Hunchback

A poignant story which explores themes of sexuality, disability and womanhood. It is disturbing at times, which might be off putting for some, but I feel that this is an important book nonetheless. As someone who is able-bodied, this put many things into perspective for me and I suspect I am not the only one.

Outside of the themes covered, this was also genuinely fascinating, I couldn't put it down. The ending especially had my jaw drop and my mind swirl with theories. Definitely recommend!

4.25 stars.  Translated literary fiction following Shaka a young Japanese woman who has a muscle disability, moonlights as an erotica writer, tweets and studies online while living in an apartment with special care services.  This was such an informative yet entertaining read. The writer being disabled herself, this felt like a real, unadorned and unique look into the life of a woman in a ableist society. I loved Shaka as the main character, her anger, her thirst for knowledge, but also her dark humour and unashamed sexual curiosity. The author showed various themes beyond ableism/disabilities, such as power dynamics, financial privileges, abuse, reproductive rights, books, obsolescence etc  I felt the story felt a bit too short and the pacing felt a bit off, still I loved the ending, it made me gasp so hard  ! 

An extremely powerful novella about ableism in Japan, from the point of view of a woman with a serious physical disability, written by an author with that same disability. It is furious and relentless, brutal and unforgiving, and places the body, with all its flaws and desires, firmly in the centre stage and doesn't take its eyes off it for one second.