Ep.30: "It didn't have to be you." - Facing the raw and cold reality of "Heaven"

Ep.30: "It didn't have to be you." - Facing the raw and cold reality of "Heaven"

"It could’ve been anyone. You just happened to be there." In this episode, I share my take on Mieko Kawakami’s "Heaven", a novel that was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. To be honest, this was a very difficult book to read. The descriptions of bullying were so vivid and raw that I wanted to look away, but I had to know what happens. It’s a story that asks deep questions about pain and coincidence, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease. This is the first part of my "Mieko Kawakami Week." Next episode will be in Japanese on a new book by Kawakami. Stay tuned for another episode of "Mieko Kawakami Week"! 「別に君じゃなくたっていいんだよ。たまたまそこに君がいて、たまたま僕たちのムードが一致しただけ」 いじめグループの百瀬が放ったこの言葉が、今も脳裏に突き刺さっています。 今週は川上未映子さんの『ヘヴン』について。 正直、読み進めるのが本当に辛い一冊でしたが、どうしても目をそらすことができませんでした。 読み終わった後に思わずググってしまった、あの「腑に落ちない感覚」も含めて、一人の読者としてありのままにお話しします。 今回は、私の中で勝手に開催している「一人川上未映子ウィーク」の第1弾です。次は第二弾の日本語回を配信します！

Ep.29:「たまたまそこにいただけ」という言葉の重みと、理不尽な痛み - 『ヘヴン』

「別に君じゃなくたっていいんだよ。たまたまそこに君がいて、たまたま僕たちのムードが一致しただけ」 いじめグループの百瀬が放ったこの言葉が、今も脳裏に突き刺さっています。 今週は川上未映子さんの『ヘヴン』について。 正直、読み進めるのが本当に辛い一冊でしたが、どうしても目をそらすことができませんでした。 読み終わった後に思わずググってしまった、あの「腑に落ちない感覚」も含めて、一人の読者としてありのままにお話しします。 私の中で勝手に開催している「一人川上未映子ウィーク」の第1弾です。次は英語回を配信します！ "It could’ve been anyone. You just happened to be there." In this episode, I share my take on Mieko Kawakami’s "Heaven", a novel that was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. To be honest, this was a very difficult book to read. The descriptions of bullying were so vivid and raw that I wanted to look away, but I had to know what happens. It’s a story that asks deep questions about pain and coincidence, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease. This is the first part of my "Mieko Kawakami Week." Next episode will be in English so stay tuned!

Ep. 28: "Nothing Will Change" is a Lie. Reflections on "Everything I Know About Love" by Dolly Alderton

In this episode, I talk about the book that has received the most highlights from me so far in 2026: Dolly Alderton’s memoir, "Everything I Know About Love". As we move from the chaotic energy of our teenage years to 20s into our 30s, the landscape of our friendships inevitably shifts. Dolly captures that specific heartache when a childhood best friend moves out to live with a partner. Even when they promise "nothing will change," we know the intimacy, the frequency, and the "real-time" nature of their connection will never be the same. I share my favorite quotes from the book, reflecting on how friendship takes conscious work and why the most profound lessons about love don't necessarily come from the romantic kind. If you've ever felt a sense of loss as your friends entered different life stages, this episode is for you 2026年で今のところ一番多くハイライトを引いた、ドリー・アルダートンの回顧録『Everything I Know About Love』について話しています。  親友が恋人と住むために家を出ていくとき、私たちは「何も変わらないよ」と互い言い聞かせつつ、「かつてのような親密さは失われる」ということを実はわかっている。  恋愛だけが「愛」ではない。転びそうなときにそっと手のひらを差し伸べてくれるような、そんな存在こそが愛なんだと教えてくれる、本書について語ります。

Ep. 27:「何も変わらない」なんて嘘。30代で気づく友情と愛の形。- 『Everything I Know About Love』

2026年で今のところ一番多くハイライトを引いた、ドリー・アルダートンの回顧録『Everything I Know About Love』について話しています。   親友が恋人と住むために家を出ていくとき、私たちは「何も変わらないよ」と互い言い聞かせつつ、「かつてのような親密さは失われる」ということを感じています。   恋愛だけが「愛」ではない。転びそうなときにそっと手のひらを差し伸べてくれるような、そんな存在こそが愛なんだと教えてくれる、本書について語ります。 In this episode, I talk about the book that has received the most highlights from me so far in 2026: Dolly Alderton’s memoir, "Everything I Know About Love". As we move from the chaotic energy of our teenage years to 20s into our 30s, the landscape of our friendships inevitably shifts.Dolly captures that specific heartache when a childhood best friend moves out to live with a partner. Even when they promise "nothing will change," we know the intimacy, the frequency, and the "real-time" nature of their connection will never be the same. I share my favorite quotes from the book, reflecting on how friendship takes conscious work and why the most profound lessons about love don't necessarily come from the romantic kind. If you've ever felt a sense of loss as your friends entered different life stages, this episode is for you.

Ep. 26: I almost gave up on this one (and why I'm glad I didn't) - “The Heart’s Invisible Furies”

Sometimes, the most beloved books are the hardest to start. In this episode, I dive into "The Heart's Invisible Furies" by John Boyne. While the story is undeniably beautiful, I speak about my initial struggle with the characters - specifically, the intense"secondhand embarrassment" I felt during the early chapters. From the "brattiness" of teenage Cyril and Julian to the brilliant, independent female characters like Catherine and Alice, I touch on how my feelings shifted from irritation to emotional resonance. I also touch upon the influence of Irish history and how a person's life can be drastically shaped by the era and place they live in. ジョン・ボインの人気作である『The Heart's Invisible Furiesについて、あえて「最初は苦手だった」という本音から語ります。 1940年代から現代に至るアイルランドを舞台に、一人のゲイの男性の人生を7年刻みで描いた物語。 「最初はイライラしたけれど、最後には泣きそうになる」という正直な読書体験や、強くて自立した女性キャラクターたちの魅力について、ざっくばらんに話します。