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crothe77's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Hunchback by Ichikawa Saou is a first person dual-POV Japanese contemporary novel exploring disability and autonomy. Shaka has a congenital muscle disorder and lives in a group home that she also owns. When she tweets out her desire to get pregnant and choose whether or not to have the child, her new nurse answers the call.
This book is short but incredibly impactful. Through Shaka, we can see the daily struggles faced by someone with her condition that people who are able-bodied might not think about, such as the act of reading a physical book or taking a shower. The narration also delves into how frustrating it is for Shaka to not only have these experiences, but how the government is not actually making things easier for her.
The main thing that stuck out to me was Shaka calling out the Japanese publishing industry for making scans of books illegal despite how much it would improve the lives of readers. I had no idea the laws were that strict. It was definitely eye-opening and a very important thing that needed to be said.
I loved how the book opened. It was completely different from what I was expecting with a male POV at a swingers club and full of sexual agency. We so often desexualize the disabled and the neurodivergent so having Shaka not only write erotica but also opening her POV with an erotic scene she wrote is telling the reader that they are not allowed to desexualize her. It was a smart choice, it was a bold choice, and it definitely speaks to issues that we have in multiple societies on this front.
Content warning for discussions around sexual harassment, sexual assault, and abortion
I would recommend this to fans of Japanese literature who want more of a focus on social justice issues, readers looking for books from disabled authors exploring disability in unexpected ways, and those looking for their next short read that packs a powerful punch
Hunchback by Ichikawa Saou is a first person dual-POV Japanese contemporary novel exploring disability and autonomy. Shaka has a congenital muscle disorder and lives in a group home that she also owns. When she tweets out her desire to get pregnant and choose whether or not to have the child, her new nurse answers the call.
This book is short but incredibly impactful. Through Shaka, we can see the daily struggles faced by someone with her condition that people who are able-bodied might not think about, such as the act of reading a physical book or taking a shower. The narration also delves into how frustrating it is for Shaka to not only have these experiences, but how the government is not actually making things easier for her.
The main thing that stuck out to me was Shaka calling out the Japanese publishing industry for making scans of books illegal despite how much it would improve the lives of readers. I had no idea the laws were that strict. It was definitely eye-opening and a very important thing that needed to be said.
I loved how the book opened. It was completely different from what I was expecting with a male POV at a swingers club and full of sexual agency. We so often desexualize the disabled and the neurodivergent so having Shaka not only write erotica but also opening her POV with an erotic scene she wrote is telling the reader that they are not allowed to desexualize her. It was a smart choice, it was a bold choice, and it definitely speaks to issues that we have in multiple societies on this front.
Content warning for discussions around sexual harassment, sexual assault, and abortion
I would recommend this to fans of Japanese literature who want more of a focus on social justice issues, readers looking for books from disabled authors exploring disability in unexpected ways, and those looking for their next short read that packs a powerful punch
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abortion
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment