[Review] Diary of A Void - Emi Yagi

Title of Book: Diary of a Void

Author: Emi Yagi
Translator: David Boyd, Lucy North
Publisher: Harvill Secker
Publication Year: 2022
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 213

Discover this prizewinning, thrillingly subversive new novel that's perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Breasts and Eggs.
'One of the most intriguing new novels of the summer,' Independent
For the sake of women everywhere, Ms Shibata is going to pull off the mother of all deceptions...
As the only woman in her office, Ms Shibata is expected to do all the menial tasks. One day she announces that she can't clear away her coworkers' dirty cups - because she's pregnant and the smell nauseates her. The only thing is . . . Ms Shibata is not pregnant.
Pregnant Ms Shibata doesn't have to serve coffee to anyone. Pregnant Ms Shibata isn't forced to work overtime. Pregnant Ms Shibata can rest, watch TV, take long baths, and even join an aerobics class for expectant mothers. But she has a nine-month ruse to keep up. Before long, it becomes all-absorbing, and with the help of towel-stuffed shirts and a diary app that tracks every stage of her 'pregnancy', the boundary between her lie and her life begins to dissolve.

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Shibata is a working woman who’s in her thirties. She’s single and works in an office where she’s the only woman. It’s an unwritten rule in her office that she’s the one who supposed to make copies, make coffee, clean dirty cups, and distributing snacks. One day, out of annoyance, she announced that she couldn’t clean dirty cups again because she’s pregnant and she couldn’t stand the smell. Ever since that day, her coworkers treated her differently. Shibata didn’t want her coworkers to find out the truth, so she’s all in. She downloaded an app to track her fake pregnancy, logging in diligently to keep up with her lie. Even went as far as joining an aerobic class for pregnant women and making friends there. Until she started to believe her own lie; but is it possible to manifest a baby out of nothing?

This is actually the first time I read Emi Yagi’s book. It’s even my first time of hearing the author’s name. I picked this book solely because of the summary on the cover. The premise resonates with me. Though I can totally understand where Shibata came from, I wouldn’t go as far as she did. I mean, I am Shibata. I am a working woman in my thirties. I’m single and I live alone. Although I’m not the only woman in my office but my workplace is dominated by men. So I understand what Shibata feels. Still, to do what Shibata does requires dedication and I’m sure it’s exhausting. You have to keep lying to cover for your previous lie. The fact that there is a need for her to do so because of her work environment is saddening. I mean, think about it, how infuriating her work environment is that it causes her to do what she does.

I must say though, Shibata is one interesting protagonist. Like I explain earlier, I could relate to her. Sometimes, I would applaud her; she’s dedicated. I also think that some of her actions are triggered by loneliness. When she joined the pregnant women aerobic class, she befriends the women in her class. She keeps lying so she feels connected with the women. At one point, I think Shibata lied for the sake of being friends with these women. Although later on she realizes that she’s not the same as those women and their relationship is insincere.

Towards the end of the book, it’s getting surreal. Shibata got so caught up in her lie, she thought she actually manifested a baby in her belly which confused me as a reader. Overall, I think this book has the weirdest yet realistic (in a way) story for me. It might not be for everyone. The lying could get people uncomfortable but if you’re okay with that, you could try picking this book up.