Twinkle Twinkle is the first book I read from Japanese author Kaori Ekuni. I found this book entirely by chance, and I cannot tell you how lucky I felt as a result of this beautiful coincidence. I find Japanese authors fascinating. Every time I discover a new Japanese author, I always find myself wondering how they can be so different. Kaori Ekuni made it to the top of the list with this book. You’ll love this woman.
In Japan, she is known as the female version of Murakami, and I think she resembles him with her strange characters. But there is something more to her stories. She’s got a beautiful world, but it’s not a world where everybody can find a place for themselves, so I’m sure some will love it, and some will want to lynch it.
Twinkle Twinkle is a love story; a “this is my life” story. And, of course, it is a “this is what I expect from life” story. If you enjoy Japanese and LGBT+ literature, this may be one of your favourite books.
Twinkle Twinkle
They got married ten days ago. They haven’t had sex yet and so they don’t intend to.
As it turned out, the only way to make their parents get off their backs about trying to “find someone” was actually finding someone–with whom to put marriage for show. Mutsuki is strictly gay and has a boyfriend, while Shoko is a clinical case of emotional instability who’s in no shape for a relationship. They’ve each found in the other a so perfect partner for a sham marriage. Since the conspirators’ parents know of their own child’s undesirability, but not the spouse’s, the union manages to please them. And while the newlyweds hope, in their own way, to live so happily ever after, they inevitably come face to face with the fact that no marriage real or staged, is a fairy tale.
Kaori Ekuni
Kaori Ekuni is a Japanese author. She was born in Setagaya, Tokyo. Her father is Japanese haiku poet and essayist, Shigeru Ekuni.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
