'Breathtaking' Haruki Murakami, international bestselling author of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles
On a hot summer's day in a poor suburb of Tokyo we meet three women: thirty-year-old Natsu, her older sister Makiko, and Makiko's teenage daughter Midoriko. Makiko, an ageing hostess despairing the loss of her looks, has travelled to Tokyo in search of breast enhancement surgery. She's accompanied by Midoriko, who has recently stopped speaking, finding herself unable to deal with her own changing body and her mother's self-obsession. Her silence dominates Natsu's rundown apartment, providing a catalyst for each woman to grapple with their own anxieties and their relationships with one another.
Ten years later, we meet Natsu again. She is now a writer and finds herself on a journey back to her native city, returning to memories of that summer and her family's past as she faces her own uncertain future.
In Breasts and Eggs Mieko Kawakami paints a radical and intimate portrait of contemporary working class womanhood in Japan, recounting the heartbreaking journeys of three women in a society where the odds are stacked against them. This is an unforgettable full length English language debut from a major new international talent.
Marie
23.2.2024
Mieko Kawakami is one of my absolute favorite authors. When I first encountered her work several years ago, I also stumbled upon an expansive realm of fiction that genuinely opened a door I can never close. It reminded me why books play such a significant role in my life; in many ways, they are my life. Especially during challenging periods, they serve as a refuge, allowing me to immerse myself in a fictional world through the pages of a book—a solace so immense that it enables me to cling to what feels beautiful and secure amid all the hardships. Kawakami's work vividly brought back that realization from the moment I discovered her as an author. Kawakami’s work means a lot to me on a very personal level. I think she has an unique ability to convey profound emotions and complex themes through evocative language and carefully crafted prose. She pays meticulous attention to detail that give me a connection to the characters and the narrative she writes about. In Kawakami's novel "Breast and Eggs", she delves into the intricate layers of womanhood, exploring the themes of identity, motherhood, and societal expectations. Natsuko, a successful writer, symbolizes the modern, independent woman. Her decision to undergo artificial insemination and embrace single motherhood challenges traditional notions of family and motherhood. And through Natsuko, Kawakami critiques societal pressure on women to conform to predetermined roles. I found Natsuko's journey becomes a feminist exploration of choice and autonomy. The novel is also about Makiko, Natsuko's sister, and her daughter Midoriko. Makiko's choice to undergo a controversial breast surgery raises questions about societal beauty standards and the commodification of women's bodies. Midoriko, a young girl on the cusp of womanhood, grapples with her own identity and the expectations placed upon her. I think the novel addresses the control women have, or lack, over their bodies. Whether it's Natsuko's choice to be a single mother or Makiko's decision to modify her body, the narrative underscores the importance of women having agency over their own bodies and choices. I believe the novel challenges the notion that a woman's fulfillment is solely derived from motherhood. Additionally, Makiko's decision to undergo surgery serves as a commentary on society's rigid beauty standards. The novel encourages you to question and challenge the unrealistic expectations imposed on women to conform to a certain physical ideal.
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