Kitchen

By: Banana Yoshimoto

Narrated by: Emily Zeller

With the publication of Kitchen, the dazzling English-language debut that is still her best-loved book, the literary world realized that Yoshimoto was a young writer of enduring talent whose work has quickly earned a place among the best of contemporary Japanese literature. Kitchen is an enchantingly original book that juxtaposes two tales about mothers, love, tragedy, and the power of the kitchen and home in the lives of a pair of free-spirited young women in contemporary Japan. Mikage, the heroine, is an orphan raised by her grandmother, who has passed away. Grieving, Mikage is taken in by her friend, Yoichi, and his mother (who is really his cross-dressing father), Eriko. As the three of them form an improvised family that soon weathers its own tragic losses, Yoshimoto spins a lovely, evocative tale with the kitchen and the comforts of home at its heart.

In a whimsical style that recalls the early Marguerite Duras, Kitchen and its companion story, Moonlight Shadow, are elegant tales whose seeming simplicity is the ruse of a very special writer whose voice echoes in the mind and the soul.

©1988 Banana Yoshimoto. English translation Fukutake Publishing Co., Ltd., through the Japan Foreign-Rights Centre. Translation 1993 by Megan Backus. (P)2015 Audible Inc.

love

my favorite book that I read almost 26 years ago and still love it to this day

Not worth a credit

Note: its 2 independent stories!
I liked the topic, the stories and characters, but somehow I found the writing a bit superficial and fast, lacking depth.
The performance is ok, but didn’t love it. It still feels weird to me to hear a japanese story in such strong American accent.

beautiful story, could have been twice as long

very easy reading, genuinely interesting characters, I was surprised at how quick it was over.

Really quick read.

It was a really quick read. Didn't beat around the bush or have a slow start. It went straight to the warmth and love you receive after a death in the family and also how they dealt with loss. In both stories the protagonist slowly found their own way of dealing with death. It makes you feel somewhat relieved yet hopefully knowing that everyone goes through it differently. Loved this book!

Two Stories

I didn’t realize this when I bought it, but this version includes 2 separate stories. Both were about love and loss, although of a different nature. I enjoyed both books; the writing was concise yet tells a complete story.