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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
“My monolithic expectation of what a woman’s body was supposed to look like had no bearing on what actually happened to my body. The two things were wholly unrelated. I never became the woman I imagined.”
In Breasts and Eggs, Kawakami brilliantly and courageously reveals the realities of womanhood through the uninhibited perspectives from 3 different women. Reminiscent of Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, our protagonists discover what it means to be a woman in a predominantly patriarchal society.
Midoriko navigates through puberty. As her body changes, her single mother, Makiko, becomes obsessed with breast augmentation surgery - as if it will solve all their problems, monetary and otherwise.
Most of the book follows Natsuko, an aspiring author and her journey to motherhood. Despite societal pressures, she eventually chooses the unconventional route of artificial insemination. She wants to raise her child on her own - no man involved.
While the novel aims to be empowering, at first i found it bleak and unromantic. i initially disliked it but now I think it was intentional. There is no sugar-coating. Women don’t have it easy and I'm glad there are authors starting to depict women realistically.
In Breasts and Eggs, Kawakami brilliantly and courageously reveals the realities of womanhood through the uninhibited perspectives from 3 different women. Reminiscent of Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, our protagonists discover what it means to be a woman in a predominantly patriarchal society.
Midoriko navigates through puberty. As her body changes, her single mother, Makiko, becomes obsessed with breast augmentation surgery - as if it will solve all their problems, monetary and otherwise.
Most of the book follows Natsuko, an aspiring author and her journey to motherhood. Despite societal pressures, she eventually chooses the unconventional route of artificial insemination. She wants to raise her child on her own - no man involved.
While the novel aims to be empowering, at first i found it bleak and unromantic. i initially disliked it but now I think it was intentional. There is no sugar-coating. Women don’t have it easy and I'm glad there are authors starting to depict women realistically.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved the first part of this book! I found the relationship between the three women to be really compelling. If it was left there I would have definitely rated it higher. However, the rest of the book wasn’t for me unfortunately :(
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is made up of two stories of two different types and the first is my favourite. It feels like an indie play you attend last minute with no context and you’re never quite the same. Three people, all trying to live in that uncomfortable identity space that is ‘female.’ I love all of them and their respective messiness and I struggle to remember a scene that hurt me as much as the dramatic climax of the story.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I preferred All the Lovers in the Night, but I really liked the first half of the book. The second half went on a bit too long and had a predictable “happy ending because woman has baby”. I think it would have been more interesting to explore what it’s like living childless while all the women around you have chosen motherhood, because that’s more of a rarity. Regardless, the writing was absolutely top notch, which is always the case with Kawakami.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First half about Makiko was so good, I was so invested in this potential boob job.
The time jump in the second half. Snooozeee
Not for me
Breasts >> eggs
Only redeemed by the conversation between Natsu and Yuriko
The time jump in the second half. Snooozeee
Not for me
Breasts >> eggs
Only redeemed by the conversation between Natsu and Yuriko