The Genius of Banana Yoshimoto

Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto sets herself apart from her contemporaries by exploring the relationships between love, death, and change. Here's what I love about her as an author.
*****

[kiczcock]

I love Banana. She's so great at conveying this awkward liminal state when you're in-between things and finally have to grow and change to get out of it.

[adamwan]

I remember the first time I read Kitchen a few years ago, and from that moment on—despite my having only read a number of her stories—she became one of my favorite writers.

Her writing style had felt so welcoming, so warm, and I couldn't help but be reminded of my own writing, in fact, whenever I read her. She tackled all of her themes in a way that really hit home for me, and coincidentally in a way that I would. Though I have a slightly different writing style now, and I tackle slightly different themes in my stories now, that warmth and kindness stayed; something that Banana Yoshimoto, in a sense, gave me the permission to keep (if that makes any sense.)

Her books also remind me of manga, oddly enough. Specifically, the shoujo genre (shoujo being my favorite manga genre, still.) The feelings her stories conjure, the feeling that she's whispering into my ear, as I cry at the end of Moonlight Shadow, "I understand."

It's the warmth of kindness and compassion, and understanding, and a hint of sentimentality in just the way I like.

Her stories felt so, so human. And it's healing to me.

[KateyOneMoreTime]

I discovered Banana Yoshimoto this year and read Kitchen, The Lake, and Amrita. Amrita was my favourite book of 2021 and I can’t wait to read more from her. Really enjoyed this video!

[aIparica]

Willow, the way you explain your thoughts on Banana Yoshimoto's works is already so beautiful I can feel my heart softening (and I'm only at the beginning of the video haha). Your channel is a gem for someone like me who wants to dive into Japanese literature but the fact that your values, politics, and taste align to mine is just so important to me. I haven't read any from your recommendations but I'll get into them this year!

[AbsurdExistentialist]

How had I not seen this video yet???
Was pleasantly surprised to see that my local bookstore had Banana Yoshimoto and of course I've come here first to see what you think!

[FlunderingChipper]

I love this, thank you for making it. Banana Yoshimoto's books are so close to my heart! She makes scary concepts like death feel... approachable? Safer? Like comfortably inevitable? Ugh. I teared up listening to you talk about her books.

[jagodesune]

Asleep was the first of her books I read about 18 years ago. I'm lucky that there are at least 15 books of hers in German translation, I think Italy has even more. You put it so well what makes her special, wonderful video. There's a small Japanese film I really like called There's No Lid on the Sea. It's adapted from one of her not yet translated books. It's about a female friendship, love and a shaved ice store by the sea.

[anastasiaa.]

Have you ever thought to start a podcast ? Yours would be the only one I'd listen to ❤

[oliviaiai]

I love her! She’s so quickly becoming one of my favorite authors

[robotdowney]

Any time i search something about some author, I want to find out more about there are always your videos:D thank u

[eenainwonderland]

My copy of Asleep just arrived yesterday and this video came at the right time haha I’ll come to this once I’m done reading Asleep! 😂

[mochiluvr]

Fresh off finishing All the Lover’s in the Night by Mieko Kawakami and battling a weird transition of not having another story to get lost in.. I stumbled across your channel to hear your analysis and now I’ve just spent the last 2 hours watching video after video of your reviews and have compiled a rather large list of “want to reads” on my Goodreads account and no longer feel like I’m in a drought of stories to immerse myself in 😄 I get so attached to one thing (like “All the Lovers in the Night) not feeling like I’ll find anything else to love more but your very essence of passion for all these books you curate is opening up my mind to what is out there! I realize I’ve written an extremely long run on sentence of thoughts but to summate, I’m just so happy to have stumbled across your channel :)

[lauramachmudova]

Hi Willow! I discovered your channel the other day while searching for translated fiction recommendations. I studied translation and love to read translated books - it’s so lovely to see that you share this passion! Really enjoyed this video and your others too. You’ve definitely inspired me to read more of Banana Yoshimoto’s amazing writing!

[Sittingull]

Tsugumi is my favorite of her books as well. I have read all of her translated work. In fact, Goodbye Tsugumi is my favorite book outright right now.

[joliebunny]

Willow & Japanese fiction - I can’t imagine a better combination than this ❤️

[tuninh]

i love the way you describe how Yoshimoto has been embracing the concept of love death and growth, i realized the love and death in her stories but i felt i've missed something until you mentioned the growth in her characters. Banana Yoshimoto is one of my favorite writers, i have read nearly all of her short stories and novels that i can find, but last year i read Amrita, and it is the most "me" story until now, where i see myself in the protagonist, in the way she found her soul and happiness in many trivial things around her. Thanks for your review Willow, always love your Japanese lit reviews

[tediumless]

I've read "Asleep" yesterday and I think i'm already in love with Yoshimoto (previoisly read "The Lake" and "N.P", loved both, especially "The Lake")

While "Asleep" was my favorite story of the book, I found fascinating how in "Night Travelers", the protagonist, Shibami, has to deal with the loss of his brother indirectly trought Sarah and Marie. I mean, her brother just died and instead of dealing directly with his recent death (the most natural response) she finds herself instead worried about how miserable Marie is and the impact Yoshihiro leaved on Sarah. Of course, mourning has several stages, and sometimes the first response can be dry, or weird. But I find interesting how Shibami's true mourning and sadness lurked underneath the most resonant responses of Marie and Sarah.

[shreyasudesh]

Absolutely loved this review. Her books are super expensive here, in India. So I was looking for reviews. Thank you 💕

[sharongonzales]

You did a beautiful job💪🏻😊! Thank you.

[marinette]

She’s been one of my favorite authors for years. Thank you for this video 🥰