About the Author Banana Yoshimoto wrote her first novel, Kitchen, while working as a waitress at a golf-course restaurant. It sold millions of copies worldwide, and led to a phenomenon dubbed by Western journalists as “Banana-mania.” Yoshimoto has gone on to be one of the biggest-selling and most distinguished writers in Japanese history, winning numerous awards for her work. The Lake is her thirteenth book of fiction.Michael Emmerich has translated numerous books by Banana Yoshimoto, and is also known for his translations of Nobel Prize-winner Yasunari Kawabata.
M**R
The fragility of life
This is a strange, somehow fragile short novel in which very liitle happens, but which paints a gentle and haunting picture of the fragility of life. It tells the tale of two loney people who come together and find peace in each other's company, helping them to overcome the pain of the losses from their earlier lives.Vey different from Western fiction, this is good reading which may remind the reader a little of Murakami, without being as compelling
S**I
Five Stars
Thank you
M**E
Beautifully Simple
I'd agree with most of what the other reviewers have said. I'm struck that this is a translated work, as there's a great transparency to the writing which is moving in its economy and simplicity. As a big fan of Kazuo Ishiguro, I stumbled across this and was not disappointed (although similarities are there, they're not enormous)
S**E
Great storytelling but ultimately slightly disappointing
I found this to be a very engaging book but ultimately disappointing as the story (even if only a fragment of it) reminded me too much of Murakami's Iq84. I'm sure this was not intentional but it spoiled my enjoyment a little nonetheless. This was my first Banana Yoshimoto book and I look forward to reading more.
L**E
Three Stars
So so
L**A
liked it
but it wasn't great. It's an interesting story but I don't think the writing and/or translation is very good. I might try Yoshimoto again but not in a hurry.
K**E
A voice worth listening to
The first Banana-book I read some years ago was merely quirky. Now, the confident voice of a mature writer rings out clearly. Don't expect violence, bizarre sexual encounters; instead, enter a world where everything has a lucidity, but far from what might be expected in western fiction. The writer's mirror will reveal new insights into yourself and your expectations. One of the most memorable novels I have read in ages.
M**X
Trivial and banal
This book seems to suffer from the same things that a lot of set-in-Japan fiction does: it tries to weave a complex and involved plot based on paper thin characters that have nothing much interesting, other than the cliche power student, going for them. It fails to grip you and has you thinking 'So what?" at the end. Go for some Haruki Murakami instead.
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