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By Ananya Kashyap | Opening Doorz Editorial | June 10, 2024 Book Review: KitchenAuthor: Banana YoshimotoRating: 5/5 The Essence: I close the book “Kitchen”, by Banana Yoshimoto, and place it […]
By Ananya Kashyap | Opening Doorz Editorial | June 10, 2024
Book Review: Kitchen
Author: Banana Yoshimoto
Rating: 5/5
The Essence: I close the book “Kitchen”, by Banana Yoshimoto, and place it on my lap. Having read it, only one word comes to mind: ‘Profound’.
Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto, revolves around Mikage Sakurai, a young girl who lives with her grandmother in Tokyo. With hands that betray years of skillful cutting, chopping, and cooking, Mikage’s grandmother instills in Mikage, an innate love for the kitchen. It is a place where she passes on all her wisdom to her granddaughter. The Kitchen is also a place for both to have unfiltered conversations and for Mikage to learn important life lessons.
The act of preparing a meal, sharing a conversation, or simply existing with another person becomes a celebration of life’s simple joys. It becomes an excuse to impart stories from Mikage’s grandmother’s childhood, of a Japan far off from the contemporary world, and so different than the one Mikage would grow up in.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that as Mikage matures, the kitchen continues to be her haven—a space where she can connect with her grandmother’s love and nourish her body as well as her familial roots. When her grandmother passes away, Mikage’s world comes crashing down. Having lost both her parents when she was young, Mikage has no one left in the world whom she can call family. Things take an unexpected turn when a classmate, Yuichi Tanabe, invites her to stay with him and his mother, Eriko.
Written in the latter half of the 20th century, the book encompasses topics that were unconventional back then, such as loneliness and homosexuality. This is exemplified by the introduction of Eriko, her classmate’s mother, a transgender.
Yoshimoto’s style of writing is simple yet intense. She describes how, despite (or perhaps, through) the ugliness and isolation that death brings with it, Mikage and Yuichi find each other. The story further explores themes of companionship and coping with grief and loneliness in big cities. Yoshimoto’s prose is poetic yet easy to read. This is brought out in the way the author describes how the kitchen was a sanctuary for Mikage; a haven, a place of refuge. Yoshimoto’s focus on the ordinary underscores the resilience of the human spirit and its ability to find beauty and meaning even in the toughest of times.
Like a phoenix, Mikage rises from the ashes of her sadness, after the passing away of her grandmother. What especially stands out in the Kitchen is the fact that the author does not shy away from loss, heartbreak, and the uglier parts of life, thereby not being idealistic about life.
In Kitchen, Yoshimoto uses death as a backdrop, rather than a glaring theme of the story. Although death is acknowledged, it is not fully accepted. Even though death knocks, people continue to live and love. Mikage’s experiences serve as a poignant reminder of the beauty found in life’s most unexpected moments. Despite trials and tribulations, she continues to push forward, paving the way for welcoming new experiences and people into her life.
Yuichi Tanabe plays a vital role in helping Mikage go through, and grow through the pain she feels at her grandmother’s passing. Similarly, Mikage is the pillar of hope that Yuichi relies on, when his mother, Eriko, passes away. Having gone through the loss one feels at the death of a loved one, Mikage understands how to help Yuichi during tough times. Despite their losses, they draw strength from the relationship they share.
This book is a tender exploration of grief, love, and the transformative power of human connection. The book, through the emotional travails of Mikage and Yuichi, inspires readers to fully experience grief and sadness, for without it, one cannot live a full life–without pain, there can be no happiness.
This unconventional story of love, companionship, family, and friendship is a must-read that makes you think and will stay with you even after you have turned the last page.
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