Kitchen

WiththepublicationofKitchen,thedazzlingEnglish-languagedebutthatisstillherbest-lovedbook,theliteraryworldrealizedthatYoshimotowasayoungwriterofenduringtalentwhoseworkhasquicklyearnedaplaceamongthebestofcontemporaryJapaneseliterature.Kitchenisanenchantinglyoriginalbookthatjuxtaposestwotalesaboutmothers,love,tragedy,andthepowerofthekitchenandhomeinthelivesofapairoffree-spiritedyoungwomenincontemporaryJapan.Mikage,theheroine,isanorphanraisedbyhergrandmother,whohaspassedaway.Grieving,MikageistakeninbyherfriendYoichiandhismother(whoisreallyhiscross-dressingfather)Eriko.Asthethreeofthemformanimprovisedfamilythatsoonweathersitsowntragiclosses,Yoshimotospinsalovely,evocativetalewiththekitchenandthecomfortsofhomeatitsheart.InawhimsicalstylethatrecallstheearlyMargueriteDuras,"Kitchen"anditscompanionstory,"MoonlightShadow,"areeleganttaleswhoseseemingsimplicityistheruseofaveryspecialwriterwhosevoiceechoesinthemindandthesoul.