliant scenes on the L train for example, but could have been much more compelling had the plot paused for breath!

3. The writing is quick paced and tight, the perfect commuter read. At times the prose is so rapid that it might be considered kids fiction rather than young adult however, once tuned in this makes for easy read.

The Hunger Games this isn't but Part 1 is worth the read  

3 great reads for May...

The Fault in our Stars - John Green
#1 on numerous best seller lists worldwide since publication in 2011. Winner of the New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice Award. Read now before the imminent movie adaptation and find out what all the social media hype is about.

Divergent - Veronica Roth
Young Adult best seller set in a dystopian Chicago of the future. The first of a trilogy of books that have been filling a 'Hunger Games' shaped hole. Anyone who has ever been 16 years old will enjoy.

The Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair - Joel Dicker
Translated from the French novel 'La Vérité sur l’Affaire Harry Quebert' which has topped most French language best seller lists. Is this the Swiss answer to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?

Look out for full reviews coming soon.

“Later, as he sat on his balcony eating the dog, Dr Robert Laing reflected on the unusual events that had taken place within this huge apartment building during the previous three months.”

With a new film in production, with Tom Hiddleston and director Ben Wheatley, and the Tate Britain exploring the enigma of ruined architecture, in current show Ruin Lust, this is the perfect time to pick up a copy of JG Ballard's 1975 sci-fi gem Highrise.

In the novel Ballard imagines a scenario in which society, in this case within the microcosm of a luxury Highrise development, completely breaks down. What begin as minor malfunctions such as faulty lifts and waste disposal systems soon escalate to life threatening events as the inhabitants turn feral within the luxury carpeted halls. Social order is literally thrown from the high rise balconies as a new dystopian order seeps through the concrete structure of the vertical city. 

The story centres on 3 key characters who neatly represent the social worlds that exist within the complex. On one of the lower proletariat floors is Laing, a lecturer who we meet early on in the novel roasting an Alsatian on a pyre of yellow pages. Higher up lives TV producer and social climber Wilder. On one of the upper floors is Royal, architect, urbanist and idealist.

The work is at its best when the boundaries blur between the social strata creating an anti-society no-mans land. Ballard allows us to experience this through the eyes of the three main protagonists effectively. This wouldn't have worked as well told through one single view point.

The challenge with the novel is to recognise that this is essentially a period piece. Much has changed since 1975 and the book is markedly void of digital interference.

A great read with a unforgettable first opening sentence that will hook you in whether browsing in the library/bookshop or trying a kindle sample. Your perfect hit of post-apocolyptic mayhem.

More about the film adaptation here http://ind.pn/1b1WTjX

More about Tate Britain's show here http://bit.ly/1bIF221

Tweet @wordsshortlist if you're planning to read

Always read the small print...

Robert Glancy's debut novel proves that the devil is indeed in the detail, in this case within the small print. We meet Frank Shaw whose job, on the bottom most rung of the corporate ladder, is to compile the terms and conditions (the bit nobody reads)in contracts compiled by his family law firm.

Following a near fatal car crash Frank pieces together his life from fragments of memories using his meticulous attention to detail. By appraising the rules of life through different 'terms and conditions' Frank discovers more about his former life than he ever understood before his amnesia.

1. Frank hates his job

2. Frank is suspicious of his wife

3. Frank wasn't the happy chappy everyone tells him he was

The novel is initially tricky to get into. Each chapter includes foot notes which feel more like an academic paper than a work of fiction however, a quarter of the way in to the book this feels natural as we get to know Frank, the narrator. What begins as an unusual quirk soon becomes an valid device which provides a handy and concise way to develop characters and plot lines. 

Interesting characters include Alice, Frank's wife and author of a seminal business book who struggles to understand the boundaries between real life and a self help seminar. Also Malc, Frank's brother whose emails from Thailand often go unanswered. 

The novel is at its best when Frank begins to understand the small print of his own life. Firstly challenging the point of his his career by unleashing 'corporate graffiti' in the small print of some pretty serious contracts. Secondly as he begins to unravel the deceit close to home. Original and compelling stuff.

The only unanswered question is why Frank ever accepted the status quo before his accident. A sobering prospect that it took a serious car crash for Frank to get a grip on life! 

Terms and conditions is a disappointing read that's slow burning, formulaic and predictable*

* Disclaimer: Of course, none of this is true, Terms and conditions is a great read! 

What the critics said...

This tale of a lawyer losing his grip on reality is original, very funny and very poignant. Read it! (Paul Torday, author of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen)

It's wonderful. Funny, poignant, simple and profound - it's the kind of book I absolutely love. And it has the best ending I've read in a very long time (Gavin Extence, author of The Universe Versus Alex Woods)

With the announcement this month of the long awaited new novel from Kazuo Ishiguro now is the perfect time to re-discover Never Let Me Go the million selling novel from 2005.

Both of Ishiguro's most successful novels, The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, have made the transition to the big screen but to only experience these works on film is to miss the subtlety of one of the best writers working in Britain today.

Never Let Me Go is an intense coming of age drama set in a seemingly near perfect boarding school. In the first part we meet the three lead characters, Kathy, Ruth and Tommy at a school environment in which health and well being dominate the curriculum. 

Through the nuances of their teachers, know as 'guardians' we discover that the story is actually set in a near future, anti-utopian, vision of England. Science-fiction, not really, this dystopian future is only slightly removed from a world we recognise which is what makes the second and third parts of the book so compelling.

From adult hood to life as a 'donor' Ishiguro weaves a story of love and loss that is about as unforgettable as fiction can get. Brilliant writing, ingenious narrative and thought provoking morality will keep you reading all night.

Never Let Me Go is a classic book club choice but, now that almost 10 years have elapsed since initial publication, the furore has died down allowing more room for the story.

The April shortlist.....

Look out for weekly blog posts here about these great titles over the next few weeks

Terms and Conditions -  Robert Glancy (Bloomsbury)

High-Rise - J.G. Ballard (Flamingo Modern Classics)

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro (Faber and Faber)


Read more this April!