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A review by ametakinetos
Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto
3.0
I mourn the unforgiving reality of translation, as I know the highly contextual and intricate Japanese language cannot have possibly made its way properly into English. The prose appears disconnected and jumpy in many places, alternating between direct translation and using English metaphors in a clashing fashion.
Still, "Kitchen" is a gentle story exploring loss, grief, and healing. Other reviews seemed caught up in the portrayal of Eriko, but I found the imperfection of the language and lack of discussion made it more realistic - especially considering the book's original publication date of 1988. The novella's finer points were subtle and sweet, no sharp edges to be found, instead giving a generally soft and peacefully thought-provoking impression. As someone who has not lost a close loved one, it provided an empathetic perspective into the emotional turmoil and struggles accompanying such an event.
Still, "Kitchen" is a gentle story exploring loss, grief, and healing. Other reviews seemed caught up in the portrayal of Eriko, but I found the imperfection of the language and lack of discussion made it more realistic - especially considering the book's original publication date of 1988. The novella's finer points were subtle and sweet, no sharp edges to be found, instead giving a generally soft and peacefully thought-provoking impression. As someone who has not lost a close loved one, it provided an empathetic perspective into the emotional turmoil and struggles accompanying such an event.