Fault Lines

I enjoyed the writing and the descriptions of Japanese culture but I don't think I relate to the unhappy housewife. I also didn't really understand the where the shift in her relationship with her husband comes from, like how did it go from being so bad she wanted to jump out a window to them watching movies together without ever discussing their issues? And I did feel like the ending was anticlimactic.

3.5 ⭐️ RTC

I went into this completely cold and found myself a bit bored by it at first. Mizuki is a Japanese housewife who has spent time in America and dreams of more than domesticity. She begins an affair with a stranger, as she feels neglected by her husband and bored with her life. This sounds like the start of plenty of literary novels, but I found her relationship with Kiyoshi lovely and refreshing. I also liked that instead of causing her to drift further from her family, her relationship with Kyoshi allows her to settle more fully into her role as wife and mother when she is home. I was even quite emotional at the ending, although I knew it couldn't have ended any other way. I'm glad to have read this and am looking forward to seeing if Itami puts out any more books. Thanks to Fatma for the rec!

Essentially flawless for me.

The first 2 chapters drew me in. The narrators first person account of her angst, dissatisfaction and perplexity at why, was engaging, funny, real and relatable. Then she lost me. The narrator, for me, is a boring bored housewife. I skimmed 100 pages and gave up. If the rest of the book were as carefully crafted as the first 14 pages, this book would be a gem.

3.5 stars, rounded down. I appreciated the portrayal of modern urban Japanese culture, with its traditional gender roles of workaholic husbands and stay-at-home wives. I'm not sure it is representative of all Japanese marriages, but Itami does definitely show the differences between American and Japanese definitions of success and happiness. There were several examples of dry humor that were greatly appreciated, although the book jacket comparison to Helen Fielding ([b:Bridget Jones's Diary 227443 Bridget Jones's Diary (Bridget Jones, #1) Helen Fielding https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558869586l/227443.SY75.jpg 3185154]) is rather misleading (I haven't read enough Sally Rooney to comment on the alleged similarities to her work). But in the end, the book was not much more than The Bridges of Madison County in another country. I really didn't need to read the umpteenth story of a woman who has to choose between love and duty. It's a tale as old as time, and I'm not sure Itami brings anything new to the table besides the setting.

Actual rating: 3.5★

Rounded up because Mizuki, the main character, is super relatable. This one didn't grab me as much as I expected, even though it's still quite a nice read. I was hoping there would be more portrayal of the stale marriage and motherhood, but the book actually spends a lot of time explaining other aspects such as Mizuki's background and life before she got married. Which is also necessary, to be fair, but the portion of it is so huge it kind of overshadows the moments when she talks about her life now and why she's so unhappy with it. It's like watching a series of flashbacks back to back.

While I'm sure a lot of people would be upset about Mizuki's decision at the end, I can understand why she did. Life in Asia is just so different, with so many aspects that you have to consider before you make major decisions like leaving your husband simply because you're unhappy about your marriage. It might work just fine in Western countries, but in Asia it's not that easy to have the freedom to make that kind of choice. You can even see it in the book, from the way people judge Mizuki for doing something that isn't considered normal or proper.

...and there's no guarantee Kiyoshi wouldn't just turn into Tatsuya 2.0 if Mizuki chooses him and they get married. That's just how men are, sadly. If you disagree, consider yourself very lucky since it's not a pleasant experience to watch the gradual change.

The writing style took some time for me to get used to, but it's surprisingly snarky and funny. I enjoyed it even if it's quite different from my expectations.