The Book Review #11 The Woman in the White Kimono

 

Author: Ana John

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Legend Press Ltd.

Pages: 292

Year of Publication: 2019

Mode of Reading: Paperback

Is this book a work of fiction? Yes.

Is this book based on real life incidents and events? Yes

Will this book leave a hollowness in your heart? Absolutely.

The Woman in the White Kimono is a heart wrenching story set against the backdrop of post World War 2 Japan during the American occupation. War kills but what kills more is love. While the war claimed thousands of lives during the World War 2, there were hundreds of forced deaths due to act of love and this book talks about it.

Plot Summary (without spoilers)

The narrative revolves around two females set in two eras, told in alternating chapters - one searching for the truth and the other fighting for it. Naoko, a young Japanese girl who fell in love with an American soldier Jimmy goes against the world to save her love and its only proof her unborn baby. While she attempts to defies societal expectations and cultural constraints we witness on the otherhand, Tori, daughter of Jimmy realises her father had a life, way before he met her mother- life she knew nothing about. And thus starts a journey to unwrangle a past which she never knew existed and came face to face with the atrocities that existed but often were silenced.

 

Set in 1957 Japan, the hardships which Naoko had to undergo to ensure her baby was born is a blatant reminder of how culture can become blind to reasoning. Meanwhile, the present day story of Tori resonates to the fact that the past may have multiple layers which one is not aware about.

 

My Take on the book

Initially it may take time to relate or empathize with the characters and their journeys but as the story progresses, I was invested in their journey. The helplessness of Naoko as she battles against traditions, the strength and resilience shown by her is a testament of the fact that a mother’s love is the purest and a mother will go to extraordinary lengths to protect her child. Her character depicts the value of friendship, responsibility of a daughter towards her family and of an innocent girl who just fell in love.

 There were several other strong characters in the book like Naoko’s mother who ensured Naoko's happiness above all, Satoshi - who was always by Naoko’s side and Tori who went against all odds to know the past. However, the author could have developed their character a bit more along with Hajime's storyline. It kept one thinking about what happened to Hajime's return and left a yearning for closure.

 Throughout one gets acquainted with Japanese cultures and traditions and it added on to the beauty of the painful story. Stuck in time, knowing more about the Japan of the past and the fact that it is inspired from true events, some of which based on the author’s fathers story gives an added layer of authenticity to the story.

 In conclusion, a beautiful read that invites readers to confront the uncomfortable truth. This book is not for the weak hearted. The facts written at the end of the book will keep you mortified for long as you become aware of the tragic truths that underpins this story.