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A review by icedpinecones
Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi
fast-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
4.0
Diary of a void by Emi Yagi
I'm a big fan of translated fiction, I love Mieko Kawakami and Sayaka Murata. I purchased this book from my local indie bookstore a few months ago and finally got around to reading it, and I really enjoyed it.
Essentially the main character, Shibata, one day states she cannot do an additional task at work because she is pregnant. Throughout the entire book the lines blur between what is truly happening and what is a lie, I felt manipulated alongside Shibatas own perception of reality.
The book starts leaning more on the end of she's not really pregnant, with details such as stuffing her clothing & having to make up additional details to upkeep her lie. But as it goes on, she interacts with others who truly see and believe she is pregnant (friends feeling the kicks, doctors doing the ultrasound etc) and it is noted that she is no longer stuffing her clothes.
The ending is open, you never get that confirmation on what is real or false, but it was a very absorbing novel. I found the writing style really easy to get along with and the font in my copy is quite big which I felt added to the feeling of this being a quick read. I'd definitely reccomend this to friends wanting to try translated fiction but not wanting the wacky and wonderful of Sayaka Murata or the lengthy and more poetic prose of Mieko Kawakami.
I'm a big fan of translated fiction, I love Mieko Kawakami and Sayaka Murata. I purchased this book from my local indie bookstore a few months ago and finally got around to reading it, and I really enjoyed it.
Essentially the main character, Shibata, one day states she cannot do an additional task at work because she is pregnant. Throughout the entire book the lines blur between what is truly happening and what is a lie, I felt manipulated alongside Shibatas own perception of reality.
The book starts leaning more on the end of she's not really pregnant, with details such as stuffing her clothing & having to make up additional details to upkeep her lie. But as it goes on, she interacts with others who truly see and believe she is pregnant (friends feeling the kicks, doctors doing the ultrasound etc) and it is noted that she is no longer stuffing her clothes.
The ending is open, you never get that confirmation on what is real or false, but it was a very absorbing novel. I found the writing style really easy to get along with and the font in my copy is quite big which I felt added to the feeling of this being a quick read. I'd definitely reccomend this to friends wanting to try translated fiction but not wanting the wacky and wonderful of Sayaka Murata or the lengthy and more poetic prose of Mieko Kawakami.