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Strange Weather in Tokyo
- Narrated by: Clare Corbett
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Summary
Shortlisted for the 2014 Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.
Tsukiko is in her late 30s and living alone when one night she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, 'Sensei', in a bar. He is at least 30 years her senior, retired and, she presumes, a widower. After this initial encounter, the pair continue to meet occasionally to share food and drink sake, and as the seasons pass - from spring cherry blossom to autumnal mushrooms - Tsukiko and Sensei come to develop a hesitant intimacy which tilts awkwardly and poignantly into love.
Perfectly constructed, funny and moving, Strange Weather in Tokyo is a tale of modern Japan and old-fashioned romance.
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Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Rosalind Mosis
- 04-01-19
Wonderful!
A satisfying and meandering story! Good for long evenings and good for falling asleep to.
1 person found this helpful
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- rosie123
- 10-01-21
Charming
I have loved the Japanese stories I've read so far. The style is succinct and rather like what I've heard of Japanese poetry. I found the characters most engaging and funny - and above all utterly charming. The narrator's voice is lovely: it is quite clipped and still really highlights the humour well - humour that is all the better for being underplayed. The basic premise of the couple's relationship seems so unlikely but I'm sure all who read or listen will find it very touching.
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- jesjaspers
- 23-05-20
May Dec romance
Not sentimental but it has one of the most beautiful final paragraph images ever in a novel, like a Haiku's
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- Cat
- 29-12-19
I didn't enjoy the book or the narration
I wanted to listen to this book on audible since it was recommended on a list of short stories. I usually enjoy Japan-related stories, particularly quirky stories, so thought this would be a good listen. However, I found the characters very dislikeable and disinteresting - a lot of effort went into giving them "nuances", but unfortunately this did not give them a personality. I began to actively dislike both characters by the end of the book. I listened to the whole story, however it was definitely a chore to get through. I felt like perhaps I would've enjoyed it more if the narration had been better. I would have preferred a Japanese narrator rather than an incredibly strong British accent. It was very off-putting, particularly for a book that is about subtlties.
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- TIM H.
- 16-05-19
Truly excellent
An exercise in restraint and respect but a fulfilling read. Memories are made for and from books such as these. I can imagine an author sitting amongst a million pieces of paper bearing crossed out text otherwise how could perfection be approached so noiselessly
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- @eleniaudibles
- 27-04-19
Shockingly Tragic Novel!
This novel is really sweet and yet simultaneously heartbreaking, and a fantastic read. However, it was completely ruined by the narrator, whose voice took away entirely from the story. A more melodious and deeper female voice, I feel, would have lent itself to the tragedy of it more. However, if you're into literature in translation, this is a fab novel, with an interesting storyline, which I'd never encountered before!