Kitchen juxtaposes two tales about mothers, transsexuality, bereavement, kitchens, love and tragedy in contemporary Japan. It is a startlingly original first work by Japan's brightest young literary star and is now a cult film. When Kitchen was first published in Japan in 1987 it won two of Japan's most prestigious literary prizes, climbed its way to the top of the bestseller lists, then remained there for over a year and sold millions of copies.
Banana Yoshimoto was hailed as a young writer of great talent and great passion whose work has quickly earned a place among the best of modern literature, and has been described as 'the voice of young Japan' by the Independent on Sunday.
Staff Choice: Zeynep
Yoshimoto’s debut novel is brief but profound. The writer delves into two important truths about life: its inevitable end and its inherent beauty. Even in the tiniest moments, there exists a profound beauty that we often hold dear, especially as life unfolds towards its end. The protagonist is intimately familiar with loneliness and grief, expressing the idea that it is okay to embrace it and dwell on it, which is especially reassuring for those who fear stillness, of “wasting” time in a world that keeps moving. Yoshimoto’s writing is almost spiritual, showing us how certain spaces can be our anchor, as well as the healing power of tenderness, of nurturing ourselves and others.
Staff Choice: Bella
Two stories about love, loss & grief and the solace that kitchens & food bring (for example the humming of a refrigerator). Written in the most ethereal and dreamy way, Yoshimoto's book is equally heart wrenching & soothing.