KITCHEN
๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ก๐๐ง
๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐จ
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ: ๐
๐๐๐๐ซ & ๐
๐๐๐๐ซ (๐๐๐๐)
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐ค: ๐๐๐
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐: ๐๐๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ (๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐)
๐๐๐ง๐ซ๐: ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐
๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ: ๐๐๐๐
"Kitchen" is a poignant tale unveiling the life of Mikage Sakurai, a young woman left adrift after the passing of her grandmother. Facing solitude, Mikage receives a gracious invitation from her friend, Yuiche Tanabe, to reside with him and his transgender mother, Erika. Embracing this gesture, Mikage discovers an unexpected sense of belonging within this newfound family. As she navigates through various losses, Mikage finds solace and a renewed spirit in the warmth of kitchens and the art of cooking.
In the companion story, "Moonlight Shadow," we are introduced to Satsuki, a woman grappling with the sudden loss of her boyfriend, Hitoshi, in a tragic accident. Alongside her grief, we encounter Hitoshi's younger brother, Hiirage, who not only mourns the loss of his brother but also his girlfriend in the same tragic event. Coping with his sorrow in peculiar ways, Hiirage's path diverges from Satsuki's, who seeks solace in the rhythmic tranquillity of running. It is during one of her runs that Satsuki encounters Urara, a mysterious figure who introduces her to a world of enigmatic and magical occurrences, altering her perception of life and loss.
Regarding Yoshimoto's writing, I find myself at a crossroads. There are moments where the prose feels just right, yet others that seem slightly askew. I'm unsure whether the writing itself or the translation left me unconvinced. Or perhaps this blend of completeness and incompleteness is meant to be read in this way.
Kitchen doesn't rely heavily on plot twists and turns. Those seeking a fast-paced, plot-driven novel might find themselves disappointed. At times, I sensed the translation might have faltered, although I can't say for certain if it was intentional.
In conclusion, I feel that Kitchen's translation is slightly flawed. It's a fast-paced and short read. Those who enjoy reading about life philosophy can give it a try, but I don't think it would be as enjoyable for those who read books purely for fun.
My Rating:
3.5/5
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