The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida
Books | Fiction / Psychological
4
Clarissa Goenawan
From the critically acclaimed author of Rainbirds comes a novel of tragedy and dark 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?Ryusei, a fellow student at Waseda who harbored unrequited feelings for Miwako, begs her best friend Chie to bring him to the remote village where she spent her final days. While they are away, his older sister, Fumi, who took Miwako on as an apprentice in her art studio, receives an unexpected guest at her apartment in Tokyo, distracting her from her fear 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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More Details:
Author
Clarissa Goenawan
Pages
288
Publisher
Soho Press
Published Date
2020-03-10
ISBN
1641291206 9781641291200
Community ReviewsSee all
"Wow, I really loved this book. The tone and atmosphere of this story is quiet, calm, sad, and understated. At the same time each of the characters and the mysteries of their lives, how they came to be the people they were, had such depth.<br/><br/>This is a story about a few people whose lives connected with Miwako Sumida. The story shifts perspectives between them and I thought the shifting perspectives was written very well. Each character’s perspective and personality was portrayed very believably.<br/><br/>While this book is mysterious and sad, filled with the tragedies of life like death, suicide, sexual assault, and bullying, it’s also joyful and even a bit magical and mystical.<br/><br/>I especially loved Miwako’s dialogue. I was laughing out loud frequently at how plainly she spoke.<br/><br/>As the story was coming to an end I was worried we were going to be left with some major cliff hangers, but the author wrapped everything up very well. I’ve finished feeling satisfied and very glad I picked up this book."
Reading into the Void
"From the first page it makes it into a mystery read and your asking yourself why the whole time. It's sweet one sided love story. The story and events have a great flow. I enjoyed it! "
Dana Pion