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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
5 stars | It happens every time. When I read a book I absolutely love, I’m at a loss for words. When I think about it, it’s probably because I have so MUCH to say… and I never feel like words will do it justice. I want to be there in front of you, talking with my hands, pacing around the room, exclaiming! Nodding fervently when you add on to my thoughts… this review in comparison feels like an alphabet blob. Luckily, that is one of the major themes in Breasts and Eggs: the limitations of language. How words aren’t enough to describe our thoughts. And yet, this book and her words are so perfect. So yeah, my next words won’t do my feelings or this book justice, but I’m still going to try.
I loved Natsuko so much. I loved the way her brain trailed off into tangents about the greater world. I loved the way she felt the sun on her fingertips. I loved how she told stories. I loved the way she sat on her beanbag. She’s just so lovely and in so much pain and I wish she would feel better and I hope she does now. And it’s a weird feeling because… she’s fiction! But she’s not fiction, is the thing. That’s the thing. She’s not really fiction, there’s a little bit of Natsuko in all women. At least, I know I recognized myself in her very often. The way her guilt manifested in her waking hours and the contradictions that ripped her apart. Her insecurity and her quiet strength. Her unconditional love for Makiko and Midoriko… for her mom and Komi… I can’t !!! I will start crying all over again.
When I started reading this book, I felt like it was very confrontational. Because it definitely can be. It unearthed deep-seated assumptions I had about my body and my body’s role in the world. I don’t want to think about having kids! I don’t want to be confronted with that decision right now… but it’s because I felt like it wasn’t my decision to make. Really, what this book affirms is that it is completely your decision. I can see how for some people, it will affirm the decision to not have kids at all. I can also see people deciding to adopt instead of having biological kids. And, I can see people wanting biological kids after reading this book too! For me, it helped me see that it’s not the focal point in my life at all right now. And that’s okay. There’s time. And it is MY decision!
Kawakami’s prose is just wonderful. Her writing is both whimsical and practical. In a technical sense, it’s the perfect blend of hard hitting, in your face sentences and abstract metaphors. I loved living in her words so much. I also loved the way Kawakami told these stories. Book One was underscored by Makiko’s breast surgery / Midoriko’s journal + choice not to speak. Book Two was underscored by Natsuko’s deep-seated need to have a child. That was a really reductive way to describe these two stories, but again, in a technical sense, it was so inspirational to see how Kawakami structured this book as a whole. It’s like there’s a thread that we follow, but it’s not WHY I keep reading. I just loved the experience of reading Breasts and Eggs. I didn’t need to know what happened, I just loved being there. How did she do that? How did that feeling transcend from Japanese into English? Does reading the book in Japanese feel similar? Again, the limits of language!!
I have more to say and also not much more at the same time, so I’ll leave this here. I think everyone should read this book and I’m so grateful that my cousin Daisy read this book and recommended it to me. Truly life changing. I’m looking to buy it for my own shelf too. I want to see it there and remember these feelings.
I loved Natsuko so much. I loved the way her brain trailed off into tangents about the greater world. I loved the way she felt the sun on her fingertips. I loved how she told stories. I loved the way she sat on her beanbag. She’s just so lovely and in so much pain and I wish she would feel better and I hope she does now. And it’s a weird feeling because… she’s fiction! But she’s not fiction, is the thing. That’s the thing. She’s not really fiction, there’s a little bit of Natsuko in all women. At least, I know I recognized myself in her very often. The way her guilt manifested in her waking hours and the contradictions that ripped her apart. Her insecurity and her quiet strength. Her unconditional love for Makiko and Midoriko… for her mom and Komi… I can’t !!! I will start crying all over again.
When I started reading this book, I felt like it was very confrontational. Because it definitely can be. It unearthed deep-seated assumptions I had about my body and my body’s role in the world. I don’t want to think about having kids! I don’t want to be confronted with that decision right now… but it’s because I felt like it wasn’t my decision to make. Really, what this book affirms is that it is completely your decision. I can see how for some people, it will affirm the decision to not have kids at all. I can also see people deciding to adopt instead of having biological kids. And, I can see people wanting biological kids after reading this book too! For me, it helped me see that it’s not the focal point in my life at all right now. And that’s okay. There’s time. And it is MY decision!
Kawakami’s prose is just wonderful. Her writing is both whimsical and practical. In a technical sense, it’s the perfect blend of hard hitting, in your face sentences and abstract metaphors. I loved living in her words so much. I also loved the way Kawakami told these stories. Book One was underscored by Makiko’s breast surgery / Midoriko’s journal + choice not to speak. Book Two was underscored by Natsuko’s deep-seated need to have a child. That was a really reductive way to describe these two stories, but again, in a technical sense, it was so inspirational to see how Kawakami structured this book as a whole. It’s like there’s a thread that we follow, but it’s not WHY I keep reading. I just loved the experience of reading Breasts and Eggs. I didn’t need to know what happened, I just loved being there. How did she do that? How did that feeling transcend from Japanese into English? Does reading the book in Japanese feel similar? Again, the limits of language!!
I have more to say and also not much more at the same time, so I’ll leave this here. I think everyone should read this book and I’m so grateful that my cousin Daisy read this book and recommended it to me. Truly life changing. I’m looking to buy it for my own shelf too. I want to see it there and remember these feelings.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the topics but just couldn’t connect with the characters
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ehh, wish it had a bit more to say.
The second half of this book is a 5 star read for me but the first part was hard to get through, slow, and sad. I understand why it was included but it took away from the novel over all for me. That being said the second part was so so beautiful and i’m glad i read it. wonderful portrait of womanhood, late in life coming of age, and family in all its forms
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I keep stopping after parts of this book and telling myself, "this moment will be what I center my review on." But it just keeps happening. This book, for me, has been an incredible series of moments. Poignant. Heavy.
That's just one perspective. There are others, other lenses through which to see and read this book. Everyone will experience it differently, and possibly digest it differently.
Whatever the case, I think there's something in it for everyone. It's a must-read.
That's just one perspective. There are others, other lenses through which to see and read this book. Everyone will experience it differently, and possibly digest it differently.
Whatever the case, I think there's something in it for everyone. It's a must-read.
reflective
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