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Child of Fortune

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( 1,198 ratings, 181 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Child of Fortune by Yuko Tsushima delves into the complex life of Koko, a divorced single mother in Tokyo. As she navigates the challenges of raising her daughter while grappling with societal expectations and her personal desires, the novel presents a poignant exploration of freedom, identity, and the essence of motherhood in contemporary Japan.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are drawn to introspective narratives that explore the complexities of single motherhood, personal freedom, and identity. The story offers a poignant and intimate portrayal of a woman's journey to find her place in the world amidst societal expectations. If you appreciate literary fiction with deep emotional resonance, this may be a rewarding read for you.

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Child of Fortune

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

New in Penguin Japanese Classics: an innovative feminist novel about motherhood and girlhood.

Introducing Penguin Japanese Classics—a collection of some of Japan's most celebrated and ground-breaking 20th century writers, with covers inspired by Japanese art and design. Taking us from a sun-drenched affair in a seaside town to an underground 'ark' full of shadows and eccentrics, with stops at mountains of skulls, lonely apartments, and boarding school dormitories, this series is perfect for new and long-time readers of Japanese literature.

Koko won't do what is expected of her. Defying her family's wishes, she has brought up her eleven-year-old daughter alone in her apartment. And now, after a casual affair, she is unexpectedly pregnant again. What will this mean for her already troubled relationship with her daughter? Child of Fortune is an unflinching portrayal of a woman's innermost fears and desires.

'A terrific novel' Angela Carter

Translated by Geraldine Harcourt

Series: Japanese Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Child of Fortune is a classic novel that remains as relevant today as it was nearly 40 years ago. It offers a poignant exploration of the female struggle with societal expectations, captured through Geraldine Harcourt's elegant translation. The narrative delves into a woman's consciousness, revealing her fears, longings, and her resilience against conformity pressures.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241675274

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Geraldine Harcourt

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 11.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 145g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Yuko Tsushima was born in Tokyo in 1947, the daughter of the novelist Osamu Dazai, who took his own life when she was one year old. Her prolific literary career began with her first collection of short stories, Shaniku-sai (Carnival), which she published at the age of twenty-four. She won many awards, including the Izumi Kyoka Prize for Literature (1977), the Kawabata Prize (1983) and the Tanizaki Prize (1998). She died in 2016.

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