Laura Imai Messina

Cuando Yui, una joven de treinta años, pierde a su madre y a su hija de tres años en un tsunami, empieza a medir el paso del tiempo a partir de entonces: todo gira alrededor del 11 de marzo de 2011, cuando la ola gigantesca devastó Japón y el dolor se apoderó de ella.

Un día oye hablar de un hombre que tiene una cabina de telefono abandonada en su jardín, adonde las personas acuden desde todos los rincones de Japón para hablar con quienes ya no están y hallar la paz en el duelo. Pronto, Yui emprende su propio peregrinaje hasta allí, pero al levantar el auricular no encuentra las fuerzas para pronunciar una sola palabra. Entonces conoce a Takeshi, un medico cuya hija de cuatro años ha dejado de hablar tras la muerte de su madre, y su vida da un vuelco.… (mais)

Based on a real phone box people visit to talk to their departed loved ones, this is a gentle story even though its subject is one of dealing with loss; of how to open oneself up to a future in which one can find the right balance to live a hopeful and love-filled existence, even though genuine grief’s a close companion through life. Snippets and minor details intersperse the chapters to the section just read, which lend the book a certain unique charm and style. Yes, the story lingers afterwards, although I its emotional aspect failed to move me.… (mais)

I was keen to read this novel after my cousin recommended it to me.

I found it to be a fairly easy read although I must admit it didn't really grab me. For me, there were too many small characters introduced that didn't really contribute to the overall narrative. Similarly I found too many small plot deviations or tangents that never really went anywhere and did not contribute to the story-line overall. It seemed there was a lot of "filler", and in some cases repetition. I feel that it's a book that would be enjoyed more by women than men.

The book was OK, being saved by a premise that was away from the norm. I wonder whether Japanese experience and concepts, written by an Italian living in Japan and then translated into English resulted in something being lost.… (mais)