Kazue is a single woman living in rural Japan who has vowed to never marry. While she does not wish to be tied to a man, that doesn’t stop her from having partners and trysts with men she finds appealing (or sometimes no attraction at all?).

As a young girl, she did not have the model of a healthy relationship between a man and a woman as her father was consumed with his own demons and her stepmother was resigned to being a woman of the house regardless of the injustices thrust upon her. Could this have shaped Kazue’s mentality towards relationships? Most likely. But she discovers her own sense of self as she aged and realized that she was destined to be a “free spirit”.

I liked the premise of this book but the writing was disjointed (not surprising as it is a book in translation), the SA accounts were treated flippantly, and I had a difficult time feeling anything but annoyance with Kazue and her disregard for other’s feelings.

unfortunately a bit of a miss for me- I can recognize the interest of this in the time it was written/published originally but the writing felt quite detached, too straightforward and factual almost. However still a good read for me- it intrigued me reading about a woman not following societal standards set for her and deciding on her life.

I really loved Uno's writing style. The prose flowed so well and I found the story to be profound as we watched the characters develop and navigate the world and society around them

The Story of a Single Woman is an I-Novel, written in a specifically Japanese genre of autobiographical fiction. Chiyo Uno had an unconventional life for a woman of her generation (she was born at the end of the 19th century and died in the 1990s, living to be almost a 100 years old) - she married multiple times and had many affairs, she was a professional writer for most of her life, but literary acknowledgement came in her 70s. The Story is one of many narratives inspired by her own life. Kazue, the protagonist, is writing the story of the first 30 or so years of her life, looking back at it from her 70s. Through her eyes, we see Japan of the early 20th century, and the changing ideas of womanhood in it.

I don't particularly like coming of age stories and children protagonists, so the first 30% or so of this novel were a real slog. Children in fiction rarely notice the world around them, and although there are innumerable differences between children growing up in different contexts, most coming of age stories follow a similar beat, as there are only so many ways a child can discover things about themselves, the world around them and their own body. In addition to this, the writing style throughout the book is very dry, very matter of fact and rather non-descriptive, so as a reader I sort of had to read against the grain to work out things about Kazue's surroundings and get any sense of time or place. It does improve as the narrative goes on, as we get more of the author's reflections on Kazue and her life story, but the first third of the novel was an absolute chore.

Once Kazue starts having relationships with men (the focus of the book), the purpose of it becomes a bit clearer, and the narrative opens up. Unusually for her generation, Kazue never wants to marry, and keeps having both long-term relationships and one-night stands. She also gets sexually assaulted multiple times throughout the book. Her reflections about womanhood and normality made me think of another book I was reading at roughly the same time. Sayaka Murata's The Vanishing World. In both cases, we see women behaving abnormally by the standards of their society, and navigating the changing standards and definitions of normality.

In many ways, I found The Story to be a more compelling and interesting, if less engaging, narrative, as it stays much more in tune with real-world developments. What was scandalous for Kazue in the 1910s and 20s was no longer as much of a societal challenge by the 1970s. when the novel was written, and today it basically is a description of most twentysomethings navigating dating in London. Many of the scenarios of Kazue's life are instantly recognisable, from house parties to the ubiquity of drinking in dating culture. Those moments of connection made me both feel for the character and think about ideas of universal vs culturally particular experiences.

The matter of fact dry writing gives limited glimpses into some of Kazue's motivations. One clear example of this is that she rarely discusses sex itself (despite having quite a lot of it). As an I-Novel, the narrative is also singularly focused on Kazue, at the expense of any other people in her life. As a result, we never learn what drew her to the particular men she ended up in relationships with (at some point, she mentions that she does not even enjoy sex that much). If she does not believe in marriage as a transaction (despite her desire to always work and earn money, she does not seem to think of men as a route to monetary security), what drew her to these people?

My other issue with the book was that it gives very few glimpses into Japan itself, and the context of the time Kazue lived in. We learn quite a lot about the small rural community she grew up in, but beyond that, the novel reads like it could have been set anywhere and at any time. There is very little in it to root it in the particular time it is set in. Kazue is a writer, she has all these parties with various intellectuals, some of whom are socialists, but we never learn anything about the sorts of things she wrote about or things they discussed at these parties. The author is also conspicuously silent on the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea, even though Kazue travels to Korea to be a teacher. I am used to 20th century Japanese authors refusing to reckon with Japanese imperialism, but it is still grating to read.

I try to finish it even it is 50% more but… im sorry, i need to stop and dnf. The translation was so difficult to understand like it worst for me. Maybe i will try to read it another time.

A deceptively simple story of a woman and her looking back on her life and some relationships she had with men, in a Japanese society that was not very open to that kind of behavior, "The Story of a Single Woman" is a worthy read if you want to know more about Japan, social and familiar relationships in its culture (from more or less a hundred years ago to fifty years ago) and, particularly, about how a world influences a woman's life and her capacity to choose her own path. Because even if Kazue does seem to be kind of a free spirit, or unpredictable, some of her behavior is shaped by the hyper-patriarchal world she lives in (we can't escape from our environment). At the same time, Uno does a good job in creating a character that feels fleshed out, with certainties, doubts and dreams, insecurities, that are read between lines more than written on the page.

It is also a pretty short read. If you have time, give it a try.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

The Story of a Single Woman by Chiyo Uno intrigued me with its premise, but unfortunately, I didn’t find myself fully connecting with the book. While it’s a short read, I didn’t feel compelled to race through it. The exploration of societal expectations and women’s roles in early 20th-century Japan is certainly interesting, and did make me think. It’s a worthwhile read for those interested in historical narratives about women’s experiences, but it didn’t quite resonate with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this title!

I really enjoyed this story, a reflection on Chiyo's life and experiences.

An easy to follow and quick read which examines life as a woman in a society that expects marriage, children and female dependency. Despite Chiyo's impoverished upbringing we see how human connection and relationships help us navigate life and really enrich our experiences.

I was fascinated with how free spirited Chiyo lived, unapologetically herself and expecting nothing of others in return. I liked how the questions were also poised as certain points of the book to both show reflection from Chiyo, and helping the reader connect more deeply with the writing.

Recommend for readers that enjoy a slower pace, with lots of reflection.

1.5 stars.

I hate it when a book doesn’t make me feel anything at all. This was just a brief glimpse into Kazue’s life and relationships, nothing more than a series of events strung together. No depth, no emotion, no real insight into what she was thinking or feeling. It just happened, all matter-of-factly, like reading a list instead of a story. That’s why I didn’t connect with Kazue at all.

Gosh. How many consecutive meh reads have I been through? 😭😭😭😭

Note : Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this ARC. All opinions are my own

An elderly Kazue reflects on her life in 1920s Japan, and it was no ordinary life. From a young age, Kazue seemed immune to the expectations and judgment of those around her. She comes across as aloof and unbothered-- so much so that it's a bit hard to believe. At the very least, it's hard to believe that she was so shielded from the consequences of living so brazenly outside the norms. Kazue satisfies her curiosity by following her instincts, and this often led her from one man to another. I never got the sense that she was particularly thrilled with her life, but I didn't get the sense that she was disappointed or unhappy either. She simply flowed through it all. Although there are a few parts where the reader gets a glimpse into the elderly Kazue's thoughts on her past, I would have liked to have heard more from her.

I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than I expected to! This is the story of a woman who does exactly what she wants. Chiyo Uno's The Story of a Single Woman was originally published in Japanese in 1972, and is being published in English for the first time. The novel isn't too long, making for a short but entertaining read.
Kazue is a Japanese woman in her 70s reflecting on her long life. Through her memories, we explore her relationship with her family, lovers, and herself. These vignettes give us a look not only into her own life, but the culture of Japan at large. As she recounts her life, she investigates her thoughts on work, romance and marriage. Kazue is a fiercely independent woman who takes action on a whim and gives no thought to how others will view her. The character certainly breaks stereotypes of Japanese women as quiet and submissive, especially when first published. There were a few instances where the prose was odd or unusual, but this may have just been an issue with my interpretation of the translation.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Japanese culture, or that can relate to simply living life on your own terms. Sure to be a favorite for those that love the "women doing whatever they want" genre.

I can't believe I've never heard of Chiyo Uno before, as now I am completely captivated by her story, her passion! I'm not sure what I expected when I selected this book, but it surprised me in so many ways. Not typically something I would choose to read, but I'm really glad I had the opportunity.!

It's one of those books where nothing "big" really happens, and everything is told in a very matter of fact way, the story of a young woman's life, yet somehow it is so impactful. Who would have thought I'd relate so much to a young woman growing up in early 20th century Japan? I loved how she followed her need for freedom, how she made her own decisions (not that there was much evidence of considering different options!). I mostly liked that she wasn't portrayed as good or bad, and neither was anyone else in her story. They were human.

The Story of a Single Woman by Chiyo Uno is a story of one woman exploring where she stands in the world around her. The book explores the relationships of the main character with her family, her friends, her exes, and her current love interests. It touches on pretty much everything - from marriage to breakups to love and life and to death. It explores her relationships with alcohol, money, and makeup, and how all of these things affect her as she goes through life.

Chiyo Uno's imagery and descriptions are beautiful. The pain she shows the reader is told in a very lyrical way, but one that doesn't detract from what the main character is thinking. I love where she spoke about using writing to find her voice and bolstering her independence with it. It was very inspiring to her how she felt while writing, and how passionate she was about that aspect of her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed the main character's telling of her journey through life, and her striving for herself and her freedom, but I did find myself feeling bad for the others' around her for whom she had responsibility towards and shirked a couple of times. I feel like it was kind've excused as 'she was just finding herself', which absolutely valid, she had a lot of self-discovering to do. But she did it at the expense of other's at times I didn't feel they deserved it.
Then again, that's me judging her life, which I don't really have any right to do. And since it still made me feel things, I didn't take anything off my rating for this point.

Where I did take a point off my rating was for one scene in the book that had a description of an act that I felt was super unnecessary - and no, it was not related to spice in any way.

Clearly Chiyo Uno was clearly a very dedicated writer - and the book was supposed to read as a sort of autobiography I believe. I am very thankful to have been provided a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley. Thank you to Pushkin Press Classics for providing copies, and Chiyo Uno, for writing.

"After all, Kazue was never conscious of what she was doing. She simply took what life had to offer, with no more resistance than if she was buffeted along by the wind."

The Story of a Single Woman follows the adventurous life of Kazue, a young woman who refuses to conform to society’s expectations of marriage and instead goes on to live with various men, work a variety of jobs to sustain herself, and eventually establish herself as a writer. The first thing that struck me about the novel was its unconventional narrative style. It’s an autobiography told from a third-person perspective, a form known as the "I-novel," which is a apparently a distinctive form of Japanese fiction. This format gives a unique depth to the storytelling, allowing readers to witness the protagonist’s life from an intimate but a the same time slightly detached viewpoint.

Reading this novel felt like being on a calm boat ride on still waters, occasionally interrupted by a gentle wave. However, this juxtaposition of calm narration against the harsh realities of Kazue’s life creates a striking dissonance. Although her experiences are anything but serene—marked by several traumatic experiences, particularly at the hands of men, including her father—the storytelling offers a detached yet empathetic view of her personal evolution.

What I found most intriguing about the I-novel format is its ambiguity. Many questions raised throughout the story remain unanswered. The third-person narrator is also the protagonist, yet Kazue’s older self seems just as uncertain and reflective as the reader. This creates an open-endedness that encourages interpretation. While the facts of her life unfold before us, they often feel incomplete or unresolved, which enhances the story’s subtle tension and keeps the reader engaged. There are also moments of foreboding, hints at larger questions of fate and identity, which make you want to continue exploring Kazue’s world.

Two main characteristics of Kazue that truly resonated with me were her resourcefulness and her impulsiveness. First, she demonstrates a remarkable resilience and pragmatism in the face of hardship. Rather than allowing herself to wallow in despair, she accepts life as it comes, moving forward without lingering too long on past miseries. Second, Kazue’s impulsiveness is a defining trait. She often acts without thinking too much about the consequences, driven by instinct or a deep sense of freedom. What’s compelling, however, is how the narrator—Kazue’s older self—comes to terms with this trait. She acknowledges that not all choices in life need to make perfect sense, and that sometimes, there’s no logical explanation for the paths we take. This acceptance of the irrationality of life is something that truly struck a chord with me. Sometimes, our actions or life events may never fully add up, and that’s okay.

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

The Story of a Single Woman follows the elderly Kazue as she recalls her younger years.

Novels like these often shows us how far we've come as a society or how similar it still is from the past. Kazue, the protagonist, lead a life of promiscuity. I use the term 'promiscuity' because that is exactly how society would have viewed her back then. She had intimate relations with men who were not her husband, after all. Perhaps she was similar to her wayward father's impulsiveness, or she was just a woman who wanted to explore and push boundaries and did not care about what other people might think. Regardless of what the author intended for this character to be, it was interesting to read her adventures. The way she always did what she liked after her father died, the way she rebuilt her life every single time. Not to mention her love for her stepmother and her siblings. As frustrating as she was sometimes, I enjoyed this character a lot.

My only issue is the ending. I need more Kazue.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and the description, but unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the writing in a meaningful way. But if you love character-focused, deeply introspective stories, you'll enjoy this a lot. I think it's the perfect example of a reflective book, where the character looks back on her life at 70 years old and reflects on it from that present-day perspective, providing a lot of insight into her experience as a woman in 1920s Japan.

The unique and unflappable Uno Chiyo is retelling her life story; as a young woman ostracized and travelled extensively to Korea and Tokyo to find love. Within the context of the time (early 1900s) this was scandalous as she married three times during a time where strict social rules, laws and customs prohibit free love.

Narrated in the third person style, Kazue is in her seventies and reflecting dispassionately on her life. The introspective narration style is representative of a semi-autoiographical / literary fiction style called watakushi-shosetsu, and follows Kazue from childhood - her recollections of growing up alongside prestige, unquestioned norms and the gradual decline of her household. There are gaps in Kazues recall, but she seems to have a sense of acceptance that 'this was the way'. Perhaps we all think similarly when we look back.

Through the transformative use of makeup and reactions towards her, Kazue learns about the male gaze. I resonated with this slightly as a young woman trying to find her way in a white patriarchal world. Kazue is almost portryed in a dreamlike state, but don't mistaken this for a lack of agency.

This short story deserves to be part of the Pushkin classic publications, and part of a wider platform for the female perspective in early 1900's Japan.

I will share the review on IG closer to the publishing date.

An intensely personal and heavy read, The Story of a Single Woman is the story of the life of the author told through the eyes of a third person. It's an interesting way of telling your life, as it makes the story feel almost untrue and slightly detached from reality, however I can see how the author used this style of writing to expose her vulnerability and honesty.

It's very frank in it's discussion of sex and relationships, and I can see how it must have been a sensational read when it was first released in the 1970s. However, for me it's a very short read and at times I definitely felt the author was using the writing style to keep herself detached from the reader which meant I lacked an emotional connection to her story.

✨The Story of a Single Woman is an unusual and candid story of a young woman’s life✨

(Thank you NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC!)

This is the book with history, and it has to be seen more than just a piece of literature, but also as a piece of history.

The book captured my interest from the Introduction and I could barely put it down at first. It is a short and well written story and Rebecca Copeland did a brilliant job translating the book from Japanese. The writing flows so naturally you would never know it wasn’t written in English. When doing some background reading I realised Rebecca personally knew Uno Chiyo and wrote a whole article about her visit. How cool is that!

Back to the book!

It’s a book about a simple woman living a very simple life at first, not thinking much about her actions and certainly not thinking at all about consequences to follow. I can only envy how seemingly easy it was for her to go about her life. They say it’s all about perception, and the book is a proof. It’s a striking contrast of living an extremely poor life yet not being bothered by it for a second. There first thing we can learn from her is how to do wherever you feel like and not worry about how you look in the eyes of the society. Kazue went on to having affairs with multiple men from an early age in the times if was unheard of.

I don’t know whether her frivolous behaviour and random affairs make her the sad woman or they make her free and progressive for her time? It depends where in her life story we look. In the beginning, she just follows the tug of what is it? lust? longing for intimacy and trust? And then she instantly falls for a man and just follows him anywhere and everywhere, fully giving him her heart and body. Than continues for many years with many men. Then in her later years she is established single woman who just has affairs whenever she wants to.
So what is it that she was really after? Hard to tell…
It wasn’t sex, she often mentioned that it didn’t really mean much or felt that good. Was it just a rebellion against the notion of the matrimony? Perhaps. Was it pure naïveté and lack of realisation of social norms and healthy relationships dynamics? Maybe.

My rating for the book resembles a U-shaped curve: it definitely started strong, then dipped significantly when Kazue started doing stupid things, and then grew again when the story spanned towards her mature years. But can I really blame her for making mistakes in her youth?

And finally, I don’t fully believe it to be her biography. She went on to be one of the most successful female writers in Japan, even was a kimono designer. The heroine in the book comes across is very naive and simple. The real Onu seems far from that.

To conclude, I enjoyed the book, but even more I enjoyed discovering the love and life story of real Onu Chiyo 🤩

The novella is just 160 pages but the story got me hook. Its like reading a perspective from a female version of Yozu Oba (minus the suicidal ideation and numbness) and about her own form of liberation and finding happiness. She's kind of similar to her father, the eldest daughter always a reflection of her father.

Can't wait to have my hands on the physical copy of the book from this publisher.
To the publisher, there's a minor typo on page 125.