Book Review Mieko Kawakami Breasts And Eggs

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2020 Europa Edition Translated from The Japanese by David Boyd. A male reader reading this in public buildings and on public transport draws comment, raised eyebrows and assumptions. Many assume the title suggests something erotic but anyone buying the book on that assumption is going to be very disappointed. The book is in many ways a series of feminist conversational observations presented as a double novel. The first half of the book was published independently of the much longer second half. Part one deals with the perspectives of three Japanese women, especially relating to whether women should consider breast enhancement surgery. The three related women, Narrator, sister and sister’s daughter, worry about the phases of their life; puberty and approaching periods, whether or not to have cosmetic surgery and the fear of growing old without experiencing love or marriage. Much of the reflection on the themes is very chatty and feels authentic, honest and potentially even autobiographical on behalf of the author. The second book centres much more on the narrator who now has a book out and struggles to write a follow up work and relate to the writing / book promotion circuit. As a writer myself I found much I could relate to here, such as seeing how pretentious some authors can be and asking awkward questions at author reading / signing events. The question of whether or not to have a child to an anonymous sperm doner takes over from the breast enhancement questions of the first half. Embryonic eggs, chicken eggs, fragility, the title has multiple meanings and associations. There is a lot of humour in the book, notably in the sequence where two of the characters break barriers between one another by competing at breaking eggs over their own heads, creating a spectacular mess as their own inner mess is sorted out and barriers between them are broken in the chaos. Not an easy read as it has no real plot or action drive but its mature, intelligent reflections on life, ageing, change and creativity make it well worth a go. Cover art depicts the face of a sad looking young girl, as what may be tears spill up into the air rather than down her cheeks. Read as part of the currently virtual Worldwise Learning Centre international literature book club sessions at the University Of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). Arthur Chappell