Breasts and Eggs
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- Create Date：2021-07-25 08:54:46
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Mieko Kawakami
- ISBN：1509898204
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Summary
On a hot summer's day in a poor suburb of Tokyo we meet three women: thirty-year-old Natsuko， her older sister Makiko， and Makiko's teenage daughter Midoriko。 Makiko， an ageing hostess despairing the loss of her looks， has travelled to Tokyo in search of breast enhancement surgery。 She's accompanied by Midoriko， who has recently stopped speaking， finding herself unable to deal with her own changing body and her mother's self-obsession。 Her silence dominates Natsuko's rundown apartment， providing a catalyst for each woman to grapple with their own anxieties and their relationships with one another。
Eight years later， we meet Natsuko again。 She is now a writer and find herself on a journey back to her native city， returning to memories of that summer and her family's past as she faces her own uncertain future。
In Breasts and Eggs Mieko Kawakami paints a radical and intimate portrait of contemporary working class womanhood in Japan， recounting the heartbreaking journeys of three women in a society where the odds are stacked against them。 This is an unforgettable full length English language debut from a major new international talent。
Eight years later， we meet Natsuko again。 She is now a writer and find herself on a journey back to her native city， returning to memories of that summer and her family's past as she faces her own uncertain future。
In Breasts and Eggs Mieko Kawakami paints a radical and intimate portrait of contemporary working class womanhood in Japan， recounting the heartbreaking journeys of three women in a society where the odds are stacked against them。 This is an unforgettable full length English language debut from a major new international talent。
Reviews
Sarah
，
WHAT A RIDE。 This story is a literal masterpiece。 Thank you Mieko Kawakami for creating characters and worlds that allow me to lose myself and find myself at the exact same time。 This is an incredible book and it will definitely take me a little while to come down from the emotional intensity。。。
Rhea
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I very much enjoyed the actual feel of this book in my hands。 The cover， the weight， the binding are all very pleasing。 However I did not particularly enjoy the reading part。 The first and second sections felt very disjointed to me - like a novella with a longer novel tacked on。 I also felt disadvantaged by my own ignorance of Japanese culture （about which I did learn a lot）。 I felt like the details of what types of restaurants the characters visited， what they ordered， and their travels around I very much enjoyed the actual feel of this book in my hands。 The cover， the weight， the binding are all very pleasing。 However I did not particularly enjoy the reading part。 The first and second sections felt very disjointed to me - like a novella with a longer novel tacked on。 I also felt disadvantaged by my own ignorance of Japanese culture （about which I did learn a lot）。 I felt like the details of what types of restaurants the characters visited， what they ordered， and their travels around neighborhoods in Tokyo and Osaka were important clues in the story and - even after looking up unfamiliar words and places - I couldn’t glean enough to understand the subtext， so all that nuance was lost on me。 It is well written nonetheless， other than some clumsy dialogue in translation。 。。。more
Inés Paris
，
3。7
Lynne
，
For me this book seemed to go on and on。。。even though I was fascinated by contemporary Japanese culture as it is enmeshed with American culture。 The translation includes lots of American slang。 Interesting parallels between being stuck as a novel is being "birthed" and a baby is being considered。 I liked how it circled back to home and family at the end。 For me this book seemed to go on and on。。。even though I was fascinated by contemporary Japanese culture as it is enmeshed with American culture。 The translation includes lots of American slang。 Interesting parallels between being stuck as a novel is being "birthed" and a baby is being considered。 I liked how it circled back to home and family at the end。 。。。more
Rosa
，
probabilmente il libro che più ho preferito in questo 2021
Gaelen
，
I couldn't finish。 I got about halfway through， and the story was just too meandering and plotless， I just couldn't imagine it holding my attention for another 200+ pages。 This is really two separate books -- a novella （the first half） and then a longer novel （the second half）， resulting in a too-long 448 pages。 The first-half novella was excellent， a well-written family drama giving a view of what life is like for poor women in Japan， one of whom is a single mother， and I liked the fact that al I couldn't finish。 I got about halfway through， and the story was just too meandering and plotless， I just couldn't imagine it holding my attention for another 200+ pages。 This is really two separate books -- a novella （the first half） and then a longer novel （the second half）， resulting in a too-long 448 pages。 The first-half novella was excellent， a well-written family drama giving a view of what life is like for poor women in Japan， one of whom is a single mother， and I liked the fact that all of the characters were women。 But the second half just drags on。 。。。more
Anton Forte
，
Plastic surgery， artificial insemination， Tokyo， Osaka & family。
Sudha Subramanian
，
A year back， I read a very long article in NYT about this book and ever since that day， I had marked it to read。 I think I had way too much expectation from the start and that is probably why this book failed to impress me。 The part one of the book - which won many awards - was reasonably good （I also believe that a large part of the subtle cultural references was lost in translation）。 The second part which deals largely about the narrator's need for motherhood was like a reading a long blog。 Th A year back， I read a very long article in NYT about this book and ever since that day， I had marked it to read。 I think I had way too much expectation from the start and that is probably why this book failed to impress me。 The part one of the book - which won many awards - was reasonably good （I also believe that a large part of the subtle cultural references was lost in translation）。 The second part which deals largely about the narrator's need for motherhood was like a reading a long blog。 This rant that starts on and off with numerous characters making appearances and incidents bearing no relation to the story made me sit up and wonder if I should trudge forward in the book。 After nearly half the book was done， I came very close to abandoning this needless narration but I kept at it when the story picked some pace and sense。 The narration at times is dry but it gives us a great glimpse of life in Osaka。 。。。more
Ioanna Bechlivanidi
，
Great book！！ The book is centred on the experience of being a woman and especially a woman in Japan， through the lenses of the heroine and the other women in her life， exploring themes like motherhood not in the standard setting of a heterosexual union。
Lottie Hewett
，
A great book about femininity and being a single woman in Japan。 Incredibly written， I absolutely love her work。
Marcy
，
A student recommended that I read this book - it's her favorite - and it's quite a delightful read。 I enjoyed the way Kawakami portrays her characters， especially all of the quandaries her female characters find themselves in。 The discussion about women's bodies - breast enlargement， IVF， single parenthood， and asexuality is done in a beautiful way。 A student recommended that I read this book - it's her favorite - and it's quite a delightful read。 I enjoyed the way Kawakami portrays her characters， especially all of the quandaries her female characters find themselves in。 The discussion about women's bodies - breast enlargement， IVF， single parenthood， and asexuality is done in a beautiful way。 。。。more
ru ！
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 yay for having a baby
Jarika and Matthew （sibs）
，
Read by matthew
Kevin
，
“People like pretty things。 When you’re pretty， everybody wants to look at you， they want to touch you。 I wanted that for myself。 Prettiness means value。 But some people never experience that personally。” - Breasts and Eggs， by Mieko KawakamiI am constantly astounded by Mieko Kawakami: she has quickly become one of my absolute favorite authors。 I cannot recommend this book enough。In this tale of a young woman and her intense struggles with femininity， Kawakami writes with surreal clarity， as wel “People like pretty things。 When you’re pretty， everybody wants to look at you， they want to touch you。 I wanted that for myself。 Prettiness means value。 But some people never experience that personally。” - Breasts and Eggs， by Mieko KawakamiI am constantly astounded by Mieko Kawakami: she has quickly become one of my absolute favorite authors。 I cannot recommend this book enough。In this tale of a young woman and her intense struggles with femininity， Kawakami writes with surreal clarity， as well as a bracing lack of sentimentality， about the intense discomfort of being alive。 Of particular note are the brief yet absolutely breathtaking moments of tenderness scattered throughout the novel。 She captures the intimate yet tortured relationship we have with our bodies， reflecting on how this very vehicle of our existence， as well as the existence of others， can evoke within us such viscerally-felt self-loathing and social anxiety。 This is all to say， I have yet to discover a book that captures yearning in such profound terms: the desire to be different， to be loved， and to be beautiful in a way that transcends what nature has given us。 。。。more
Emi Bevacqua
，
This book is about feminine struggle， not in a boohoo shrinking violet kind of way but in a hilarious-despite-all-the-trauma way， as these stunted injured female characters manage to overcome their obstacles and demons and find their power。 Natsuko Natsume is a 30-yr old writer in Tokyo， she's single and not into mingling。 Her older sister Makiko is a single mom to daughter Midoriko in Osaka。 Natsu and Makiko's mother raised them with the help of her own mother， after their dad left。 When Natsu This book is about feminine struggle， not in a boohoo shrinking violet kind of way but in a hilarious-despite-all-the-trauma way， as these stunted injured female characters manage to overcome their obstacles and demons and find their power。 Natsuko Natsume is a 30-yr old writer in Tokyo， she's single and not into mingling。 Her older sister Makiko is a single mom to daughter Midoriko in Osaka。 Natsu and Makiko's mother raised them with the help of her own mother， after their dad left。 When Natsu was 13 her mother died， then her grandmother died 2 years later， and through it all her big sister tried her best to take care of her。 As a big sister myself， as a mom of daughters， as a woman with women in my life I connect with， this book hit all！my！buttons！This book is written with such feral honesty， which comes across all the moreso considering the setting is Japan， where women are typically presented as perfect， pretty， young， good， and happy。 It comes as such a freaking relief to read about women who are self-aware enough to figure out how they want to be， and own it。 I could not believe how hard I laughed at the part when Makiko was obsessed with breast implants， laughing but also cringing in terror for her。 I love that there is an element of low-level hysteria or insanity humming throughout this book， it makes for suspense， realism， and truly happy endings。 It is a good message to send， that people can survive periods of craziness， and come out all the better for it in the end。 Extra points for just plain feminism like this: "So， basically， to become a Buddha， you have to be reborn as a man first。 What the hell is that？" Another thing I loved about this book was all the characteristic detail evoking life in Japan， that could never be mistaken for another country。 The train lines and the stations， your local okonomiyaki stand， the feelings the smells the procedure at the public bath， pressing the home button on the phone！I am so glad I got assigned this to read for a book club discussion， otherwise I would have stopped reading Kawakami after Heaven， which was a bit heavy handed for me。 。。。more
Jeffrey
，
Great writing， interesting style。 But I kept waiting for something to happen yet nothing did。 In other words kinda noting。 Can’t win em all。
Sophie
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 4。5 ⭐️I found some of the sections of the story to be unnecessarily long or confusing as to why they were even in the book， but overall I was greatly surprised by how much this book resonated with me。 I believe all women can relate to some of the topics that are discussed （beauty， youth/aging， expectations of sexuality， gender equality， the paradoxical aspects of society and prejudices， sexism etc。） which makes this book so relevant and an interesting read that I absolutely do not regret picking 4。5 ⭐️I found some of the sections of the story to be unnecessarily long or confusing as to why they were even in the book， but overall I was greatly surprised by how much this book resonated with me。 I believe all women can relate to some of the topics that are discussed （beauty， youth/aging， expectations of sexuality， gender equality， the paradoxical aspects of society and prejudices， sexism etc。） which makes this book so relevant and an interesting read that I absolutely do not regret picking up。 。。。more
McKenzie
，
Breasts and Eggs is a truly unique novel exploring what it means to be a woman and mother in modern Japanese culture。 The first and more brief section follows Natsuko when her sister and niece come visit her in Tokyo， for her sister to receive a breast augmentation consultation。 The second and more compelling section is a few years in the future， when the asexual and single Natsuko desperately explores how she can become a mother through donated sperm， which is much more taboo in Japanese cultur Breasts and Eggs is a truly unique novel exploring what it means to be a woman and mother in modern Japanese culture。 The first and more brief section follows Natsuko when her sister and niece come visit her in Tokyo， for her sister to receive a breast augmentation consultation。 The second and more compelling section is a few years in the future， when the asexual and single Natsuko desperately explores how she can become a mother through donated sperm， which is much more taboo in Japanese culture than in America。 Mieko Kawakami's writing style takes a bit to adjust to， perhaps because of the translation， but also because this is a straight-forward narrative where Natsuko shares her thoughts and feelings honestly。 Kawakami maneuvers the plot to allow Natsuko to have deep conversations with varied characters about what motherhood and parenthood and childhood and life mean， and I appreciated the thought-provoking passages。 This isn't a book I'd recommend to just anyone， but if the topic interests you， it was thoroughly engaging for me。 。。。more
sam w
，
4。5 I think？？？？ Need to reread
Reem
，
“My monolithic expectation of what a woman’s body was supposed to look like had no bearing on what actually happened to my body。 The two things were wholly unrelated。 I never became the woman I imagined。”（Almost a 3 cause I hated the ending）
Dioni （Bookie Mee）
，
This was an impulsive read for me。 I spotted it on Kindle daily deal for a quid and was in dire need for a book that I could finish without too much effort。 A feminist contemporary Japanese book felt like it。 Gladly I was not wrong。 It was quite an easy read， and for once it was nice to read on Kindle so I wasn't fixated on the number of pages。 If I knew the book was 430 pages I probably would've never started！The book is divided into two sort of novellas: first part on Breasts and second part o This was an impulsive read for me。 I spotted it on Kindle daily deal for a quid and was in dire need for a book that I could finish without too much effort。 A feminist contemporary Japanese book felt like it。 Gladly I was not wrong。 It was quite an easy read， and for once it was nice to read on Kindle so I wasn't fixated on the number of pages。 If I knew the book was 430 pages I probably would've never started！The book is divided into two sort of novellas: first part on Breasts and second part on Eggs。 In the first part， our main character Natsuko is meeting Makiko - her older sister and her daughter （Natsu's niece）， who are visiting from Osaka。 Makiko comes to Tokyo to get a boob job。 The second part jumps to about 10 years later and focuses on Natsuko's desire to have a child， despite her being single and unable to have sex。 She then pursues the idea of getting a sperm donor。 Since the book jumps in time from the first part to the second， it felt a bit disjointed in parts。 It's a small thing， but I kept wondering， did Makiko get her boobs done？ It felt like a small thread that was never resolved， especially since Makiko makes more appearances in the second part， but they never talk about breasts ever again。 Almost all the characters in the book are female and it's quite refreshing to 'hear' the characters talk candidly about all sorts of female issues， such as breasts， nipple whitening， being a single mother， women's roles in society， fertility treatment， pregnancy， and so on。 I found it interesting that the book was published in 2008 in Japan， but was only published and got literary acclaims in the English speaking world in 2020 - 12 years later！ 。。。more
Nargess Shabani
，
I don't know how I feel about it。 It was nice and somehow boring at the same time。 I didn't like it as much as I thought I would。 I don't know how I feel about it。 It was nice and somehow boring at the same time。 I didn't like it as much as I thought I would。 。。。more
Elizabeth Velia
，
There is no one correct way to live a life。 The decision to have or not have children is one that often and can be made independent of being in a relationship， but is rarely discussed as such。 Respect for those who go through the thoughtful and intentional path to achieve this end and respect for those who choose not to have children - a choice that makes your life no less significant。
Sara Hughes
，
I was hesitant to read this as a I have a very strong aversion to technical descriptions of how the insides of our bodies work， but it came highly recommended。 In the end I'm glad I read it。 It's about human autonomy， why people don't want to create children， and the experience of living in a woman's body。 I would've given this a 5 but the plot device at the end annoyed me and the first half wasn't as compelling as the second。 I was hesitant to read this as a I have a very strong aversion to technical descriptions of how the insides of our bodies work， but it came highly recommended。 In the end I'm glad I read it。 It's about human autonomy， why people don't want to create children， and the experience of living in a woman's body。 I would've given this a 5 but the plot device at the end annoyed me and the first half wasn't as compelling as the second。 。。。more
Rhia
，
I think I would have enjoyed it more with fewer incoherent dream sequences。
Martyna
，
bardzo mnie rozczarowała ta książka， bo czytałam bardzo dużo jej pochlebnych recenzji。 myślę， że jeśli ktoś jest osobą drugofalowo feministyczną w stylu tych， czytających wysokie obcasy i kochających j。k。rowling to rozważania o tym， kto może z jakich toalet korzystać， czy zapłodnienie in vitro i decyzja， żeby wychowywać samotnie dziecko są etyczne， czy to okej robić operacje plastyczne i czy osoby aseksualne "mają prawo" być w związkach mogą być interesujące， ale mnie zmęczyły。 bardzo mnie rozczarowała ta książka， bo czytałam bardzo dużo jej pochlebnych recenzji。 myślę， że jeśli ktoś jest osobą drugofalowo feministyczną w stylu tych， czytających wysokie obcasy i kochających j。k。rowling to rozważania o tym， kto może z jakich toalet korzystać， czy zapłodnienie in vitro i decyzja， żeby wychowywać samotnie dziecko są etyczne， czy to okej robić operacje plastyczne i czy osoby aseksualne "mają prawo" być w związkach mogą być interesujące， ale mnie zmęczyły。 。。。more
Aida Ylanan
，
one of my favorite books ever ever ever ever
Court
，
This brought up a lot of questions but I'm not sure it always answered them。 As I mentioned before， several pages of transphobic nonsense in the beginning that had nothing to do with the plot。 I'm not entirely sure what this book was trying to communicate unless it genuinely just wanted me to think on questions of the female condition on my own。 Some beautiful writing and wonderful translation。 Overall an enjoyable read。 This brought up a lot of questions but I'm not sure it always answered them。 As I mentioned before， several pages of transphobic nonsense in the beginning that had nothing to do with the plot。 I'm not entirely sure what this book was trying to communicate unless it genuinely just wanted me to think on questions of the female condition on my own。 Some beautiful writing and wonderful translation。 Overall an enjoyable read。 。。。more
Naro
，
Unsettling in its expanse， this is a universe in a book。 Kawakami's Breasts and Eggs casts its female gaze like a net， finding light across surfaces often left unpenetrated， semi-permeable， or even transparent/invisible -- from bodily autonomy， sexism and internalized sexism， intergenerational traumas， asexuality， choice， reproductive health， poverty， to the dynamics of interactions among women， and how they all interweave and intersect。There's so much to unpack， at times becoming cluttered and Unsettling in its expanse， this is a universe in a book。 Kawakami's Breasts and Eggs casts its female gaze like a net， finding light across surfaces often left unpenetrated， semi-permeable， or even transparent/invisible -- from bodily autonomy， sexism and internalized sexism， intergenerational traumas， asexuality， choice， reproductive health， poverty， to the dynamics of interactions among women， and how they all interweave and intersect。There's so much to unpack， at times becoming cluttered and confusing， dancing around， circumnavigating， though also transfixed。 Sometimes clear and reverently obsessed， demanding yet accessible， but also guarded and apprehensive。 I find myself curious of the authenticity of emotions underneath the characters' behaviors -- such as the breaking egg scene -- and of how poverty was explored -- such as of privilege and oppression。 I also found the final chapters of the novel to be less gripping and imaginative， seemingly losing the sharpness & rhythm of the text's earlier refreshing insight as well as the carefulness， the weight placed in every word and movement。Overall， lustrous and unnerving， this is a novel that demands further reading。 。。。more
Rebecca
，
Such an interesting book on multiple levels。 It feels quite foreign， partly because the translation seems fairly clunky （or maybe that’s intentional？）。 At the same time， though， the investigation of women’s relationships to their physical beings transcends any specific culture。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Breasts and Eggs
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Breasts and Eggs&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Breasts and Eggs&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0