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The Nakano Thrift Shop
by Hiromi Kawakami
My first Hiromi Kawakami book and I am mightily impressed. Each chapters are episodic in nature and take the name of an object in the Thrift shop - there is a small incident related to that object - but the chapter in itself is a gentle progression on the characters, revealing a new facet of their life. Nakano, the owner of the Thrift shop, his sister Masayo, his employees Hitomi and Takeo are the main characters in the novel. If we set aside the quirky nature of the writing, the novel is a in-depth take on the way these characters manage their intimate relations. Nakano has affairs with many women, Masayo is in a hot-cold relationship, while Hitomi and Takeo begin a relationship of their own.
A brief note on each chapters:
Rectangle#2 is the size of the envelope in which Mr. Tadokoro, a customer of the Thrift shop, places some erotic couple photos, that he wanted to sell.
In Paperweight , Masayo's relationship with her lover Maruyama is explored. She says to Hitomi thus - "Maruyama was like a paperweight. Don't you think so Hitomi? When a man is on top, don't you ever feel like paper being held down by a paperweight."
In the chapter Bus, Nakano goes to Hokkaido to attend a death, while also doing a business deal. He writes saying that he is travelling by bus and advises Takeo to stay away from woman, but Hitomi and Takeo attempt a date.
In Letter opener, a customer complains about a letter opener not being sharp enough and when Nakano goes to meet the customer with a whetstone to sharpen it, the lady stabs him using it. It is in this chapter that Nakano, after seeing Masayo's digital camera, which she uses for taking pictures of the shop items for online auction, says that the camera is silent, just like his girlfriend Sakiko who is also silent during orgasm.
In Big Dog, we get a tangential story about Maruyama who lives in an apartment whose landlord is harsh with the clients and has a big dog, an Afghan hound, who dies.
In Celluloid, Sakiko, Nakano's mistress writes a pornographic novel, in which she mentions that the Celluloid dolls are sexy, and Hitomi reads it.
In Sewing Machine, the shop gets a life size cut out of 80s popstar Seiko Matsuda, itself a part of a sewing machine ad. Masayo advises to Hitomi, When you get old and long- sighted, you can't look your sweet heart in the eye from close up. You need a little distance, so that you can focus on each other..
In Dress, Hitomi and Takeo make up, they drench in rain and Hitomi wears a dress that is on sale in the shop. A Chinese customer comes to the shop to buy Chinese scrolls, which fetches a good price.
In Bowl, a customer wants to sell a jinxed bowl, which Sakiko buys. Sakiko, Hiromi and Nakano play a game of dice which helps Sakiko decide her future with Nakano. In this chapter, Hitomi says about Sakiko A face as beautiful as a mask floating in water .
In Apples, a man wants to sell his lighter, which Takeo buys at auction. Maruyama goes missing, which Masako reveals to Hitomi all the while eating Jonathan apple (known for its tartness) pies.
In Gin, Nakano wants to get a jug, which he eventually gets from an auction. Nakano decides to close shop temporarily and Sakano decides to quit her relationship with Nakano.
In Punch ball , Hitomi starts working in a new firm, while Takeo has become a web designer and they all meet when the Nakano shop opens again.
The writing is smooth, a comfort read; there is nothing major happening except we get a better understanding of the characters. Loved the writing and will be picking up more Kawakami books.
A brief note on each chapters:
Rectangle#2 is the size of the envelope in which Mr. Tadokoro, a customer of the Thrift shop, places some erotic couple photos, that he wanted to sell.
In Paperweight , Masayo's relationship with her lover Maruyama is explored. She says to Hitomi thus - "Maruyama was like a paperweight. Don't you think so Hitomi? When a man is on top, don't you ever feel like paper being held down by a paperweight."
In the chapter Bus, Nakano goes to Hokkaido to attend a death, while also doing a business deal. He writes saying that he is travelling by bus and advises Takeo to stay away from woman, but Hitomi and Takeo attempt a date.
In Letter opener, a customer complains about a letter opener not being sharp enough and when Nakano goes to meet the customer with a whetstone to sharpen it, the lady stabs him using it. It is in this chapter that Nakano, after seeing Masayo's digital camera, which she uses for taking pictures of the shop items for online auction, says that the camera is silent, just like his girlfriend Sakiko who is also silent during orgasm.
In Big Dog, we get a tangential story about Maruyama who lives in an apartment whose landlord is harsh with the clients and has a big dog, an Afghan hound, who dies.
In Celluloid, Sakiko, Nakano's mistress writes a pornographic novel, in which she mentions that the Celluloid dolls are sexy, and Hitomi reads it.
In Sewing Machine, the shop gets a life size cut out of 80s popstar Seiko Matsuda, itself a part of a sewing machine ad. Masayo advises to Hitomi, When you get old and long- sighted, you can't look your sweet heart in the eye from close up. You need a little distance, so that you can focus on each other..
In Dress, Hitomi and Takeo make up, they drench in rain and Hitomi wears a dress that is on sale in the shop. A Chinese customer comes to the shop to buy Chinese scrolls, which fetches a good price.
In Bowl, a customer wants to sell a jinxed bowl, which Sakiko buys. Sakiko, Hiromi and Nakano play a game of dice which helps Sakiko decide her future with Nakano. In this chapter, Hitomi says about Sakiko A face as beautiful as a mask floating in water .
In Apples, a man wants to sell his lighter, which Takeo buys at auction. Maruyama goes missing, which Masako reveals to Hitomi all the while eating Jonathan apple (known for its tartness) pies.
In Gin, Nakano wants to get a jug, which he eventually gets from an auction. Nakano decides to close shop temporarily and Sakano decides to quit her relationship with Nakano.
In Punch ball , Hitomi starts working in a new firm, while Takeo has become a web designer and they all meet when the Nakano shop opens again.
The writing is smooth, a comfort read; there is nothing major happening except we get a better understanding of the characters. Loved the writing and will be picking up more Kawakami books.