Scan barcode
yelloweyedbeta's review
dark
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
i was yet again reminded of why i don’t usually read those kind of books. they’re just not my cup of tea, doesn’t mean it was a bad book. some terms that were being used from the author/translator didn’t sit right with me but i read the comments and i came prepared. i wish mikage and yuichi nothing but the best, that they get through whatever together.
“as i grow older, much older, i will experience many things, and I will hit rock bottom again and again. again and again i will suffer; again and again i will get back on my feet. i will not be defeated. i won't let my spirit be destroyed.”
“as i grow older, much older, i will experience many things, and I will hit rock bottom again and again. again and again i will suffer; again and again i will get back on my feet. i will not be defeated. i won't let my spirit be destroyed.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism
syinhui's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Cold and gloomy. Whimsical and serene. Charming and quirky characters.
The quiet melancholy and gentle but sorrowful atmosphere of these two novellas seem to be a perfect read for cold nights or rainy afternoons. While the themes of death and loss are central in Kitchen and Moonlight Shadow, it’s also about the process of healing and finding comfort in the most mundane things. The kitchen becomes a place of solace. Good food is like a soothing balm for a tired and wounded spirit.
The quiet melancholy and gentle but sorrowful atmosphere of these two novellas seem to be a perfect read for cold nights or rainy afternoons. While the themes of death and loss are central in Kitchen and Moonlight Shadow, it’s also about the process of healing and finding comfort in the most mundane things. The kitchen becomes a place of solace. Good food is like a soothing balm for a tired and wounded spirit.
As someone who also has an affinity for kitchens and loves cooking, I found myself inevitably drawn to the titular story, Kitchen. I’ve always had a certain fondness for books that offer exquisite descriptions and appreciation of food and eating. While the prose is rather simplistic and I think the approach to character dynamics and relationships is sometimes a bit too shoujo-esque or slice-of-life for my tastes, some lines relating to food and the transformative power of shared meals - turning ordinary into something extraordinary and deeply touching really resonated with me.
Truly happy memories always live on, shining. Over time, one by one, they come back to life. The meals we ate together, numberless afternoons and evenings.
When was it that Yuichi said to me, "Why is it that everything I eat when I'm with you is so delicious?"
"It's amazing how good this is," I said. The tempura on rice we were eating, seated at the counter in this new little shop smelling of fresh wood, was so good it revived my appetite.
"Isn't it?" said Hiiragi.
"Yes. It's delicious. So delicious it makes me grateful I'm alive."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, and Terminal illness
risemini's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Transphobia, Cancer, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Murder, Violence, Death, Grief, and Hate crime
james1star's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I picked this up as a ‘blind date with a book’ and was pleasantly impressed. It’s quite a strange one consisting of two short stories (the first split into two parts so three chapters in total), the first about a young woman Mikage who recently lost her sole family member, her grandmother. Yuichi who knew her grandmother asks Mikage round with the possibility of moving in wi yh him and his mother Eriko, who’s a trans woman. The second story follows Satsuki who recently lost her high school lover of four years Hitoshi as she tries to look to the future. Out running she meets a strange woman called Urara who says a once in a hundred year event will take place, Hitoshi’s you get brother Hiiragi is another strange but lovable character we meet.
The prominent motif throughout is grief, the many forms and how it impacts oneself. This sensation is heavily explored and Yoshimoto does a great job at realising these characters and thus how they’re impacted by the death of loved ones. Her storytelling isn’t particularly imaginative but is very real and flows well. The characters are for the most part loveable but what’s done best is how we’re attached to them as a reader in an emotional way. Some sentences maybe went on too long with many passages but her nuance/craft could’ve been lost in translation. Being written in 1988, I thought the inclusion of a transgender character was rather ‘modern’ and greatly appreciated, Yoshimoto’s work was hailed as very contemporary in Japan so this is great. That being said, some parts made me a little uncomfortable where there’s an emphasis played on Eriko (and later Chika)’s ‘masculine’ features, with some outdated terms like ‘transsexual’ with deadnaming and Yuichi has a ‘she was/is a man’ ideology. But this was about it and overall I was impressed by this book. It’s not a favourite but definitely decent and one I’d recommend, the author does an amazing job at making grief a very real and important emotion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Minor: Deadnaming, Murder, Alcoholism, Car accident, Mental illness, Hate crime, Cancer, Death of parent, and Transphobia
recycled_personalities's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Progressive for it’s time. Seen through a mordent lens, it could be better in its representation. Great examination of grief.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Alcohol, Murder, Alcoholism, Medical content, Bullying, Grief, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Medical trauma, Transphobia, Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Death, and Hate crime
jamieruwen's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Very gorgeous. Yoshimoto's prose is delicate, touching, uncomplicated and deeply emotional. One of the most sincere displays of grief, hope, and food I've read so far.
I hope this one day gets a more careful translation - I feel the language barrier somewhat stilted the emotional depth of the prose. Yes, Eriko is pretty frequently misgendered but I could not feel malice towards trans people in Kitchen, just like... it from late 80s Japan, what do you expect?
I hope this one day gets a more careful translation - I feel the language barrier somewhat stilted the emotional depth of the prose. Yes, Eriko is pretty frequently misgendered but I could not feel malice towards trans people in Kitchen, just like... it from late 80s Japan, what do you expect?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism and Eating disorder
zannayo's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
My own love for this work snuck up on me as I read on. The themes explored within these two stories could easily have been overwhelmingly sad, but there was always enough hopeful lightness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Alcohol, Car accident, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Outing, Alcoholism, Murder, and Transphobia
Minor: Cancer and Deadnaming
freckled_frog_boi's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
I loved the writing style and how she described simple moments was absolutely delicious to read. However, as a trans person, the writing surrounding trans characters was horrible and openly transphobic. The characters love their friends who are trans women but out them, and call them men, make jokes about them being masculine, and are constantly reminding themselves and others that they are still men. The trans characters themselves are beautiful and I wished they were treated better. Also, there is a weird phenomenon where transness is treated like mental decline when faced with grief(?) which was weird and unsettling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia
Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism
sarah984's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
"Kitchen" contains two novellas about recovering from the death of a loved one, and helping others cope with loss. Both stories were sweet and melancholy. However I did want a little more from the titular story (it dwelled a little too long on the will they won't they romantic relationship stuff and the most interesting character had way too little page time) and both stories are a bit weird about gender (which is sort of understandable since this was originally published in the 80s).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death, Transphobia, Death, Death of parent, and Hate crime
Minor: Deadnaming, Outing, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Alcoholism
sydneybedell's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming and Hate crime
Minor: Alcoholism