Lizard

This understated group of short stories captures young angst in modern Japan. The stories dig into characters attempting to overcome painful pasts, and how the past pain impacts current relationships. Infidelity and uncertainty are treated as part of the learning process.Yamamoto puts on an androgynous author's voice, switching between male and female first person accounts. The reserved style of leaving much unsaid is similar to that of Haruki Marukami. The book is great for those who appreciate the subtle simpleness. This was the first of her books that this reviewer read - certainly not the last.

Yoshimoto has received numerous literary awards in Japan for being such a great this and that. I've read all her English translated books and they're not terrible nor great, but interesting enough. She's not even on the same planet when compared to Haurki Murakami, but few writers are.In my opinion, Japan's next best thing to Murakami in fiction is Natsuo Kirino.

I love this book. It's as good as " Kitchen" A bunch of short stories about fate. I also found out that Banana Yoshimoto is a "Sonic Youth" fan and so am I!

I read this for my book club and it was ok. Not a must read again but I am glad that I did get a chance to read it.

Loved it. It is a keeper to read over and over again.

Banana Yoshimoto's work has entranced me ever since I picked up her novel "Kitchen" years ago. Her work is melancholy yet beautiful, true to the human condition but with a touch of the fantastic as well. "Lizard" is a small collection of short stories, and each one deals with themes of loss, grief, relationships, and our own foibles and strengths as human beings, with elements of magical realism that grant the stories a strange surreality that nonetheless doesn't detract from the truth that rings in their cores.This book contains six stories (plus two afterwards by the author, one for the collection itself and one for the English translation released in America), so I'll touch on and review each story separately:"Newlywed" -- a man encounters a mysterious shapeshifting stranger on a bus, a stranger who seems to know everything about him and his new wife. Definitely one of the weirder stories in this collection, but also a haunting look at how a committed relationship changes a person. This story was originally "published" by being printed on posters on a Japanese railway, a unique way of sharing a story."Lizard" -- the titular story is also about a relationship, this time between the narrator and a woman he simply calls Lizard, who has both strange healing powers and a tragic past. Lovely yet melancholy."Helix" -- a man and his girlfriend break into a closed cafe for a drink and a chat. Shorter and one of the weakest stories in the collection, though still poignant."Dreaming of Kimchee" -- a woman's affair with a married man results in his divorce, their eventual marriage... and her gaining an enemy. This story doesn't try to excuse any of its characters' behavior, but does show that matters are often far more complex than we like to think."Blood and Water" -- a young woman tries to find her place in the world after fleeing her family's religious community. A story about the bonds of family and how they can maintain their strength even when separated by time, distance, and personal beliefs."A Strange Tale From Down By the River" -- a woman recovering from sex addiction learns some shocking truths about her family's past. No, it's not a tale about sexual abuse -- it's actually a story about how memory can play tricks on us, and how family trauma can have long-lasting reprecussions.All these stories deftly weave elements of magical realism through stories of very real people dealing with real problems of relationships, family, personal tragedy, grief, and just trying to survive in a complex yet fascinating world. Not all of these stories have a satisfactory ending, but serve more as snapshots and glimpses into the lives of the characters. And the writing, while it has the occasional awkward phrase (probably due to the translation and certain turns of phrase working better in Japanese than in English), is clear and concise, yet also beautiful and imaginative, much like a haiku in prose form.Banana Yoshimoto is a fantastic writer, and I look forward to reading more of her works. "Lizard" is a great introduction to her work -- short story collections are, to me, a good way to be introduced to a new writer.

Was not a big fan of such a popular writer while I was in Japan, but reading in English is surprisingly refreshing!The book has a collection of short stories including the title - heartwarming relationships of the couple who had similar unfortunate family backgrounds.

I have read nearly every single book that Banana Yoshimoto has had translated into English. Though I think Kitchen and Hard Boiled/Hard Luck are her best, and my favorites; I found that this collection was better than most reviews were saying.If you read the afterword first, you might go into this collection with a better understanding of what to expect. For those who are interested, here are a few lines from her afterword:"In them, I was interested in exploring time, healing, karma, and fate. I'd been thinking about the very different ways people can see their time on this earth, either as a sort of paradise, or as a living hell. To my mind, however, it's not that people live lives that are inherently good or bad. I believe that we create our own heaven or hell in the very process of becoming and being our 'selves'. My intention in these stories was to investigate that ongoing process, with the result that many of the pieces deal with religion and spiritual topics."The individual stories are a mixed bag, though generally very good:'A strange tale from down by the river' I felt was the best story in the collection. 'Dreaming of Kimchee' and 'Helix' were also very good. 'Blood and Water', 'Lizard', and 'Newlywed' were interesting to me, but not as gripping or as memorable as the aforementioned three.Here is my only beef: $12-$15 for 6 short stories totaling around 175 pages with not a lot of print on each page. I think the price is a bit steep. But I checked a copy out from my local library, so it didn't cost me a thing! If you have a nearby library that has this book, it's worth checking out instead of throwing down a pretty good chunk of money for a slim volume. In contrast: Murakami's two collections:  Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (Vintage International)  and  The Elephant Vanishes: Stories  are both about two to three times as long, with 20+ stories in each and are $10.20 at the time of writing this review. Seeing that this is pretty short, it's easy to read over the course of an afternoon or a few pre-bedtime readings.

Arrived quickly in good shape.

The book itself is amazing. The writing is simplistic but powerful in visuals. I felt as though I could see everything that was written in my mind in deep, vivid detail. The short stories are also wonderful. The fact that they're short means it's hard to get bored, as they're all different but follow themes about love, life and understanding. A beautiful and simple read. I also bought my copy second hand which adds character to it as some pages are folded and bookmarked making it feel all the more intresting to read.

Short stories by Banana Yoshimoto. She was mentioned by my hero Haruki Murakami in an interview and thought I would check her out. Read this slim book in one sitting and felt disappointed by the content and style. Almost as if trying too hard to be Murakami, who is a natural!