Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

1 review

wellfedpages's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

Grief is a bird that sings at night

But few can hear it

The cold slinks in with the moonlight

And weary pages turn with a leaden hand

But grief, it sits still like a dew drop

Waiting to seep in into your bones

Curled at the edge of the page

Piercing your finger with words

Of the 2 stories in this #TranslatedGems selection that I read for #JanuaryInJapan I liked #Kitchen more

Both were written beautifully, weaving in themes of loss, grief, pain, sadness, isolation, loneliness, the need for companionship, the drudgery of breathing day in day out when life has been snuffed out of your soul and the way food can not only rekindle old memories, but help build new ones, one meal at a time

Kitchen has the healing touch of friendship & chosen family. The two people connected by loss here still retain their individuality & space, while being there for each other.

It is a relationship rooted deeply in trust & self-respect, which is why perhaps I relate to and like it more.

It also has more diverse characters, even if some of the trans representation is a bit dated

Moonlight Shadow has the captivating touch of magic realism, but I did not like it that much because -

I find people who constantly cheat on or remain with constantly cheating partners proclaiming to be 'in love' a mockery of the word love

While I'm not sure exactly what love is, I'm sure of this - love cannot exist without respect and trust

And someone who breaks your trust is NOT in love with you, because they choose to hurt & disrespect you. Neither are you if you do the same.

You do not hurt someone you love, whether it is with cheating or dishonesty

So what I think certain characters here or people who can't fathom the above concepts are really mourning for is habit

They are used to a person being around all the time and that being snatched away leaves a hole in their heart & life

But habit is not love

SPOILERS

Questions that popped up while I was reading the 2nd story

Satsuki admits both she & Hitoshi cheated on each other many times, was Hitoshi still cheating on her when he died?

Why does Urara go to the bridge?

Is Urara the other woman?

What is Banana Yoshimoto hinting?

Does Urara go to the bridge because that's where the event is supposed to happen or because like Satsuki the bridge has some special significance for her?

Hiiragi has a similar experience in his room on the same morning. Clearly the river is not the only place where such things can happen.

Why does Urara's expression change on the bridge when she thinks Satsuki is no longer looking?

Does she realize with horror that Hitoshi not only met her but also Satsuki at the bridge?

Was Hitoshi a serial womanizer, who for all his kindness played the same tricks on every woman?

Did Urara know about Satsuki's existence and was still having an affair with Hitoshi, but she wrongly thought the bridge was their special place?

Is that why her demeanor changes after Satsuki tells her her name?

How does Urara get Satsuki's number?

She says it just came to her like magic, and considering certain other supernatural elements of the story one tends to accept it, but what if that's not the case?

What if Urara knew Satsuki's phone number because she knew exactly who Satsuki was?

Or finds out the number once Satsuki tells her her name?

How does Urara know where Satsuki lives?

Magical powers again?

Or by finding out more about Satsuki? 

Or maybe by following Satsuki?

Satsuki herself follows Hiiragi at one point, so the theme of being watched & followed is already there

Is Yoshimoto giving us a clue here?

Does Urara invite Satsuki to partake in the event because she realizes like her Satsuki is mourning for Hitoshi and wants her to also have closure?

Is this her way of making amends?

Does Urara also see what Satsuki saw, or does she see something different?

Did Hitoshi really love Satsuki?

If he was with both women, did he love either at all?

Or are both women seeing a projection of what they want to see?

Are the visions an embodiment of what Hitoshi is trying to say to them, or simply what they want to hear?

Is the closure delusional?

Is it good even if it is delusional?

What is more important, to move on holding on to a false memory (and aren't all memories altered with time) or to know the truth?

Moonlight Shadow left me rattled with all these questions

But Kitchen, just like a good meal that you prepare carefully at 2 AM, left me contently contemplating the wisps of time billowing through the night sky

'But now I feel it in my gut. Why is that we have so little choice? We live like the lowliest worms. Always defeated - defeated we make dinner, we eat, we sleep. Everyone we love is dying. Still, to cease living is unacceptable.'

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Infidelity