This book changed my life. I had long discussions about it with my ex partner whom I was engaged with. As an Asian artist who lives in New York City in my late 20s, it brought a lot of questions up about my relationship to mental health, independence, my career as a fine artist, the ethics of having children in this day in age with climate change and all, about the art world’s relationship to women today, and more. Aside from the philosophical questions raised in the book, I was struck by the vivid surreal imagery that Kawakami used so poetically— I am bias to magical realism in literary fiction as a visual artist. I would love to hear your thoughts.
by theneonsiren