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A review by ruthiep
The Twilight Years by Sawako Ariyoshi
5.0
In "Twilight Years", Sawako Ariyoshi mesmerizes with detail. The reader is forced to confront the mundane, the bizarre, and the often appalling aspects of growing old, and empathizes with the family who must care for "Grandfather" as his physical and mental condition continue to deteriorate. We sympathize especially with the wife, Akiko, who seems close to losing her own sanity at several points, realizing her frustration and despair as she comes to understand that the societal system in place is not equipped to deal with the steadily rising number of elderly who cannot live independently. If the father-in-law who spent decades tormenting her mercilessly is to survive, it must be through her own efforts. The crux of the novel is her journey to redemption through sacrifice, and until the final pages, the reader wonders which whether Akiko and her family, whose daily life had been so neatly mapped out, will themselves survive the chaos that descends when caring for Grandfather becomes their communal responsibility.
To a non-Japanese reader, this book may seem hopelessly outdated and far-fetched at times, but to those who have lived in a Japanese extended family for any amount of time, the details ring true. Ariyoshi-san's novel was first published in 1972, but with the steadily declining birthrate in recent years, the issues it raises bear re-examining. Will society be able to shoulder the burden of yet more and more "Grandfathers", especially those without family or reliable networks?
Approach this book cautiously, and be prepared to face the inevitability of your own death. Yet if the subject matter is dark, Akiko's struggle is uplifting; readers who persevere till the end will be uplifted as well. An excellent and thought-provoking read.
To a non-Japanese reader, this book may seem hopelessly outdated and far-fetched at times, but to those who have lived in a Japanese extended family for any amount of time, the details ring true. Ariyoshi-san's novel was first published in 1972, but with the steadily declining birthrate in recent years, the issues it raises bear re-examining. Will society be able to shoulder the burden of yet more and more "Grandfathers", especially those without family or reliable networks?
Approach this book cautiously, and be prepared to face the inevitability of your own death. Yet if the subject matter is dark, Akiko's struggle is uplifting; readers who persevere till the end will be uplifted as well. An excellent and thought-provoking read.