A review by starrysteph
Sunrise: Radiant Stories by Erika Kobayashi

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Sunrise was a fascinating yet unnerving connected collection of stories examining the impact of atomic power on generations of Japanese women.

I never knew what to expect next. The stories ranged from sweet family moments to unsettling surrealism to speculative sci-fi-esque worlds. 

The writing was beautiful but also quite eclectic, and sometimes the transitions from one story to the next were a bit jarring. I could see some of the linking threads, but I didn’t quite understand why all of the pieces came together in this order. 

Some of these ideas were absolutely fascinating (a mysterious pandemic that causes people to lose their ability to communicate; a futuristic time without trees or paper books; a world in which everyone has wings) and all of the stories contained so much depth, symbolism, and ideas that will definitely simmer and expand in my brain. Threads of fire, bugs, and birth/rebirth all popped up again and again. 

The simpler stories were enchanting, too, following moments between siblings and mothers and daughters.

It’s a collection that asks us how we engage with our past & how much of our lives are truly within our control. What do we pass down to our children? What happens when we make hidden fears very, very visible? 

CW: death, war, murder, epidemic, ableism, terminal illness, grief, infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy, mental illness, suicidal ideation, suicide, mental illness

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(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
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