Hiromi Kawakami Livres

Tsukiko croise par hasard, dans le café où elle va boire un verre tous les soirs après son travail, son ancien professeur de japonais. Et c'est insensiblement, presque à leur cœur défendant, qu'au fil des rencontres les liens se resserrent entre eux. La cueillette des champignons. Les poussins achetés au marché. La fête des fleurs. Les vingt-deux étoiles d'une nuit d'automne... Ces histoires sont tellement simples qu'il est difficile de dire pourquoi on ne peut les quitter. Peut-être est-ce l'air du bonheur qu'on y respire, celui des choses non pas ordinaires, mais si ténues qu'elles se volatilisent quand on essaie de les toucher. Ce livre agit comme un charme, il capte en plein vol la douceur de la vie avant qu'elle ne s'enfuie. " Le récit passe comme un vent tiède à travers une moustiquaire. Il y a là comme l'incantation d'une ritournelle. Une marelle. On saute du ciel à la terre, à cloche-pied, un verre de saké à la main ; le cœur meurtri cependant, à la fin, baigné de tant d'espoirs. " François Simon, Le Figaro littéraire. " Un livre d'une délicatesse à couper le souffle. " Christine Ferniot, Télérama.

"A parable about memory, mythic characters, and confessional regrets . . . An ethereal, resonating literary gift" (Booklist, starred review) from the internationally bestselling author of Strange Weather in Tokyo. "On a summer afternoon, Tsukiko and her former high school teacher have prepared and eaten somen noodles together. “Tell me a story from long ago,” Sensei says. “I wasn’t alive long ago,” Tsukiko says, “but should I tell you a story from when I was little?” “Please do,” Sensei replies, and so Tsukiko tells him that, when she was a child, she awakened one day to find something with a pale red face and something with a dark red face in her room, arguing with each other. They had human bodies, long noses, and wings. They were tengu, creatures that appear in Japanese folktales. The tengu attach themselves to Tsukiko and begin to follow her everywhere. Where did they come from and why are they here? And what other invisible and unacknowledged forces are acting upon Tsukiko’s seemingly peaceful world?"

From the best-selling author of Strange Weather in Tokyo comes a collection of playful, delightful, delectable Japanese micro-fiction.

Kei, who was left alone to raise her daughter after her husband disappeared twelve years ago, finds herself drawn to the seaside town of Manazuru, a place where she tries to unlock memories from her past.

From the bestselling author of Strange Weather in Tokyo, a novel that moves between Japan past and present to tell a time-bending story about desire and destiny.

Over the course of his life, Mr Nishino falls hopelessly in love again and again. One woman is a colleague, another a chance encounter; one is the girlfriend of a classmate, another the best friend of Nishino's latest conquest. Some are entranced by Nishino, others care more for their freedom, their children (or their cats). As we come to learn of the torments, desires and delights of each woman, a portrait emerges of a complicated man whose great capacity for love may well be the cause of his downfall.

From the bestselling author of Strange Weather in Tokyo, here is a story of treasure hoarders, bargain hunters and would-be lovers.

Exploring themes of memory and fleeting moments, this novel delves into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Set against a backdrop of introspection, it captures the essence of a brief night that leaves a lasting impact on the characters involved. The narrative weaves together personal reflections and vivid imagery, inviting readers to ponder the significance of transient experiences. Originally published in 1996 as Hebi o Fumu, it offers a poignant exploration of life's ephemeral nature.

Set in a near-future world facing human extinction, this inventive speculative novel explores themes of survival and resilience. The narrative delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the impact of societal collapse, all crafted with the author's signature immersive storytelling. Readers can expect a thought-provoking journey that challenges perceptions of humanity's fate and the bonds that hold us together in times of crisis.

Hiromi Kawakamiis well known for her many novels and microfiction in translation, and Dragon Palace is her first story collection to be published in English. These eight stories are masterpieces of metamorphosis and transformation, infused with Kawakami's unique brand of humor and beauty. Moles, octopuses, and hippopotamuses interact with humans in a revelatory dance.