Lizard by Banana Yoshimoto
It seems there’s something about both Japanese literature and art that really affects me emotionally. In terms of literature, Japanese authors just seem to have such a good sense of flow and almost lyrical poetry in prose format. That being said, I really enjoyed this collection of stories that, as Yoshimoto explains in the afterward, have to do with the way people develop a sense of self. From the homeless man met on a subway that turns out to be a beautiful woman to the woman who tells her love she is going to have her memories erased but won’t forget him (I couldn’t help recalling the premise of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind a bit here), we see glimpses of different lives and moments that come to pass and are catalogued as they emerge. This is the first of Yoshimoto’s works I have read and I intend to read her others. Oh, and she’s the very definition of cool-in the afterward, she writes:
Thank you to all of my reaers for your letters and your thoughts. With your encouragement, I hope to continue writing interesting stories. -An early spring evening, at the office (I’m on my way to a Sonic Youth concert!)