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Kitchen

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Kitchen

By: Banana Yoshimoto
Narrated by: Emily Zeller
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With the publication of Kitchen, the dazzling English-language debut that is still her best-loved book, the literary world realized that Yoshimoto was a young writer of enduring talent whose work has quickly earned a place among the best of contemporary Japanese literature. Kitchen is an enchantingly original book that juxtaposes two tales about mothers, love, tragedy, and the power of the kitchen and home in the lives of a pair of free-spirited young women in contemporary Japan. Mikage, the heroine, is an orphan raised by her grandmother, who has passed away. Grieving, Mikage is taken in by her friend, Yoichi, and his mother (who is really his cross-dressing father), Eriko. As the three of them form an improvised family that soon weathers its own tragic losses, Yoshimoto spins a lovely, evocative tale with the kitchen and the comforts of home at its heart.

In a whimsical style that recalls the early Marguerite Duras, Kitchen and its companion story, Moonlight Shadow, are elegant tales whose seeming simplicity is the ruse of a very special writer whose voice echoes in the mind and the soul.

©1988 Banana Yoshimoto. English translation Fukutake Publishing Co., Ltd., through the Japan Foreign-Rights Centre. Translation 1993 by Megan Backus. (P)2015 Audible Inc. Literary Fiction Genre Fiction Heartfelt Psychological
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Beautiful Writing • Authentic Storytelling • Different Character Voices • Heartfelt Story

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The overall story is enticing, and heartfelt. It was kind slow at first but picks up very quick. Shocking and revealing of human grief and life beyond it.

Amazing book on grief

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Note: its 2 independent stories!
I liked the topic, the stories and characters, but somehow I found the writing a bit superficial and fast, lacking depth.
The performance is ok, but didn’t love it. It still feels weird to me to hear a japanese story in such strong American accent.

Not worth a credit

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I didn’t realize this when I bought it, but this version includes 2 separate stories. Both were about love and loss, although of a different nature. I enjoyed both books; the writing was concise yet tells a complete story.

Two Stories

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A very quick read and exceptionally enjoyable. The original Kitchen story is definitely one of my favorites now. While death and loss are heavy themes, found family and acceptance are also prominent themes. I love the characterization of all 3 main characters. While I would’ve loved for a more concrete ending to Mikage’s story, the vague one isn’t lacking and magical in its own way. The “sequel” which plays right after, Moonlight Shadow, doesn’t have the same weight for me as Kitchen, but it is still a nice listen—mainly for Hiiragi.

Definitely see why it was a hit~

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my favorite book that I read almost 26 years ago and still love it to this day

love

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