I am so pleased every time I manage to read a book by a Japanese writer, and the Easter holiday gave me this chance. "Strange Weather in Tokyo" is a lovely book, perfectly suited for a few days off work, when the weather outside makes you stay indoors and read. The story captured perfectly that special Japanese like mood, in which everything takes time, from asking someone how they have been to telling them you love them.
In fact, the novel has two titles "The Briefcase" and "Strange Weather in Tokyo" and I still did not manage to discover why the author allowed this to happen. Needless to say, both titles describe bits and pieces of what happens between the two characters, a woman in her thirties and her former teacher, a much older man, constantly called "sensei". The two of them spend nights on end in a bar, sharing little but still getting closer and closer, until one of them says "I love you". What happens next and whether they manage to leave their solitude aside to share time and space together is for you to discover. :)
"Being in love makes people uncertain."
2 comments:
This sentence from your post, "The story captured perfectly that special Japanese like mood, in which everything takes time..." describes this book in a way I couldn't find the words for. That is spot on! Part of why I love Japanese literature so much is this gentle mood, this unrushed development so like Western thought (or, at least American). And, I was perplexed by the two completely different titles as well. That seemed weird to me, although I like how you pointed out that they both describe bits of what happens between the couple.
Thank you for your beautiful words and sorry for such a late reply :) I am so wrapped in paperwork at school I don't seem to find the time for leisure activities...
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