reading this in our current political climate was unbelievably peaceful. even temporary immersion in a world where humans barely cling to survival and can hardly form communities, let alone societies destined to devolve into fascist government. was like a cool shower.
this book is a challenge. it almost veers into a collection of interconnected short stories: chapters vary wildly in plot, style, perspective. your brain strains a bit to hold and place each new piece of information in the world you're growing an understanding of, which reminded me of the book of love, a book only i liked.
i think in some moments it felt like a bit more trouble than it was worth (it didn't always coalesce well), but i liked it quite a lot.
even better since it stuck the landing!

To put it plainly, this is the best piece of speculative fiction I've read in many years. This was brilliant, wonderous, strange, dark, and oh so good.

Kawakami is one of Japan's well known contemporary novelists and he has used this book to create a haunting picture of a dystopian world long after the last humans have expired. Throughout the world are "mothers" who care for generated child until age 5. Their stories and the stories of the generated children make this a novel that you will never forget. Kawakami's prose is precise, yet warm and inviting. The world he imagines is easy to picture and perhaps that's why this is a book all should read!
#catapult #softskullpress #undertheeyeofthebigbird #hiromikawakami

'Under the Eye of the Big Bird' is an unraveling of a story which both transcends and reconciles humanity. Time and space is warped in such a way as to be a looking-glass in which we recognize ourselves, and a magnifying glass which prevents us from understanding the breadth of human existence.

An absolutely delightful read and I can't wait to pick up my own physical copy.