Harare Review of Books

300 pages.

First published in English on Dec. 13, 2022.

Genre: Creative non-fiction.

In a wonderful series of essays (to try and put a genre to these pieces), Hiromi Itō writes about death, life, mothering, sex, parents, and ageing. She’s never afraid of confronting head-on the things we all fear, and presents us with her thoughtful, warm, often laugh-out-loud funny, and sometimes extremely cringeworthy thoughts. It’s the utter grimness of life, and the exquisitely tender moments; Itō shows us life can be both, sometimes at the same time.

This collection is a masterpiece of craft, and I loved it! It really is the most unusual and unexpected read; I never really knew where she was going to take us. Although these are very personal essays, they came across to me as powerfully feminist. I feel I may have lost out in not knowing the specific references to Japanese writers (Itō “borrows” voices, and there are notes at the end of each section, to explain); regardless, Itō’s authorial voice—through the translator—is strong, and distinctive.

Read if you’re interested in the themes mentioned above, and if you enjoy creative non-fiction. Somehow, with mentions of poop and penises, Itō manages to elevate the ordinary in this marvelous book.

Thank you to Stone Bridge Press and to NetGalley for this ARC.