Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto is a collection of three short stories focusing on the transitory nature of life and nostalgia. Each story delves into themes of loss, death, and sleep, portraying the pathos of everyday life and its fleetingness in a beautifully written manner. The book presents three women's stories intertwined with the acts of sleeping, love, and death, showcasing Banana Yoshimoto's trademark otherworldliness and ethereal quality in storytelling.

Characters:

The characters are complex women who confront themes of loss, love, and the nuances of life and death.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by simplicity and emotional depth, creating a haunting atmosphere.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative consists of three interconnected novellas exploring themes of sleep, loss, and the emotional struggles of relationships.

Setting:

The setting is modern Japan, characterized by a blend of the real and the surreal, emphasizing themes of transience.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and reflective, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the poignant emotional landscape.

Dear Sarah, It was spring when we went to see my brother off. He and his girlfriends were waiting at the airport when we arrived—yes, he had lots of girlfriends back then—and they were all decked out ...

Notes:

The book 'Asleep' is written by Banana Yoshimoto, a well-known contemporary Japanese author.

It contains three novellas centered around women dealing with love, death, and sleep.

The storytelling has a magical, otherworldly quality that some readers find dreamy.

Each story explores profound themes of loss and the transitional state between life and death.

The characters frequently experience a disconnect between wakefulness and sleep, reflecting a state of existential limbo.

Readers describe the writing as simple yet heavy with emotion, leading to a bittersweet experience.

The book is compared to works by Canadian author Alice Munro, especially regarding its exploration of women's lives.

The stories are rich in Japanese aesthetics and often conclude without clear resolutions, emphasizing life's fleetingness.

Despite mixed reviews, many find Yoshimoto's prose beautiful and thought-provoking.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of death, grief, emotional distress, and references to suicide, which may be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

While romance is present, it is intertwined with deeper themes of loss and emotional struggle, contributing to a more complex portrayal of relationships rather than traditional romantic narratives.

From The Publisher:

Three extraordinary novellas narrate the individual stories of three women, all bewitched into a spiritual sleep--a sleepwalker mourning a lost love, a woman unable to remain awake who is involved in an affair with a man whose wife is in a coma, and a woman whose dreams are haunted by a woman she once confronted in a love triangle.

Reprint. 50,000 first printing.

Ratings (2)

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Asleep

Banana Yoshimoto