A Perfect Day To Be Alone, Nanae Aoyama
“Their lives trundle on in symmetry, much like the trains they can see from their windows.”
Translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, Nanae Aoyama’s A Perfect Day To Be Alone is an insightful and compassionate novella that delves into the complexities of young adulthood through the eyes of 21-year-old Chizu. Set over the course of one year, the story follows Chizu as she moves in with 71-year-old Ginko, when her mother emigrates to China for work. Her room in Ginko’s small Tokyo home is lined with photos of cats and the constant noise of the trains passing by.
The novel brims with loneliness and a sense of melancholy as Chizu navigate a series of monotonous part-time jobs and unsatisfying relationships. She struggles to find a place for herself in the world and often scorns herself for her own shortcomings. Her spiteful tongue, which Ginko is often on the receiving end of, felt very reminiscent of teenage angst.
Chizu’s deadpan wit and sharp look on society was so enjoyable to read. I particularly enjoyed the depictions of the minutiae of Chizu’s and Ginko’s life as they live this quiet existence together. Their lives trundle on in symmetry, much like the trains they can see from their windows. At first, they appear to be disconnected from each other, both existing alongside the other but, as the novel draws to a close, this imperfect symmetry in which they are living becomes both necessary and hopeful.
A Perfect Day To Be Alone is a moving, poignant, and funny story about loneliness, coming of age, and the importance of connection and friendship. Filled with cats, trains, and miso soup, this novella is also a love letter to Tokyo, capturing the essence of youth in all its bittersweet glory.
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