'The Lake' by Banana Yoshimoto is a quiet and haunting novel that delves into the lives of two individuals, Chihiro and Nakajima, who form an unlikely bond. Through subtle and delicate storytelling, the author explores their past traumas and struggles, portraying a deep connection between the characters. The narrative unfolds gently, focusing on character emotions rather than a driven plot, set against the backdrop of a mysterious and engaging romance.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of grief, trauma, mental health issues, and existential contemplation.
Has Romance?
The Lake portrays a medium level of romance as it primarily revolves around the emotional and psychological connections between the characters rather than overt romantic actions.
From The Publisher:
While The Lake shows off many of the features that have made Banana Yoshimoto famous-a cast of vivid and quirky characters, simple yet nuanced prose, a tight plot with an upbeat pace-it's also one of the most darkly mysterious books she's ever written.
It tells the tale of a young woman who moves to Tokyo after the death of her mother, hoping to get over her grief and start a career as a graphic artist. She finds herself spending too much time staring out her window, though ... until she realizes she's gotten used to seeing a young man across the street staring out his window, too.
They eventually embark on a hesitant romance, until she learns that he has been the victim of some form of childhood trauma. Visiting two of his friends who live a monastic life beside a beautiful lake, she begins to piece together a series of clues that lead her to suspect his experience may have had something to do with a bizarre religious cult. . . .
With its echoes of the infamous, real-life Aum Shinrikyo cult (the group that released poison gas in the Tokyo subway system), The Lake unfolds as the most powerful novel Banana Yoshimoto has written. And as the two young lovers overcome their troubled past to discover hope in the beautiful solitude of the lake in the countryside, it's also one of her most moving.
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Reader Stats (9):
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Want To Read (5) |
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***3.5***
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The Lake?
About the Author:
Banana Yoshimoto wrote her first novel, Kitchen, while working as a waitress at a golf-course restaurant. It sold millions of copies worldwide, and led to a phenomenon dubbed by Western journalists as "Banana-mania." Yoshimoto has gone on to be one of the biggest-selling and most distinguished writers in Japanese history, winning numerous awards for her work. The Lake is her thirteenth book of fiction.
Michael Emmerich has translated numerous books by Banana Yoshimoto, and is also known for his translations of Nobel Prize-winner Yasunari Kawabata.
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