Kitchen proves that novellas can be exceedingly impactful. The Tokyo setting and the description of the mouth-watering dishes were an extra bonus, which added atmosphere to the story. I loved how Mikage used cooking and the kitchen to work through her sorrow and to express her feelings. No matter where it is, no matter what kind, if it’s a kitchen, if it’s a place where they make food, it’s fine with me.

The place I like best in this world is the kitchen. Although it might not teach you directly about Japanese culture, the fact that this book has sold millions of copies in Japan is something that will make you wonder. previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 next sort by previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 next Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. Kitchen was her debut and I found it impressive how she in such a short story with relatively sparse dialogue conveys the relationship between the main characters and makes it more meaningful than some writers manage to do over hundreds of pages. Banana Yoshimoto's 'Kitchen' is a book that must be read by anyone looking for an excellent fiction book, and is a must read for anyone interested in Japan and Japanese culture. Banana Yoshimoto Average rating 3.75 182,039 ratings 17,785 reviews shelved 442,997 times Showing 30 distinct works. Eriko, in particular, was an interesting and colourful personality with some insightful views on life.īanana Yoshimoto is clearly a talented writer.

Mikage, Yuichi and Eriko were lovely and engaging characters and they all walked right into my heart without even trying. I don’t know why, but it seems that Japanese authors often have that effect on me. Throughout the novella I was transported to a different state of mind filled with melancholy and beauty in an almost other-worldly sense. A kitchen-loving girl who was accidentally invited to stay at a grandmothers friends house, a reserved boy who did not talk much but who was kind-hearted, and a man with the appearance of a. The story is filled with sadness and sorrow, but overall it left me feeling hopeful. Within these few pages Yoshimoto tells a beautiful story about dealing with bereavement, finding hope, love, being yourself and supporting others.

Kitchen book by banana yoshimoto