Guest writer!! Chris Ramos, a medical student, submitted this amazing review.
Original title: ず う み み Mizuumi
Author: Banana Yoshimoto
Year of publication: 2005
Pages: 182 pages
"Listening to the misfortunes of people is like accepting money. Things never end there. Because you must take responsibility for having heard what you have heard."
Chihiro has lost her mother and feels torn. She is a girl who lives in Tokyo, alone in her apartment, away from her father and now, also from her mother.
As a young woman, Chihiro lived on the second floor of that famous restaurant that her mother owned. Living with her seemed so casual, so vivid and wonderful.
Now she was sunk in deep pain and constantly dreamed of her mother. She lived this way until one day he met Nakajima, an overwhelmed young man, with habits that Chihiro certainly did not share. The only thing Nakajima and Chihiro shared was silence in each of their apartments (as they were neighbors ) and that both had lost their mother.
In spite of this, Nakajima ended up spending every night, for weeks, in the department of Chihiro. She really did not know what was going on between the two of them, the only thing she was certain of was that she enjoyed his company, his skin and warmth. Besides, Nakajima never told her what had happened to his mother. Every night she spent with Nakajima she saw a wounded part in his face. She understood him better than anyone else, for she could recognize him in her face everytime she looked in the mirror. Nevertheless, she never touched the subject; but the desire to help him always remained in his heart.
That attempt to comfort the heart of Nakajima, will take her to meet two friends very close to him, near a majestic lake. Chihiro will embark on the journey, which will change his life, to know more about that man who spent weeks inside his apartment and his heart; But even more, you will know that sometimes pain should not be fixed, just heard.
This is a story that conveys pain, loss and fears; But also liberation, comfort and love.
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