this will be long, bare with me i just have many thoughts and questions after reading this.

The Story of a Single Woman by Chiyo Uno is a third-person japanese classic set in the early 20th century. it follows Kazue, the daughter of a younger son in a wealthy family who shirked his duties. at 13, she’s sent to live with her aunt to marry her cousin, a union that dissolves when she simply doesn’t return home after her father’s funeral. from there, the novel delves into her romantic entanglements, her disinterest in those who pursue her, and her fleeting feelings for those she does love.

the story reflects the societal norms of the time, including arranged marriages, the stigma of divorce for women, and sexism in professional and personal relationships. Kazue our protagonist faces judgment for her romance with a male colleague, while he escapes unscathed. as Kazue takes ownership of her past without regret, learning about herself and the world through her mistakes. her romantic relationships aren’t exactly inspiring, it’s hard not to root for her eventual happiness. with themes of independence, self-discovery, and inevitable choices, this novel is a rich, nuanced exploration of gender and societal expectations.

trigger warnings: depictions of sexual assault and period-accurate racism. i would recommend it to readers who appreciate introspective, character-driven stories by women authors. i enjoyed the story, it just made me full of rage.

thank you Pushkin Press. 4.5 for an amazing classic novel

While the premise of this book was interesting, I found the execution underwhelming. The writing was okay, there were some beautiful lines but most of it was hard to get through. Kazue’s story was interesting but I wish there was more focus on certain aspects, like her relationships and early childhood. The semi autobiographical nature was a fun addition, but I just wish there was more emotion throughout.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Story of a Single Woman by Chiyo Uno is a third person-POV Japanese I-novel classic. Kazue is the daughter of the younger son of a wealthy family who has run away from his responsibilities. When she’s thirteen, she’s sent to live with her aunt to marry her cousin and essentially divorces her husband shortly after by not returning home. From there, the narration explores her romantic relationships and how she is less interested in those who want her and her fleeting feelings towards those she did love.

The novel is set in the early twentieth century and holds a lot of the values of the time, including a marriage essentially being established when a young woman, or girl in this case, is sent to live with her spouse and they are declared to be married without a formal ceremony. Divorce was a crime at the time for women, yet Kazue divorces her husband sort of by default simply by not going back home after her father’s funeral. In many ways, Kazue was lucky that it was not a bigger deal and her aunt and ex-husband let the matter go. There is also period accurate sexism, such as Kazue being dismissed when she forms a romantic relationship with a male colleague, but there are not really any consequences for him.

Pacing-wise, this is on the slower end and is more reflective in tone. The narrator is taking ownership of her past and her actions, but she also takes a stance that the story she is telling is inevitable because it has already happened. She can’t change the past nor does it seem like she really wants to. From her mistakes, she learned a lot about herself and her needs and how the world works. I cannot say I was rooting for any of her romantic relationships, but I was rooting for her eventually finding happiness.

Content warning for depictions of sexual assault and period accurate racism

I would recommend this to fans of autofiction looking for something similar from Japanese literary traditions and readers looking for a Japanese classic from a female author exploring the early twentieth century

After finishing The Story of a Single Woman by Chiyo Uno, the first words that come to mind are: Wow! What an experience. Reading this, I often found myself feeling as though I were sitting beside Kazue through every pivotal moment in her life—like being a friend quietly watching her navigate the highs and lows.

I went through an amalgamation of emotions with Kazue: admiration, sadness, worry, disappointment, curiosity...the kind of feelings you have about real people in your life that you care about. Something about the way this book is written just feels so, so real. I think that's what makes it feel so special—it was beautifully written, and experiencing life through her eyes was genuinely moving.

I loved that Kazue changed over the course of the story. She grew and adapted, her experiences shaping who she would become...while the essence of who she was at her core never wavered. It felt very true to life, and there were many moments in the book where I myself felt connected to Kazue, relating to some of the things she felt and did. There were moments where I'd wondered if I was missing deeper symbolism or themes, but I think that just makes it worth a second read. I have no doubt I'll pick up on things I missed the first time.

This book left a mark on me—it’s the kind of story that sticks with you, quietly shaping the way you see things even after you’ve turned the last page. If you’ve ever felt lost or like you’re trying to find your way, this is definitely a book worth reading.

Really good prose and lightweight story. I enjoyed the pace and relaxing atmosphere as well as the somewhat delicate tenderness that flooded through the pages.