Chloe's Bookish Corner

     In Natsuko Imamura’s debut novel in English The Woman in the Purple Skirt follows the story of a woman who is notoriously noted for always wearing the same purple skirt, eating the same cream bun, and sitting in the same seat in the park. Children in the park play a game to try and get her attention and is subject to local intrigue about who she is. What the Woman in the Purple Skirt is unaware of is that there is someone watching her every move, not a stalker, but a friendly stranger. The Woman in the Yellow Cardigan, when not at work, is always watching the Woman in the Purple Skirt. After noticing that the Woman in the Purple Skirt is constantly in and out of work the Woman in the Yellow Cardigan manages to secure The Woman in the Purple Skirt a job at the same hotel that she works at much to the disgust of the other employees.      What begins as a friendly gesture from the Woman in the Yellow Cardigan slowly develops into an all-consuming obs...

  After a near-death experience, Nora wakes up to find herself in a library. A familiar face informs her that each book contained within the library is a different life that she could have led. When Nora reads the books of her other lives she is transported to exist within them to see how if she had made different decisions what the outcome of her life would be. Lives such as being in a famous band, being a world-class swimmer, or a glaciologist. Aiming to find her ideal life, Nora is finally able to explore all the “what if?” scenarios she often thinks about, but there is little time before the library collapses. Nora must decide on her perfect life.   I don’t know what I could possibly say about this book that hasn’t been said before. Matt Haig is a master of words, and his skill of storytelling is unbelievably captivating it will leave you yearning for more. The Midnight Library was my favourite book of 2020. Nora’s life has been miserable and when she decides to take her ...

  Earthlings tells the story of Natsuki and her cousin Yuu who meet each summer in the Nagano mountains and are convinced that one day a spaceship will arrive for them to take them to their home planet. When an event occurs that changes their lives forever they promise each other to survive no matter what. Now grown Natsuki is in an asexual marriage she finds that her past is creeping up on her and is threatening to take away the life she carefully built for herself. She and her husband flee back to the mountains and Natsuki must prepare herself for a reunion with Yuu after not seeing him for 23 years. Following on from Convenience Store Woman, Earthlings is a very different tale and is very out there in terms of themes. The theme of society as brainwashing people into work and reproduction is evident in both of Murata’s books, but Earthlings elevates the level that the characters are determined not to conform. After a series of horrendously traumatising events, Natsuki believes th...