The Book in 3 Sentences
- It is a love story about Akimi, who grew up on an island in the Seto Inland Sea, and Kai, who moved to the island for his free-spirited mother’s love affair.
- Akimi and Kai both are young carers for their mothers who are financially and mentally disabled.
- They struggle to care for themselves but in the end, they learn to live their lives for themselves.
Impressions
How Did I Discover It?
I Google-searched for this title after I saw an ad on a train wall so that I can later go to a bookstore to purchase it. I am a fan of the author since I read her last book “The Wandering Moon” which later also became a movie.
Who Should Read It?
The ad I saw on the train said the book is recommended: “for those who have searched for the name of someone you used to love”. This would also be whom I recommend the book.
How the Book Changed Me
- As for the author’s writing style, I was amazed by how dense words can be if they are precise and put next to each other skillfully. Her choices of words enable meanings to reach so much deeper so much more simply. It is such an inspiration for writing.
- As for the story of the book, the book reminded me how complex it can be for us to grow independent from our parents and pursue our own happiness. As Akimi concludes at the end, we say the parents and the child are “two separate trains on adjacent rails, which just head to each of their own destinations”, but how easy is that when our parents are in desperate need of love, money, medical care, etc. and have no one really but us that can care for them? I feel a parent-child relationship is an unceasing topic.
My Top 3 Quotes
- 俺たちは親につかまれた手を離せない。振り払ってしまえば楽なのに、それがわかっているのに、俺たちは、どうしようもなく、愛を欲している。” We can’t let go of the hand held by our parents. It would be easier if we shook it off. However, no matter how well we are aware of it, we can’t help but seek love. ” — Kai observing himself
- わたしはいろんなことを考えて、考えすぎて、身動きできなくなっている。わたしはこの島から出られず、なのにこの島で生きていく術を見つけられない。不安で、怖くて、だから心を平らに平らに、薄めて薄めて、鈍麻させて生きている。あの人なにも考えてないんじゃないかと、いっそあきれられるくらい淡々と生きているーふりをする。実際のところ、まるで明けない夜の中を歩いているような気持ちだというのに。” I’ve been thinking about all kinds of things, and these things make me stuck. I can’t leave this island, but I also can’t find a way to survive on this island. I’m anxious and scared, so I’m living with my mind spread as flat, diluted, and dulled as possible. I pretend to act in such an indifferent way that people get disgusted by how I appear to be so simple. However, on the inside, it feels as if I am walking through the night with no dawn. ” — Akimi observing herself
- 親子でもやはり距離は必要なのだと思う。いや、親子だからこそか。母親とわたしはすぐ隣り合うレールを走る別の列車で、それぞれの行き先を目指すだけだ。” I think there should be distance even between parents and their children. No, actually, distance is necessary because we’re in a parent-child relationship. My mother and I are two separate trains on adjacent rails, which just head to each of our own destinations. ”ーAkimi observing her relationship with her mother