Rainbow by Banana Yoshimoto
I think part of my problem with this book was due to the fact that I have been reading so many amazing books lately. Just in the past month there was The Color Purple, The Watermelon King, Beloved, To Kill a Mockingbird, etc. In comparison with those, Rainbow felt a little... frivolous.
Rainbow is the story of Minagami Eiko, a Japanese young woman who works at Rainbow, a Polynesian food restaurant in Tokyo. The book takes place both in Tokyo and in the Polynesian island of Bora Bora. In the past year or so, Minagami went through a lot. First her mother died, then she was forced to take a break from her job due to exhaustion, and finally she began to develop some feelings for the man she works for. After all these events, she decided to go on a holiday to Bora Bora, and in the book her time on the island is intertwined with the recollection of the recent events in her life.
Minagami is a likeable character, but this book is very short, so there wasn't much room for development. The love story aspect of the book felt especially rushed. All in all, I found this an enjoyable but not memorable book. At least it gave me a glimpse of a visit to the South Pacific Islands, which is something I often daydream about.
I've noticed that this is one of the few by Banana Yoshimoto that are not yet available in English, which just goes to show that it is probably not one of her best works. Whenever she was recommended to me, people always mentioned books like Kitchen and Goodbye, Tsugumi. I suppose I need to read those before I make up my mind about her.
Rainbow is the story of Minagami Eiko, a Japanese young woman who works at Rainbow, a Polynesian food restaurant in Tokyo. The book takes place both in Tokyo and in the Polynesian island of Bora Bora. In the past year or so, Minagami went through a lot. First her mother died, then she was forced to take a break from her job due to exhaustion, and finally she began to develop some feelings for the man she works for. After all these events, she decided to go on a holiday to Bora Bora, and in the book her time on the island is intertwined with the recollection of the recent events in her life.
Minagami is a likeable character, but this book is very short, so there wasn't much room for development. The love story aspect of the book felt especially rushed. All in all, I found this an enjoyable but not memorable book. At least it gave me a glimpse of a visit to the South Pacific Islands, which is something I often daydream about.
I've noticed that this is one of the few by Banana Yoshimoto that are not yet available in English, which just goes to show that it is probably not one of her best works. Whenever she was recommended to me, people always mentioned books like Kitchen and Goodbye, Tsugumi. I suppose I need to read those before I make up my mind about her.
It's sad when authors don't take the time to develop their stories enough. I've had that experience a few times...If they just took the time to develop the relationships or the setting a bit more it would make all the difference in the world. Oh well, I guess your winning streak with books had to end sometime, huh?
ReplyDeleteOh well I guess you can't like everything you read. Out of interest, if it wasn't available in English, what language did you read it in?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even heard of this writer before!
ReplyDeleteLuckily the average books mark a way to appreciate the outstanding ones. Kafka on the Shore is one that sounds like it will benefit from the comparison :)
ReplyDeleteChris: Yeah, it could have made all the difference. I actually quite liked the way the story began, but then suddenly things were happening much too fast. And indeed. I really can't complain, because even this one wasn't terrible or anything.
ReplyDeleteRhinoa: indeed. And I read it in Portuguese, my native language.
Dewey: She's huge in Japan, and I've seen her being referred to as the most widely read Japanese author outside Japan after Murakami. She certainly doesn't seem as popular to me, though, nor, judging by this book, nearly as good. But that could be a hasty judgement.
Kim: very true!
I used to love Banana Yoshimoto, and I've read all her stuff that's been translated to English, but eventually you start to notice a sameness from novelette to novelette. Reading your plot synopsis, I was left thinking "I've read this one before."
ReplyDeleteThat said, I'm going to go ahead and recommend Goodbye Tsugumi, which I do enjoy. Or if you want something longer and more in depth, I guess the answer's Amrita since it's the only substantially-sized book I've seen by her.
Thank you for the recommendations, too hotty. I definitely will read some more of her work - I felt that this book wasn't enough to make up my mind about her.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nymeth
ReplyDeleteYes, you have been reading some fantastic books recently so I can see why this book didn't quite measure up. I have never read anything by Ms. Yoshimoto, but when I was a member of "bookcrossing" I would buy many copies of her books just to trade with (her books were popular with many of the members). I am also reading a Japanese author at the moment, it's Murakami and the book is titled "After Dark".
Lotus, I am currently reading Murakami too! Another book, though - "Kafka on the Shore". I've never read "After Dark", and I look forward to reading your thoughts on it once you finish.
ReplyDeleteI read NP by Yoshimoto last year and I felt like there was a lot of potential yet it didn't quite grab me. I don't think that's one of her major books either. I still want to read something else by her though and see what I think. So looks like we're in the same boat :)
ReplyDeleteI like Kitchen the best of her books, although I recently read Goodbye, Tsugumi and that one was enjoyable. I notice a sameness as well, but the first one I ever read was Kitchen so it had the advantage of freshness.
ReplyDelete