Amrita

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Amrita, by Banana Yoshimoto

Banana Yoshimoto is just so darn famous that I'd really been meaning to read one of her works, so I've had Amrita sitting around the house for a while.  And I did it!  I liked this novel, but I'm finding it hard to describe.

Sakumi is just a 90s girl in Tokyo, a young adult.  Her sister, Mayu, was a famous movie star whose life ended in a tragic suicide, and Sakumi herself is recovering from a severe accidental head injury; she's lost large chunks of her memory.  Through the novel, she takes her younger brother (who has some sort of ESP) and her sister's former boyfriend along on her journey through her dreams, thoughts, and grief, making some new friends along the way.

This is not a novel that is packed with action.  Things happen, and they are carefully savored.  Other people -- their appearances, reactions, and feelings -- are described at length.  Memories and emotions are noticed and saved for later.  Much of the trip is through Sakumi's own mind and feelings.  It's beautifully written, and also kind of strange.  I liked it, but I'm not sure what to say about it.

Comments

  1. Bellezza February 10, 2020 at 12:59 PM

    I find the same experience when I read Yoshimoto: beautiful writing, but not much “action.” I think it is the atmosphere that she portrays which is one of the lovely things, as well as interesting characters. To me, she gives more of a “slice of life” than a typical American work does. I have not read Amrita, but I look forward to doing so as I have several of Banana Yoshimoto’s works unread. Kitchen is the one I remember most, and NP and...something else. ;)

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  2. JeanFebruary 11, 2020 at 12:47 PM

    Meredith, I think you're absolutely right! And American books, I think, tend to be more actiony. They skip over that intent focus on a moment or a feeling, in favor of moving the plot along. I enjoyed Yoshimoto's insistence on experiencing the moment.

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