Take a photo of a barcode or cover
aemynadira 's review for:
The Premonition
by Banana Yoshimoto
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This novel is actually 1st published in 1988, & has just made its way into English in 2023.
It centers around Yayoi, a 19-year-old girl who lives with her family in Tokyo. They're a happy family, but deep down, Yayoi is haunted by something blurry from the forgotten past. With her memories of a traumatic event erased, she's protected from the truth by her nearest & dearest, even when every now & then she gets flashes of a different life, with a different family. Her "aunt" Yukino has known the truth all along, but it's only when Yayoi's on the verge of connecting the dots that she confirms those suspicions.
It's a haunting story of long-buried memories, complex family dynamics, & unconventional life choices, told in a gentle & meaningful way. The prose feels crystalline & the plot is flimsy, but I think this calmness acts as a cover for hidden depths & nuances. With ghostly apparition, buckets of nostalgia & a slightly unusual love story, I really enjoy the dreamlike & unsettling atmosphere here. As I read this novel, I couldn't help but thinking of Hirokazu Koreeda's films. It's giving the same vibes!
It centers around Yayoi, a 19-year-old girl who lives with her family in Tokyo. They're a happy family, but deep down, Yayoi is haunted by something blurry from the forgotten past. With her memories of a traumatic event erased, she's protected from the truth by her nearest & dearest, even when every now & then she gets flashes of a different life, with a different family. Her "aunt" Yukino has known the truth all along, but it's only when Yayoi's on the verge of connecting the dots that she confirms those suspicions.
It's a haunting story of long-buried memories, complex family dynamics, & unconventional life choices, told in a gentle & meaningful way. The prose feels crystalline & the plot is flimsy, but I think this calmness acts as a cover for hidden depths & nuances. With ghostly apparition, buckets of nostalgia & a slightly unusual love story, I really enjoy the dreamlike & unsettling atmosphere here. As I read this novel, I couldn't help but thinking of Hirokazu Koreeda's films. It's giving the same vibes!