Title of Book: The Ten Loves of Mr NishinoTranslator: Allison Markin Powell
Publisher: Granta Books
Publication Year: 2020
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
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.
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The Ten Loves of Mr Nishino is a collection of ten short
stories. Each is told from the perspective of a woman who had an encounter with
Yukihiko Nishino. In each they told their (somewhat) relationship with Nishino
and how he affects their lives. Though told from other person’s perspective,
this book is actually about Yukihiko Nishino. Since these women met Nishino at
different stage of his life, this book is more like a journey of Nishino’s life.
It’s not told in chronological order so as a reader we’re the one who collects
bits and glimpses of his life and assembles it into the person Nishino is. Each
story could be read on its own, or as a whole.
This book opens with a story
titled Parfait. This story is told by a woman who had an affair with Nishino.
The affair ended years ago. Back then, she would take her daughter along to eat
parfait while meeting Nishino. From the first story, we get the first look of
Nishino. Despite appearing as a ghost of the past, at least we learn that
Nishino is a womanizer who cannot commit. In the next story, we jump back to
Nishino’s younger years and learn that there might be more to his reluctance to
be committed.
What intrigues me from this book is this enigmatic figure
named Yukihiko Nishino. From what I gather, he’s good-looking which makes it
easy for him to attract women. He’s also charming which invites women to open up
to him. However, I couldn’t seem to detect ill intention from him. I feel like
he’s two timing women because they are attracted to him and he couldn’t help it;
like he has this sense of duty to help these women and make them happy. I know
he’s a playboy but through some of his interaction with the women I get the
sense that he actually wants to be able to commit.
Hiromi Kawakami is
famous for her book titled Strange Weather in Tokyo. However, this is actually
the first book by her that I read so I had no expectation on how her writing
would be. Since this book is structured as a collection of several short
stories, it’s easier for me to digest this book. My unfamiliarity with her
writing doesn’t bother me at all. In the end, I did enjoy reading this book. In
fact, I’m looking forward to read her other books including Strange Weather in
Tokyo.
‘It’s a simple enough thing, loving a girl,’ Nishino went on quietly. ‘I wonder it is that I’ve never been able to love any of them.’’
