All short stories, each published for the first time, seem to have conspired not to reveal until the very last page the true reason they were written. But what makes them so memorable? Open-ended human passion and unexplained relationships? Seconds unnoticed at the time but becoming the focal point of the rest of one’s life? Or simple stories of everyday life which only a highly skilled writer can turn into literature? 

 

The main asset of the book is the natural, unaffected narrative style, even when the author tackles completely different stories – THE TRAVELLER’S NOTES and THE LESSONS OF SEX. And all the while, we seem to hear Watanabe’s distinct voice, unlike anyone else’s: “I’ve lit the fire. Isn’t it good?” 

 

The book was shortlisted in literary prize SABA for the best short stories collection of the year 2015.