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Child of Fortune

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( 1,196 ratings, 180 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 follows Koko, a single mother navigating life in Tokyo. It explores her struggles with societal expectations and personal desires as she seeks a sense of identity while caring for her young daughter. The narrative delves into themes of motherhood, independence, and the pursuit of happiness.
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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?

If you find stories about personal resilience and self-discovery compelling, you might enjoy this book. It delves into the struggles and introspections of a woman seeking independence and meaning within the confines of societal expectations, all set against a vivid Japanese backdrop.

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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

The dreamlike story of a single mother and her estranged 11-year-old daughter by Yuko Tsushima, the 'archaeologist of the female psyche'.

Child of Fortune is deceptively gentle and dreamlike, teetering on the edge of tragedy. It covers a year in the life of a single mother with an eleven-year-old daughter, combining a complex interior world with memorably visual imagery. The narrative is patterned with themes of loss, despair, and fragmentation.

It follows the course of an unexpected pregnancy which threatens to sever frayed family bonds. The story is interwoven with repressed memories of childhood dreams, missed opportunities, and a trio of unsatisfactory men. There is darkness in the novel, but it is not ultimately depressing, and it concludes with a sense of optimism.

Series: Penguin Modern 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 remains a timeless novel, lauded for its ability to resonate even decades after publication. The narrative weaves themes of hope and melancholy, beautifully translated to convey the nuanced challenges women face in defying societal norms. The exploration of a woman's complex inner world, her resilience, and her resistance to societal conformity is highlighted with poignant wisdom.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241335031

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 August 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Geraldine Harcourt

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 126g

Pages: 160

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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