Booknotes : Asa: The Girl Who Turned Into a Pair of Chopsticks by Natsuko Imamura
A complex, emotional journey through whimsical, dark tales that are metaphorical, reflective, haunting, and evocatively memorable.
Book Details
🛒 Asa: The Girl Who Turned Into a Pair of Chopsticks | Kinokuniya Malaysia
Author : Natsuko Imamura
Published in Apr 2020
208 pages
Lit-fit, Asian Lit, Complex, emotional, metaphorical, whimsical, dark, surreal, reflective, poignant, intricate, intriguing, haunting, insightful, unconventional, evocative, memorable
Atmosphere & a gist of thoughts
It's really hard to review this book without giving spoilers away.
This book, Asa: The Girl Who Turned Into a Pair of Chopsticks (ATGWTIAPOC), is divided into three different short stories about three different women. Each story starts simply, with straightforward language, but places each woman in odd situations. They slowly unfold into weird, emotional tales (if you can catch the metaphors) and turn out to be more complex, emotional, and darker than you initially thought.
It’s quite cerebral and requires a deep introspection to understand the novel better.
Asa: The Girl Who Turned Into a Pair of Chopsticks by Natsuko Imamura
Story 1: Asa
I met a girl who seems genuinely interested in wanting people to accept what she offers (from her two bare hands). The actual problem isn't just that. As the story unfolds, this woman is revealed to be a victim of bullying, mocking, and extreme isolation, left to die alone. We can see themes of loneliness and the desire to be seen explored in this story. Despite her best efforts to connect, she faces bullying and extreme isolation.
Story 2: Nami
I was introduced to a girl who 'can't be hit by anything' ~ it was odd, yes? Also sounds unlikely? Yes too.
Throughout the story, she dodges every attempt to hit her, leading to some humorous moments where I found myself hoping someone would finally succeed just to end the absurdity. I was mentally screaming, 'Can somebody just beat the s**t out of this woman and get this over with?'
However, upon deeper reflection, I questioned the purpose of such a trait. Why would anyone want to endure repeated attempts to be hit? The story reveals that it's not about the literal dodging or desiring to be hit. Instead, it explores how Nami becomes an outcast from society, facing societal rejection and personal failure.
Story 3: Happy
Happy decided not to do anything other than lie on her sofa. Living a passive life, she pees in a litter box, is bathed by her mother, and is offered milk ~ there's a blurred line between thinking she's either a woman or a pet (maybe a cat?). I'll let you figure that out. We can see themes of individual existential crisis, mental health, and hints of extreme laziness.
Quotes
I want to be a tree, let me become a tree . As she consciously gradually faded, this was the phrase she repeatd to herself until finally she breathed her last. | Sadly, Asa had turned into a cedar tree. She would never have any sweet fruit to give….
Nami now simply wandered around. When it began to rain,, she took refuge inside a building, it was warm, with a distinct smell. She didn’t know it but the scent was the odour of the paper. It was a library. A placed she had never been before.
Trigger Points
The essence of this book explores themes of care, belonging, and the impact of social alienation. Be mindful of the trigger warnings, which include extreme mental breakdown, self-harm, abuse, loneliness, bullying, mocking, loss of a family member, and death.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.0)
It’s like Harry Potter magic for me! I couldn’t put it down and was eager to see where the story would lead and how twisted things could get. Despite its simplicity and somewhat plotless nature (a hallmark of Natsuko’s writing style), it was still memorable and enjoyable. I just wish the story had delved deeper into the lives of these three women. The timeline felt brief, and though it’s a collection of short stories, I believe the author could have expanded on the details. This book invites deep reflection on life and the society we live in. It’s great, though it didn’t captivate me as much as other works by Natsuko. Still, it left a lasting impression!
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