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Paperback Edition
It tells the story of three women: the thirty-year-old Natsu, her older sister, Makiko, and Makiko’s daughter, Midoriko. Makiko has traveled to Tokyo in search of an affordable breast enhancement procedure. She is accompanied by Midoriko, who has recently grown silent, finding herself unable to voice the vague yet overwhelming pressures associated with growing up. Her silence proves a catalyst for each woman to confront her fears and frustrations.
On another hot summer’s day ten years later, Natsu, on a journey back to her native city, struggles with her own indeterminate identity as she confronts anxieties about growing old alone and childless. |
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Title : Breasts and Eggs
Author : Mieko Kawakami
Published year : 2020 (in English)
Original Language : Japanese (read in English version)
Genre : fiction, contemporary
The first time I was enchanted by Mieko Kawakami’s work was with Heaven, though I read Ms. Ice Sandwich first. Since then, her new books have always been on my auto-buy list. But of course, reading them must wait in my unsystematic reading list. Breasts and Eggs waited to be read for almost four years on my bookshelf.
I was in the middle of reading it when I was blown away; I was so envious and amazed while reading it.
This book contains two parts: first is The Breasts and second is The Eggs. Judging by the title, you already know that this book tackles very strong women's themes. I wonder how men read it.
Both parts use the first-person point of view of Natsuko, with a time jump of about 10 years between the two parts.
The Breasts is a story about a really hot summer when Natsuko receives a rare visit from her sister, Makiko, and her niece, Midoriko. Makiko is nine years older than Natsuko and lives in Osaka—their hometown—while Natsuko has lived in Tokyo since her college days.
Natsuko is a single woman who works in a bookstore while fulfilling her dream of becoming a writer. She lives in an ordinary apartment near Sangenjaya Station. Meanwhile, Makiko works as a hostess in a club called Chanel,just because the owner loves the brand so much.
Natsuko and Makiko have always been close since they were children. Even while living in different cities, they still communicate every few days and make long calls to update each other on their days. They shared the burden of daughters growing up in a low-income family: working at an early age, lying to their employers about their age, working very long hours, and then losing their mother and grandmother to cancer.
Since Makiko is the eldest daughter, she took on the responsibility of taking care of her little sister. She has worked as a hostess for as long as they can remember.
That summer, under the scorching hot sun, Makiko was under pressure. Several months ago, Midoriko stopped talking to her after a heated argument. They communicate via a notepad, or just a shrug or a nod. Additionally, Makiko is no longer young; she is 39 years old and at a crossroads to 'beautify' herself, considering her job as a hostess.
For the past several months, Makiko had been talking about doing a breast surgery. At first, Natsu thought it would pass with time. But when Makiko is in front of her in Tokyo, all she talks about is breasts; breast shapes, her own breasts, the evolution of the breast after breastfeeding, etc.
When they went to a public bathhouse, Makiko stared and assessed the breasts of the women in there. At first, Natsu patiently responded to her, but eventually, Natsu felt dumbfounded: why was Makiko so obsessed with her boobs though there were more important matters, like Midoriko stopping her communication?
But, there is the beauty of this book. How Makiko's obsession makes the reader understand her point of view, and how Natsu silently judges her which also feels relatable to the reader. Also from the Midoriko’s view, how she hates her mother’s job and felt so powerless. Her conflicted- growing mind written in her journal which echoes the sound of a child’s of a single mother voices.
Then, the next part is The Eggs. Yes, it is about women's eggs, not chicken eggs.
Ten years later, Natsuko lives comfortably in a new apartment as she has become a writer. After publishing one hit book, she writes lots of columns for a magazine while writing her second book.
She also has a friend nowadays, her editor, Sengawa, and a circle of friends that have a meal together every season to talk about everything.
Natsu seems more alive, right? Of course, she is still in touch with Makiko, but in this part, Makiko plays just a small role.
That day, she has a meal with her circle, which consists of four other women. They used to work at the bookstore where Natsu once worked. All of them except Natsu are married with children. Most of the time, they talk about their husbands and children—which, of course, is a topic to which Natsu cannot contribute much.
After the gathering, one of them, Kizaki, and Natsuko walk back to the train station. Abruptly, Kizaki tells Natsuko that she has decided not to bother coming again because she thinks all of them are stupid and feel superior just because they are married and have children. They are superficial because their topics always circle back to the same thing.
One day, Natsu watches a TV segment about assisted reproduction and sperm donation. In Japan, sperm donation is not recognized under the law. Only a married family can undergo assisted reproduction, whereas a single woman/man or same-sex couple cannot obtain a sperm donor legally.
Intrigued, Natsu starts browsing all available information on the internet. She signs up and even sends emails to inquire for information.
But her days go by. She writes, meets with Sengawa over drinks, and is eventually introduced to a fellow writer, Rika.
Rika is a single mother with a 5-year-old daughter. She is a famous writer, and her books often make it to the bestseller list. Her character is also very interesting: eccentric, controversial, smart, and direct. One of the untypical women in Japan.
They meet periodically, talking about almost everything. Rika herself frequently makes phone calls to Natsuko just to check in or update her on the news.
But deep down, Natsuko cannot let go of her interest in sperm donation. She decides to visit a seminar where the keynote speaker is a man born from a sperm donor, Jun Aizawa—the only man in the book who plays a significant role.
Later, Natsuko and Jun Aizawa talk more, and Natsuko feels really drawn to him, and her desire to become a mother grows stronger.
As a single woman, it is almost impossible for Natsuko to have a baby without a partner. First, the law doesn’t allow her to use a sperm donor, and secondly, conventional sex is not an option for her.
Once, Natsu had a long-term boyfriend from her high school until college days. Naruse was the best partner for her; they were emotionally compatible, and Natsu might have been able to project her life together with Naruse until the end. But when they tried to be more intimate, Natsuko couldn’t do it. For her, she was unable to find any joy in a sexual relationship. Eventually, they broke up.
For me, while the Breast is retrospective, the Eggs part is much more enticing and complex. Mieko Kawakami boldly wants to tackle all women's issues by creating a very distinctive character for each woman surrounding Natsuko.
As Natsuko enters her middle-age years, she realizes her urge to have a child. She wants to meet her child before her biological clock runs out.
Sengawa is a single woman from a rich family who is very busy with her job, living a lonely life with a disease that has plagued her since childhood.
Rika is a single mother, a fighter. She fell in love with her older professor, married him, and then decided that her spouse was not born to be a father or a husband. Her realization was that she is better off living alone than hating herself for hating her husband. She also encourages Natsuko that she has every right to become a mother and should ignore all of the noise surrounding her.
Kizaki has a problem with her incapable husband and doting mother-in-law. She is at a crossroads, wanting to leave her husband if only she had a stable job.
Yuriko Zen is the total opposite of Natsuko. She was born from a sperm donor and had a very traumatic childhood, having been sexually abused by her father. She questions Natsuko’s morals for wanting to have a baby from a sperm donor.
Not only are these characters distinctive, but their conversations with each other are long yet very insightful. If we want to understand what is on a woman’s mind and her concerns, it is almost all covered in this book.
I love how Rika encourages Natsuko about the beauty of motherhood—the bravery and power a woman holds once she enters motherhood, something that we didn’t know we always wanted until we finally experience it. Most of all, she finds a love that she didn't even know half of before.
Also, the conversation between Natsuko and Yuriko opposes all of Rika’s views. What right does a parent hold to bring a child into this world? She questions Natsuko's motivation. Every answer is void due to the parent’s selfishness. Whatever the justification, it is cruel to bring a child into this world. During this part, I sobbed and felt guilty toward my daughter.
Again, my queen of loneliness, Mieko Kawakami, has treated me to a very beautiful book. May I call her my bestie?
Because I think she deserves to be a best friend to all women in this world. She understands most women's concerns, desires, and passions, and writes them into a complex ‘essay’ with minimal plot and twists.
Yes, she is my favorite author, so I definitely recommend this book.
I have so much on my mind but can only write this much without giving away too many spoilers.
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