Breasts and Eggs

On a sweltering summer day in the heart of a poor Tokyo suburb, we are introduced to three women whose lives intertwine in unexpected and poignant ways. Natsuko, a thirty-year-old aspiring writer, finds her world disrupted by the arrival of her older sister Makiko and Makiko's teenage daughter, Midoriko. Makiko, an ageing hostess desperate to reclaim her fading beauty, has come to Tokyo seeking breast enhancement surgery. Her obsession with her appearance has left Midoriko, who is struggling with her own puberty-induced transformations, silent and emotionally withdrawn.

As the oppressive heat fills Natsuko's rundown apartment, the stifling atmosphere serves as a crucible for each woman to confront her own anxieties and the strained family dynamics that bind them together. The apartment becomes a battleground where dreams, fears, and desperate hopes collide, offering a raw and insightful exploration of contemporary womanhood.

Eight years later, we reconnect with Natsuko, who has evolved into a published author. Her journey of self-discovery takes her back to her rural hometown, where she is haunted by memories of that transformative summer and the shadows of her family's past. As she navigates her way through a society with rigid norms and systemic sexism, Natsuko grapples with her desire for motherhood and the constraints imposed by her biological clock.

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami provides a revolutionary and intimate portrayal of working-class women in modern Japan. It delves deeply into themes of body image, female identity, and familial bonds. With her keen narrative skills, Kawakami paints an evocative picture of the societal pressures faced by women and the heartbreaking sacrifices they are often required to endure.

This novel has been translated into English by Sam Bett and David Boyd, maintaining the poignant and evocative prose of the original Japanese. Recognised as a 'Notable Book of 2020' by The New York Times and celebrated by acclaimed authors, Breasts and Eggs is Mieko Kawakami's unforgettable English-language debut.

'Breathtaking' - Haruki Murakami, author of Norwegian Wood

'Bold, modern and surprising' - An Yu, author of Braised Pork

'Incredible and propulsive' - Naoise Dolan, author of Exciting Times