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A review by cwerber
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Maybe spoiler?
I don't remember where I read but it billed this as a romance and while it is not a traditional Western romance, I can see why it was called one. Maybe, I just need to break my own viewpoints.
Anyway, I find it more of a story between two lonely people who have an unconventional friendship which turns into romance. The narrator runs into her old school teacher while out at a bar. They strike up a tentative friendship while all the while calling him Sensei but only because she couldn't remember his name and even after she does she still only refers to him as Sensei. She is about 30 years younger than him but they reacquaint themselves when she is 38 and he is 68.
His wife has died and his son, who is seldom mentioned, lives far away because of a disagreement with his mother. Tsukiko lives alone and is considered odd by many people. They strike up a friendship that seems at first to revolve around drinking but develops they more time they spend together.
More character and cultural study, I caught myself thinking about this book often.
Anyway, I find it more of a story between two lonely people who have an unconventional friendship which turns into romance. The narrator runs into her old school teacher while out at a bar. They strike up a tentative friendship while all the while calling him Sensei but only because she couldn't remember his name and even after she does she still only refers to him as Sensei. She is about 30 years younger than him but they reacquaint themselves when she is 38 and he is 68.
His wife has died and his son, who is seldom mentioned, lives far away because of a disagreement with his mother. Tsukiko lives alone and is considered odd by many people. They strike up a friendship that seems at first to revolve around drinking but develops they more time they spend together.
More character and cultural study, I caught myself thinking about this book often.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Death