Breasts and Eggs, Mieko Kawakami
“This is a story about freedom and choice, or rather, the lack of it.”
This is a story about freedom and choice, or rather, the lack of it.
Breasts and Eggs is divided into two parts – the first explores a very short period in the lives of three women from a working-class Japanese family. Natsuko, the main character, is a struggling novelist living in Tokyo who is originally from Osaka, where her sister Makiko and her daughter Midoriko still live. I really enjoyed reading about the dynamic between the three women and the different ways that Makiko and Midoriko were feeling about their respective bodies was enthralling.
The second part focuses on Natsuko. It is an intimate and reflective portrayal of her moral and physical struggles. Natsuko wants to have a child, but, as a single woman in Japan, it is very hard for her to find a reliable and safe way to find a sperm donor. Throughout her struggles, Natsuko meets many people who share their opinions about whether having a child alone is the right thing for Natsuko to do.
Breasts and Eggs is beautifully written, and it is a pleasure to read. I especially liked the way the author creates the atmosphere of a hot Tokyo summer.
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