I found this book entirely by chance, and i cannot tell. The book twinkle twinkle has a clever dust jacket with cutouts that show two. Kaori ekunis novel twinkle twinkle was the first of her works to be translated into english. This book is a pearltwinkle twinkle is totally earnest, and absolutely surprising. Author kaori ekuni created an extreme situation to explore. Her father is japanese haiku poet and essayist, shigeru ekuni. The book club is held regularly on the 2nd thursday of the month. Kaori ekunis novels are bestsellers in japan, but twinkle twinkle seems to be the only one translated into english. Twinkle twinkle, her first novel, won the murasaki shikibu literary award and was a bestseller. She initially wrote childrens stories but then went on to write for adults. Kaori ekuni s novels are bestsellers in japan, but twinkle twinkle seems to be the only one translated into english. Twinkle twinkle at the start of the novel, shoko has been married to mutsuki for ten days. Ekuni kaoris novel twinkle twinkle perspicuously demonstrates the effects of this societal paradox.
Shoko and mutsukis union, in this japanese bestseller, is a marriage of. The virgin suicides jeffrey eugenides advertisement. Aug 01, 2003 bookdragon books for the multiculti reader twinkle, twinkle by kaori ekuni, translated by emi shimokawa in asianweek an entertaining, quirky, somewhat sad love story of sorts about a troubled young woman who marries a gay doctor and creates a new kind of family of her own. Twinkle twinkle is a very short novel, and has an insubstantial feel to it appropriate for the unusual modern romance it is meant to be, yet ultimately also less than entirely satisfactory. From 2004 to 2008 her books were continuously in koreas top 50 bestsellers list. Mutsuki is a doctor, while shoko does translation work from italian. Kaori ekunis first novel got awarded and loved by many readers in japan. Kaori ekuni ekuni kaori, born 21 march 1964 is a japanese author. Between 1991, the year that the novel twinkle twinkle was published, and now, 2016, maybe japanese marriage customs and expectations have changed. Even if it ultimately seems a little insubstantial, it is an engrossing read. It is no surprise that she has chosen the field of arts and literature as her father, shigeru ekuni was a haiku poet and an essayist. Twinkle twinkle is narrated in alternating chapters by the kishidas, mutsuki and shoko. Here it is 2003 and we are just seeing english translations of these.
Daren king learns about marriage japanese style in kaori ekunis twinkle twinkle. Twinkle, twinkle by kaori ekuni, translated by emi shimokawa. As a writer of books for both kids and adults and i wish more of her stuff was translated. Gods boatkamisama no boto by ekuni kaori, in a translation by chikako kobayashi has recently been published anthem press, althou. I found this book entirely by chance, and i cannot tell you how lucky i. Mutsuki is gay and quite in love with his boyfriend. Jan 01, 20 gods boatkamisama no boto by ekuni kaori, in a translation by chikako kobayashi has recently been published anthem press, althou. Twinkle twinkle by ekuni kaori is a womans story, told from a two perspectives, shoko, a young female translator, and mutsuki, her husband doctor, alternating from chapter to chapter. As it turned out, the only way to make their parents get off their backs about.
Discover book depositorys huge selection of kaori ekuni books online. Their styles in writing may be different but the way they describe emotions of each character through events and episodes are very similar. After university, she studied in the united states for a year and then returned to japan where she published her first childrens story. A contemporary novel of the japanese author kaori ekuni in polish translation by amy bajer, showing the struggle of a young, unconventional married couple for their place in society. I am so very fortunate to read this novel after i read more than few of banana yoshimotos.
First published in japan in 1991, the novel sold 500,000 copies in its native tongue. While the love story is the books focus, the subplot involving maisies illness is equally welldeveloped, and the link between beckett and the twins is heartfelt and sincere. Kaori ekuni is one of the most famous contemporary writers of japan. Twinkle twinkle by kaori ekuni, translated by emi shimokawa.
The book of disquiet fernando pessoa elif the reader. Fiction twinkle twinkle, ekuni kaori fiction gay themes about the author. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. This book is a pearl twinkle twinkle is totally earnest, and absolutely surprising. Twinkle twinkle by kaori ekuni, translated by emi shimokawa 176pp, vertical. Bright and clear twinkle twinkle is modern, charming, and thouroughly enjoyable. Twinkle twinkle is the first book i read from japanese author kaori ekuni. Dec 09, 2008 overall, though, i think twinkle twinkle provides a welcome antidote to the bubblegum fluff of shojo manga, light novels, and the works of novelists like yoshimoto banana. In twinkle twinkle a modern marriage unravels, and it takes uniquely modern thinking to piece it back together. Twinkle twinkle, by kaori ekuni, translated by emi shimokawa. Sign up for librarything to find out whether youll like this book. Shoko and mutsukis union, in this japanese bestseller, is a marriage.
Every time i discover a new japanese author, i always find myself wondering how they can be so different. Twinkle, twinkle by kaori ekuni, translated by emi. Emi shimokawa a marriage of convenience both unites and divides unhappy, harddrinking translator shoko and mutsuki, a gay physician whose sardonic boyfriend kon is very much a fixture on their scene. They are practically newlyweds when the book begins. Twinkle twinkle ogiwara hiroshi chiyo in the closet murakami haruki kafka on the shore haruki murakami colorless tsukuru tazaki and his years of pilgrimage lee seokwon. Aug 01, 2003 twinkle twinkle also gives us an interesting glimpse into family relations and marital arrangements in japan at least at the time it was written. Simultaneously seductive and elusive ekuni serves up an array of subtly nuanced emotion. I found this book entirely by chance, and i cannot tell you how lucky i felt as a result of this beautiful coincidence. Twinkle twinkle establi shed ekuni at the forefront of y oung women writers. July 2003 sanford may big in japan rings and things. This dual person perspective is not really two different and conflicting or contrasting views, but one, from two marginally different angles. Her father, shigeru ekuni, was a wellknown poet and essayist.
Kaori ekuni is one of japans most popular and admired writers. Twinkle twinkle also gives us an interesting glimpse into family relations and marital arrangements in japan at least at the time it was written. This book is like water, clear and loose and natural and fluid most impressively, ekuni has made something contemporary, which still manages to maintain its soul. This is another quirky novel about a quirky relationship.
Sumire rationale of sugar flowers kaori ekuni poems japanese language book. It sold 500,000 copies, won the lady murasaki jliterary award, and was made into a film. She is the daughter of the haiku poet and essayist shigeru ekuni. Kaori ekuni has emerged as a young voice in japanese letters with her awardwinning best seller kirakira hikaru, translated into english as twinkle twinkle. Twinkle twinkle is ek uni s first work to appear in english. Mar 21, 2016 the latest addition to my website is kaori ekunis. Use my promo code ceceunplug10 to get 10% off of items from the unplugged book box shop. Simultaneously seductive and elusiveekuni serves up an array of subtly nuanced emotion. Author kaori ekuni created an extreme situation to explore how social pressure affected individuals who didnt fit perfectly into the narrow constricted japanese marriage institution of that time, which probably isnt that. Touching on themes of loss and longing, kaori ekunis fiction retains. Ekuni writes pleasantly enough and there are enough different episodes and tension to carry things along, but it still feels wanting though, in part, that is also appropriate for what ekuni means to convey.
Twinkle twinkle examines sexual mores and freedoms for women and gay men in japanese society with a dark wit and a light touch. Sep 07, 2015 ekuni kaoris novel twinkle twinkle perspicuously demonstrates the effects of this societal paradox. While the love story is the books focus, the subplot involving. Dec, 2003 twinkle twinkle by kaori ekuni, translated by emi shimokawa 176pp, vertical. Disclaimer i bought all of these books second hand or discounted. Overall, though, i think twinkle twinkle provides a welcome antidote to the bubblegum fluff of shojo manga, light novels, and the works of novelists like yoshimoto banana. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising.
We select our popular novels, graphic novels, and quality nonfiction from japans huge and vibrant book market. In addition to being a prolific novelist and essayist, ekuni is a skilled translator of childrens books. Get it by sunday, sep 29 only 1 left in stock more on the way. Meet 3 of japans most celebrated contemporary writers. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. In this case shoko, an emotionally unstable woman, who is a borderline alcoholic, is married to mutsuki, a homosexual. Dont let the bright cover of this book fool you ekunis novel contains more insight into the dark side of contemporary japanese society than you may find.
In addition to being a prolific novelist and essayist, ekuni is a skilled translator of. The most obvious perhaps the only except for a precise descriptive style similarity between koji suzukis ring and kaori ekunis twinkle twinkle is that they were both originally published in japan in 1991. Twinkle twinkle kaori ekuni twinkle twinkle is the first book i read from japanese author kaori ekuni. Kaori ekuni, author of twinkle twinkle, on librarything. The book was originally published in japanese in 1991.