BOOK REVIEW / BREASTS and EGGS

                                BOOK REVIEW / BREASTS and EGGS

As the name depicts, this book is all about the chronicles of  contemporary women, as per book in Tokyo, Japan. Japanese fiction whether it is written by Haruki Murakami or this one Mieko Kawakami, always leave me in a state of aloofness. 

Regardless of a women centric or a woman’s narration describing the uncanny views about the women, you cannot compare English’s or American’s take with that of Japanese one. The author has addressed various not-so uncommon issues related to womenhood, like sexuality, child abuse, breast augmentation, mensturation or artificial insemination, every serious aspect is weaved in the book perfectly. Each of these terms bring zillionth pf doubts and abhorrences. The mental health, how it is shaped since childhood that too if it is grown from child sexual abuse will leave you traumatised till your last breath. Each of the three women in the story has suffered from the same. The narrative is dark bringing you how bizzare situations are there within the daily life of a working Japanese woman. No doubt this novel is on the side of feminism unveiling the layers which I think can only be done by a WOMAN WRITING WOMEN.

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BREATS AND EGGS  is a novel about the lives of present day women aged - 39, 30 and 12 respectively, struggling life with their own insecurities and every day challenges. The narrator Natsuko Natsume, an aspiring writer living in Tokyo, hailing from Osaka, starts narrates her story from her childhood days, living in an unstable household with a drunkard father. She fights internally to write her story along with her growing skepticism about having a kid that too alone by aritificial insemination. Her sister Maiko deals with her insecurity about her body specially her breats and her decision and obsession of getting breast augmentation throws a light on how a woman in her thirties starts getting insecure of her own body. Lastly the daughter of Makiko, Midariko,  a 12 year old, soon to be a teenager, questions herself about getting the mensturation and wishes how she may not get pregnnat ever to avoid bringing misery to another kid of coming into this world.

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Nevertheless I was intrigued by the story but often I found the story bits were quite strange and not needed in the book. the reading is not at all a light one, it is darka dn questioning, depicting all the un-talked terms in the most strange way. Thankfully the ending is quite shaped and unabrupt. If you are into reading about feminism, this one is surely a must read.

Some of my favourite quotes from the book.

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                                                                                                                                                 Language is also discussed insightfully, like any other country, the author discusses various dialects of her country and how dialect effects and embellishes the writings and its impact on readers.

                                                                                                                 As from the starting of the book, the impact of a family on its members and specially its children is discussed. The personality is framed how you are grown and the environment in which you are grown is of the vital importance.

Above quote is my favourite one, we share our words with others, but what are words, they carry meaning on how the receiver perceives it, what the person says, it really doesn't matter if it is true or false and what is actually true or false/ right or wrong. When we speak, do we speak from our tongues or our minds, nobody will ever know. If the tongue speaks then those are words otherwise it is our thoughts, which may or may not be understood by the person who can think them as merely words. 

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Book Review / Tomb of Sand / Geetanjali Shree - Daisy Rockwell

What comes to your mind when I say 'Indian Household' - grandparents, their children and the grandchildren. You will find this mundane, and ordinary family, quarrelling but a happy family. Apparently every ordinary family is extraordinary in its own way. There are hundreds of layers underneath each member, twisted, normal, there are myriads of shades to count on.

Geetanjali Shree has beautifully captured the essence of an Indian family. She throws light on every character making it central at their own spots. A rebellious daughter who enjoys single hood, crossing the conventional boundaries made by the society. Unlike his brother, now soon-to-be retired grating between an age old mother and a nagging wife, having two sons, one beyond the seven seas and the other who is dear to everybody.

Shree deals with amnesia of the grandmother in the story who seems just like her age but crosses the border with her daughter to deliver something, only to meet someone who had been long forgotten.

My View--

No doubt for why this book won the International Booker Prize of 2022. I would like to add that it is unbelievable how a simple yet complex story has won over the diverse stories. It is truly said, to stand out doesn't mean one need to extraordinary. Just like Jhumpa Lahiri writes about a desi family residing abroad, Shree has penned a story and its chronicles in its own way. Translated from Hindi, Daisy Rockwell has captured the true essence of the original writing. 

The reading might be running but you may ponder again over the last pages that you have just read. Domestic Fiction with a touch of Magic Realism, the story revolves around the contemporary issues that women face, challenging the customs and questioning the society's prejudices.

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This book is a must read !! Don't get intimidated by the size of the novel, this one surely hooks you up in the end!!!