The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida
(Sprache: Englisch)
From the critically acclaimed author of Rainbirds comes a novel of tragedy anddark histories set in Japan.
University sophomore Miwako Sumida has hanged herself, leaving those closest to her reeling. In the months before her suicide, she was...
University sophomore Miwako Sumida has hanged herself, leaving those closest to her reeling. In the months before her suicide, she was...
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From the critically acclaimed author of Rainbirds comes a novel of tragedy anddark histories set in Japan. University sophomore Miwako Sumida has hanged herself, leaving those closest to her reeling. In the months before her suicide, she was hiding away in a remote mountainside village, but what, or whom, was she running from?
To Ryusei, a fellow student at Waseda; Chie, Miwako s best friend; and Fumi, Ryusei s older sister, Miwako was more than the blunt, no-nonsense person she projected to the world. Heartbroken, Ryusei begs Chie to take him to the village where Miwako spent her final days. While he is away, Fumi receives an unexpected guest at their shared apartment in Tokyo, increasingly fearful that Miwako s death may ruin what is left of her brother s life. Expanding on the beautifully crafted world of Rainbirds, Clarissa Goenawan gradually pierces through a young woman s careful façade, unmasking her most painful secrets.
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1Like a Long-Lost Friend
March 15th, 1989
I met Miwako Sumida at a goukon organized by Toshi, a friend of mine.
I had never been interested in group dates. They were desperate measures for desperate people, but Toshi was desperate. He d been trying to gain the attention of a pretty, short-haired girl in his swimming club. I didn t want to ruin his excitement, but the girl had probably agreed to come because Jin our other friend, popular and a total charmer would be there. Toshi and I had been hanging out since our first year at Waseda, so I felt obliged to participate.
The goukon was scheduled for noon at a family restaurant near our campus. At a quarter past twelve, the girls were still nowhere to be seen. We ordered milkshakes and continued to wait, listening to Oricon singles from the restaurant s only speaker.
Are you sure those girls haven t ditched us? Jin teased Toshi.
Don t say that; they re just late. Toshi tapped his fingers on the table. They ll be here any second.
No matter what, you re picking up the tab like you promised. We ll give them another five minutes before we order food.
Shut up.
Yawning, I gazed out the window. Wet leaves sparkled in the bright sunlight. It had poured yesterday afternoon and all night, but the rain had stopped right when I d left the house that morning. The scent of fresh soil lingered, mixed with the fragrance of plum blossoms.
Suddenly, Toshi stood and waved. I turned toward the door and saw three girls walking toward our table.
The one in front was the beautiful freshman Toshi was after, and the two girls behind her were a study in opposites. One had long, silky black hair and a serious
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expression behind a pair of old-fashioned thick-rimmed glasses. The other was glamorous, with bleached, permed hair and a body-hugging dress that emphasized her curves. The blonde was one-hundred percent Jin s type, so I knew I d be expected to make conversation with the glasses girl.
Before anyone else could say a word, Jin spoke.
I can t believe you re here, Sumida, he said.
The girl with the glasses gave him a thin smile. Me neither. I d never have guessed I d see you again. I m surprised you remember my name.
Jin chuckled. Come on, my memory isn t that bad.
You know each other? Toshi asked.
We were high school classmates, Jin said quickly. Apologies. I ve done things in the wrong order, haven t I? Please, ladies, take a seat, and then we can do the introductions.
The three of them made themselves comfortable on the long sofa. The pretty girl was named Sachiko Hayami, the stylish one was Chie Ohno, and the one with the glasses was Miwako Sumida.
Sachiko, Chie, and Miwako, Toshi repeated. Do you mind if we use first names?
Of course not, Chie said in a cheerful tone. She was so friendly, probably one of those girls everyone had an easy time getting along with.
Toshi ordered some light snacks, and we made the usual collegiate conversation. What are you studying? Oh, interest
Before anyone else could say a word, Jin spoke.
I can t believe you re here, Sumida, he said.
The girl with the glasses gave him a thin smile. Me neither. I d never have guessed I d see you again. I m surprised you remember my name.
Jin chuckled. Come on, my memory isn t that bad.
You know each other? Toshi asked.
We were high school classmates, Jin said quickly. Apologies. I ve done things in the wrong order, haven t I? Please, ladies, take a seat, and then we can do the introductions.
The three of them made themselves comfortable on the long sofa. The pretty girl was named Sachiko Hayami, the stylish one was Chie Ohno, and the one with the glasses was Miwako Sumida.
Sachiko, Chie, and Miwako, Toshi repeated. Do you mind if we use first names?
Of course not, Chie said in a cheerful tone. She was so friendly, probably one of those girls everyone had an easy time getting along with.
Toshi ordered some light snacks, and we made the usual collegiate conversation. What are you studying? Oh, interest
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Autoren-Porträt von Clarissa Goenawan
Clarissa Goenawan is an Indonesian-born Singaporean writer. Her award-winning short fiction has appeared in literary magazines and anthologies in Singapore, Australia, the UK, and the US. Rainbirds, her first novel, has been published in fourteen different languages.
Bibliographische Angaben
- Autor: Clarissa Goenawan
- 2021, 288 Seiten, Maße: 13,9 x 20,9 cm, Kartoniert (TB), Englisch
- Verlag: Soho Press
- ISBN-10: 1641292636
- ISBN-13: 9781641292634
- Erscheinungsdatum: 25.03.2021
Sprache:
Englisch
Pressezitat
A Literary Hub Most Anticipated Book of 2020Praise for The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida
An exquisite tale about the way secrets shape and transform young lives. Behind Goenawan s crisp, spare prose lies a world of emotional complexity.
Mira T. Lee, award winning author of Everything Here Is Beautiful
A novel in three voices about the inner turmoil and beauty that people keep walled behind flawless surfaces.
Tiffany Tsao, author of The Oddfits and The Majesties
From the first page of Clarissa Goenawan s The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida, we know that the titular Miwako has taken her own life, but we don t know why. This same question plagues Miwako s close friends as they grieve her death and search for answers. In this elegant and haunting novel, Goenawan deftly explores the messiness of grief, the pain of lost chances, and the way a life can collapse under the weight of secrets. Miwako and her friends are under my skin, and I ll be thinking about them for some time.
Kathleen Barber, author of Truth Be Told and Follow Me
Vivid and intriguing an elegantly cryptic, poetically plotted Murakami-esque whydunit.
Sharlene Teo, award winning author of Ponti
Written in clear, simple prose, Goenawan's novel presents the intriguing mystery of Miwako Sumida through the eyes of three characters who try to piece together her puzzle while struggling with their own questions of meaning and identity. This story about youth, friendship, grief, and trauma invites us through secret doors, ready to discover more."
Intan Paramaditha, PEN Award winning author of Apple and Knife and The Wandering
A tremendous examination of sadness . . . a book with heart about the mysteries of the heart.
New York Journal of Books
Goenawan's style is effortless and emotionally
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charged . . . The Perfect World Of Miwako Sumida is a misconception: nothing is perfect in this book.
The Irish Times
An immersive, haunting tale . . . Goenawan's prose is transportive in its directness and evocative in its simplicity. In Miwako, she has succeeded in an intricate character study of a perturbed soul.
The Strait Times
Miwako is a powerful, memorable character . . . The way these characters lives intersect makes for a complex and satisfying tale, one that s sad at the same time as it s lively and warm.
Book Riot
A haunting tale of secrets, inner turmoil, and the search for answers.
Bustle
A quietly powerful meditation on the destructive power of secrets, as well as the power of truth to heal even beyond death.
The Nerd Daily
Goenawan, like any skilled novelist, manages to elegantly reveal both the pain and beauty of unraveling a life after loss. This is only her second novel to date, and she s already been compared to the wizard of world-building, Haruki Murakami.
Lambda Literary
A novel that lingers in the mind thanks to its poetic delivery, layering of ideas and an engrossing tale, all led by vivid characters.
Bad Form Magazine
If her debut novel brings Murakami to mind, her second, with its winsome tone, harkens to early Banana Yoshimoto. However, with her blend of mystery, magic and social issues in this case, sexual abuse, transgender awareness and suicide Goenawan is developing her own distinct brand.
The Japan Times
[Goenawan] raises an age-old question on the fine line where literature ends and life begins . . [she] has her own distinctive voice, as she sensitively explores traumatic sexual experiences through a woman s perspective.
The Jakarta Post
As three stories interlink, rich plot, description, and dialogue make this fiction seem like reality. While readers may be aware they're not a part of the novel, through Goenawan's enthralling writing, they will nonetheless become immersed in her fictional world.
Budi Darma
A compelling protagonist . . . Like Japanese brush painting, the author s simple, clear prose captures Miwako s vulnerability and complexity. Also vividly drawn are Fumi and Chie, each having built their own unusual protective personas that are gradually revealed. An eerie and elegant puzzle.
Kirkus Reviews
Like Goenawan s previous Rainbirds, this is more literary fiction than conventional mystery, featuring exceptionally well-drawn characters facing adversity in a narrative written with an elegance and delicacy.
Booklist
Tender and tragic . . . Goenawan s luminous prose captures the deep emotions of her characters as they grapple with questions about family history, gender, and sexuality. The tug of Miwako s strange, troubled spirit will wrench readers from the beginning.
Publishers Weekly
"Goenawan does an expert job of getting to the core of this university student with a mysterious past, and on how people grapple with the death by suicide of a loved one."
Alma
Praise for Rainbirds
A murder mystery and a family drama in one, this book is as beautiful as it is understated. The author presents us with a fascinatingly structured look into Japanese society and a depiction of mourning and grief that is universally recognizable.
San Francisco Chronicle
A transnational literary tour-de-force. Readers will be carried along by its creepy charm.
The Japan Times
Clarissa Goenawan spins a dark, encapsulating story that will certainly reel you in completely.
Bustle
Mysterious and dark.
Daily Beast
With its dream sequences, chance encounters and leisurely attention to music and food, this debut novel evokes the simple joys of early Haruki Murakami . . . A satisfying heartfelt tale about letting go.
amNewYork
The Irish Times
An immersive, haunting tale . . . Goenawan's prose is transportive in its directness and evocative in its simplicity. In Miwako, she has succeeded in an intricate character study of a perturbed soul.
The Strait Times
Miwako is a powerful, memorable character . . . The way these characters lives intersect makes for a complex and satisfying tale, one that s sad at the same time as it s lively and warm.
Book Riot
A haunting tale of secrets, inner turmoil, and the search for answers.
Bustle
A quietly powerful meditation on the destructive power of secrets, as well as the power of truth to heal even beyond death.
The Nerd Daily
Goenawan, like any skilled novelist, manages to elegantly reveal both the pain and beauty of unraveling a life after loss. This is only her second novel to date, and she s already been compared to the wizard of world-building, Haruki Murakami.
Lambda Literary
A novel that lingers in the mind thanks to its poetic delivery, layering of ideas and an engrossing tale, all led by vivid characters.
Bad Form Magazine
If her debut novel brings Murakami to mind, her second, with its winsome tone, harkens to early Banana Yoshimoto. However, with her blend of mystery, magic and social issues in this case, sexual abuse, transgender awareness and suicide Goenawan is developing her own distinct brand.
The Japan Times
[Goenawan] raises an age-old question on the fine line where literature ends and life begins . . [she] has her own distinctive voice, as she sensitively explores traumatic sexual experiences through a woman s perspective.
The Jakarta Post
As three stories interlink, rich plot, description, and dialogue make this fiction seem like reality. While readers may be aware they're not a part of the novel, through Goenawan's enthralling writing, they will nonetheless become immersed in her fictional world.
Budi Darma
A compelling protagonist . . . Like Japanese brush painting, the author s simple, clear prose captures Miwako s vulnerability and complexity. Also vividly drawn are Fumi and Chie, each having built their own unusual protective personas that are gradually revealed. An eerie and elegant puzzle.
Kirkus Reviews
Like Goenawan s previous Rainbirds, this is more literary fiction than conventional mystery, featuring exceptionally well-drawn characters facing adversity in a narrative written with an elegance and delicacy.
Booklist
Tender and tragic . . . Goenawan s luminous prose captures the deep emotions of her characters as they grapple with questions about family history, gender, and sexuality. The tug of Miwako s strange, troubled spirit will wrench readers from the beginning.
Publishers Weekly
"Goenawan does an expert job of getting to the core of this university student with a mysterious past, and on how people grapple with the death by suicide of a loved one."
Alma
Praise for Rainbirds
A murder mystery and a family drama in one, this book is as beautiful as it is understated. The author presents us with a fascinatingly structured look into Japanese society and a depiction of mourning and grief that is universally recognizable.
San Francisco Chronicle
A transnational literary tour-de-force. Readers will be carried along by its creepy charm.
The Japan Times
Clarissa Goenawan spins a dark, encapsulating story that will certainly reel you in completely.
Bustle
Mysterious and dark.
Daily Beast
With its dream sequences, chance encounters and leisurely attention to music and food, this debut novel evokes the simple joys of early Haruki Murakami . . . A satisfying heartfelt tale about letting go.
amNewYork
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