The Ten Loves of Nishiko: Book Review



Book review

Title: The Ten loves of Nishino
Author: Hiromi Kawakami
Genre: Fiction/Translation (Japanese) 

The Ten Loves of Nishino is a unique book  where each chapter is narrated from the point of view of different women about the central character- Nishino

You have Minami- daughter of Nishino’s first love, his colleague Manami, Reiko who values her freedom, Eriko who prefers her cat over him, Sayuri who is older than him. Through the eyes of these women we understand Nishino is a womanzier, commitment phobic and confused. We learn briefly about Nishino’s  growing up years, his school days, his work life and even his death. 

The form is an interesting aspect to contemplate- is it a novel or could it be a compilation of ten short stories where the characters lives at times cross with one another?  The language is delicate and melancholic. The tone is conversational, making you feel as though you are chatting with the narrators over coffee.  All these women are forthright, strong and independent.  The characters are all flawed in some sense but relatable. 

Reading The Ten loves of Nishino  is an interesting experience. You travel back in time and sift through memories. It is complex in some sense and touches upon some dark subjects and has a mysterious undertone to it. Its portrayal of love, life, relationships and people is bound to strike a chord in a small way.
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