Sun’s out and up, but there’s nowhere to go except the same old domestic attractions. So, take this opportunity to let the mind wander with books that promote armchair travel and conjure fantasy. They don’t only just shade your face from sunlight, y’know.
What Artists Wear
By Charlie Porter
As Shakespeare proclaimed, the clothes maketh the man. Style luminary and fashion journalist Porter raids the closets of esteemed prominent greats (Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol) to living legends (Cindy Sherman, David Hockney) and examines how iconic outfits worn by them are beyond the looks. Most reveal personal stories with clues about their characters and the aesthetic sensibilities trace upspoken semiotic communication which liberates them. It’s not about what you wear, but how you wear instead.
The Woman in the Purple Skirt
By Natsuko Imamura
Not to be mistaken with ‘The Girl…’ Millennium series by Stieg Larsson and David Lagercrantz, Imamura’s prize- winning book features a mysterious, obsessive female protagonist (the Woman in the Yellow Cardigan) who observes the titular target and recounts her thoughts through a first-person account. Weird and darkly odd best describe most individuals in this enigmatic realm of loneliness and despair. Furthermore, this wryly written gripping tale raises more questions than answers. What’s her ultimate motive? Stalk along, folks.
Klara and the Sun
By Kazuo Ishiguro
You’d think it’s impossible to top the Nobel Prize-winning The Remains of the Day but Ishiguro outdid himself and delivered a masterpiece worthy of nabbing another one in the literature category. The British Nobel laureate crafts an AI (artificial friend) named Klara who hopes to be loved and loves in return in this suspense-filled contemporary sci-fi piece. The humanistic nuances of a coming-of-age robot seem far-fetched but her existence here makes us question relationships and living. Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror
By Mizuki Tsujimura
There is always something magical in Japanese literature even if grimness eclipses fantasy. In Tsujimura’s mindscape, following through anxiety-induced thoughts conjured can lead
to unexpected consequences. Indeed, there’s always something ominous looming in this slice-of-life delivery about seventh-grade Kokoro and her classmates travelling to a dreamy castle via a portal. Although it’s initially (deceptively) fun, Tsujimura explores serious themes such as bullying and domestic and sexual abuse. Is respite from real life truly achievable? Do a reality check first.
First Person Singular
By Haruki Murakami
Murakami is no stranger to short stories and this latest compilation has an unmissable binding aspect with each other—accounts from a lonely man’s perspective. With themes stretching from nostalgia and youth to adulthood and death, the celebrated author delves into the circle of life with evocative thoughts and a pensive mood. Self-reflection also paints the poignant landscape of this collection with a delicate philosophical approach that’s supposedly based on Murakami’s life experiences. No surprise on the appearance of classical musicians and composers too.
All titles are available at Books Kinokuniya stores.
