Hi, Everyone.
I just finished this wonderful and complicated novel. Happy I read such beautiful literature, but also wish that I did not. Many questions in my head but not many I can put down into words. Let's start with this one:
Why was Naoko in such good, positive spirits if she was planning to commit suicide (having brought the rope with her and all)? I understand that sometimes metal illnesses have this lapse where positivity and hope visits (or maybe even mania), but she brought the rope with her with seemingly all the intentions in the world.
Even if Reiko's recollection was skewed towards the positive, there are other contradictory evidence, including:
- Naoko went to a beauty parlor, got a haircut; she was looking healthy and well.
- She talked about letting the hospital doctors cure her this time
- She initiated/suggested her and Reiko live together in an apartment outside Ami Hostel
- She seems to have implied a decision to leave/separate romantically form Toru, and moving on
- Her saying "I'm getting rid of everything from the past so I can be reborn in the future" (yes, this can also imply something darker)
I might be missing something obvious. I also have pretty subpar EQ, tbh. Just trying to process this book and rid this terrible hangover and move on.
Thank you, all!
by trying_my_best_maybe