The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan (English) Paperback Book

Description: The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan From the critically acclaimed author of Rainbirds comes a novel of tragedy anddark histories set in Japan. University sophomore Miwako Sumida has hanged herself, leaving those closest to her reeling. In the months before her suicide, she was hiding away in a remote mountainside village, but what, or whom, was she running from? To Ryusei, a fellow student at Waseda; Chie, Miwakos best friend; and Fumi, Ryuseis older sister, Miwako was more than the blunt, no-nonsense person she projected to the world. Heartbroken, Ryusei begs Chie to take him to the village where Miwako spent her final days. While he is away, Fumi receives an unexpected guest at their shared apartment in Tokyo, increasingly fearful that Miwakos death may ruin what is left of her brothers life. Expanding on the beautifully crafted world of Rainbirds, Clarissa Goenawan gradually pierces through a young womans careful façade, unmasking her most painful secrets. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Clarissa Goenawan is an Indonesian-born Singaporean writer. Her award-winning short fiction has appeared in literary magazines and anthologies in Singapore, Australia, the UK, and the US. Rainbirds, her first novel, has been published in fourteen different languages. Review A Literary Hub Most Anticipated Book of 2020Praise for The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida"An exquisite tale about the way secrets shape and transform young lives. Behind Goenawans crisp, spare prose lies a world of emotional complexity." —Mira T. Lee, award–winning author of Everything Here Is Beautiful"A novel in three voices about the inner turmoil—and beauty—that people keep walled behind flawless surfaces." —Tiffany Tsao, author of The Oddfits and The Majesties "From the first page of Clarissa Goenawans The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida, we know that the titular Miwako has taken her own life, but we dont know why. This same question plagues Miwakos close friends as they grieve her death and search for answers. In this elegant and haunting novel, Goenawan deftly explores the messiness of grief, the pain of lost chances, and the way a life can collapse under the weight of secrets. Miwako and her friends are under my skin, and Ill be thinking about them for some time." —Kathleen Barber, author of Truth Be Told and Follow Me "Vivid and intriguing—an elegantly cryptic, poetically plotted Murakami-esque whydunit." —Sharlene Teo, award–winning author of Ponti "Written in clear, simple prose, Goenawans novel presents the intriguing mystery of Miwako Sumida through the eyes of three characters who try to piece together her puzzle while struggling with their own questions of meaning and identity. This story about youth, friendship, grief, and trauma invites us through secret doors, ready to discover more." —Intan Paramaditha, PEN Award–winning author of Apple and Knife and The Wandering "A tremendous examination of sadness . . . a book with heart about the mysteries of the heart."—New York Journal of Books"Goenawans style is effortless and emotionally charged . . . The Perfect World Of Miwako Sumida is a misconception: nothing is perfect in this book."—The Irish Times "An immersive, haunting tale . . . Goenawans prose is transportive in its directness and evocative in its simplicity. In Miwako, she has succeeded in an intricate character study of a perturbed soul."—The Strait Times "Miwako is a powerful, memorable character . . . The way these characters lives intersect makes for a complex and satisfying tale, one thats sad at the same time as its lively and warm."—Book Riot "A haunting tale of secrets, inner turmoil, and the search for answers."—Bustle "A quietly powerful meditation on the destructive power of secrets, as well as the power of truth to heal even beyond death."—The Nerd Daily"Goenawan, like any skilled novelist, manages to elegantly reveal both the pain and beauty of unraveling a life after loss. This is only her second novel to date, and shes already been compared to the wizard of world-building, Haruki Murakami."—Lambda Literary"A novel that lingers in the mind thanks to its poetic delivery, layering of ideas and an engrossing tale, all led by vivid characters."—Bad Form Magazine"If her debut novel brings Murakami to mind, her second, with its winsome tone, harkens to early Banana Yoshimoto. However, with her blend of mystery, magic and social issues—in this case, sexual abuse, transgender awareness and suicide—Goenawan is developing her own distinct brand."—The Japan Times"[Goenawan] raises an age-old question on the fine line where literature ends and life begins . . [she] has her own distinctive voice, as she sensitively explores traumatic sexual experiences through a womans perspective."—The Jakarta Post"As three stories interlink, rich plot, description, and dialogue make this fiction seem like reality. While readers may be aware theyre not a part of the novel, through Goenawans enthralling writing, they will nonetheless become immersed in her fictional world." —Budi Darma "A compelling protagonist . . . Like Japanese brush painting, the authors simple, clear prose captures Miwakos vulnerability and complexity. Also vividly drawn are Fumi and Chie, each having built their own unusual protective personas that are gradually revealed. An eerie and elegant puzzle."—Kirkus Reviews "Like Goenawans previous Rainbirds, this is more literary fiction than conventional mystery, featuring exceptionally well-drawn characters facing adversity in a narrative written with an elegance and delicacy."—Booklist"Tender and tragic . . . Goenawans luminous prose captures the deep emotions of her characters as they grapple with questions about family history, gender, and sexuality. The tug of Miwakos strange, troubled spirit will wrench readers from the beginning."—Publishers Weekly"Goenawan does an expert job of getting to the core of this university student with a mysterious past, and on how people grapple with the death by suicide of a loved one." —Alma Praise for Rainbirds"A murder mystery and a family drama in one, this book is as beautiful as it is understated. The author presents us with a fascinatingly structured look into Japanese society and a depiction of mourning and grief that is universally recognizable." —San Francisco Chronicle "A transnational literary tour-de-force. Readers will be carried along by its creepy charm." —The Japan Times "Clarissa Goenawan spins a dark, encapsulating story that will certainly reel you in completely." —Bustle "Mysterious and dark." —Daily Beast "With its dream sequences, chance encounters and leisurely attention to music and food, this debut novel evokes the simple joys of early Haruki Murakami . . . A satisfying heartfelt tale about letting go." —amNewYork Review Quote A Literary Hub Most Anticipated Book of 2020 Praise for The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida "An exquisite tale about the way secrets shape and transform young lives. Behind Goenawans crisp, spare prose lies a world of emotional complexity." --Mira T. Lee, award-winning author of Everything Here Is Beautiful "A novel in three voices about the inner turmoil--and beauty--that people keep walled behind flawless surfaces." --Tiffany Tsao, author of The Oddfits and The Majesties "From the first page of Clarissa Goenawans The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida , we know that the titular Miwako has taken her own life, but we dont know why. This same question plagues Miwakos close friends as they grieve her death and search for answers. In this elegant and haunting novel, Goenawan deftly explores the messiness of grief, the pain of lost chances, and the way a life can collapse under the weight of secrets. Miwako and her friends are under my skin, and Ill be thinking about them for some time." --Kathleen Barber, author of Truth Be Told and Follow Me "Vivid and intriguing--an elegantly cryptic, poetically plotted Murakami-esque whydunit." --Sharlene Teo, award-winning author of Ponti "Written in clear, simple prose, Goenawans novel presents the intriguing mystery of Miwako Sumida through the eyes of three characters who try to piece together her puzzle while struggling with their own questions of meaning and identity. This story about youth, friendship, grief, and trauma invites us through secret doors, ready to discover more." --Intan Paramaditha, PEN Award-winning author of Apple and Knife and The Wandering "A tremendous examination of sadness . . . a book with heart about the mysteries of the heart." -- New York Journal of Books "Goenawans style is effortless and emotionally charged . . . The Perfect World Of Miwako Sumida is a misconception: nothing is perfect in this book." -- The Irish Times "An immersive, haunting tale . . . Goenawans prose is transportive in its directness and evocative in its simplicity. In Miwako, she has succeeded in an intricate character study of a perturbed soul." -- The Strait Times "Miwako is a powerful, memorable character . . . The way these characters lives intersect makes for a complex and satisfying tale, one thats sad at the same time as its lively and warm." -- Book Riot "A quietly powerful meditation on the destructive power of secrets, as well as the power of truth to heal even beyond death." -- The Nerd Daily "Goenawan, like any skilled novelist, manages to elegantly reveal both the pain and beauty of unraveling a life after loss. This is only her second novel to date, and shes already been compared to the wizard of world-building, Haruki Murakami." -- Lambda Literary "If her debut novel brings Murakami to mind, her second, with its winsome tone, harkens to early Banana Yoshimoto. However, with her blend of mystery, magic and social issues--in this case, sexual abuse, transgender awareness and suicide--Goenawan is developing her own distinct brand." -- The Japan Times "[Goenawan] raises an age-old question on the fine line where literature ends and life begins . . [she] has her own distinctive voice, as she sensitively explores traumatic sexual experiences through a womans perspective." -- The Jakarta Post "As three stories interlink, rich plot, description, and dialogue make this fiction seem like reality. While readers may be aware theyre not a part of the novel, through Goenawans enthralling writing, they will nonetheless become immersed in her fictional world." --Budi Darma "A compelling protagonist . . . Like Japanese brush painting, the authors simple, clear prose captures Miwakos vulnerability and complexity. Also vividly drawn are Fumi and Chie, each having built their own unusual protective personas that are gradually revealed. An eerie and elegant puzzle." -- Kirkus Reviews "Like Goenawans previous Rainbirds , this is more literary fiction than conventional mystery, featuring exceptionally well-drawn characters facing adversity in a narrative written with an elegance and delicacy." -- Booklist "Tender and tragic . . . Goenawans luminous prose captures the deep emotions of her characters as they grapple with questions about family history, gender, and sexuality. The tug of Miwakos strange, troubled spirit will wrench readers from the beginning." --Publishers Weekly "Goenawan does an expert job of getting to the core of this university student with a mysterious past, and on how people grapple with the death by suicide of a loved one." -- Alma Praise for Rainbirds "A murder mystery and a family drama in one, this book is as beautiful as it is understated. The author presents us with a fascinatingly structured look into Japanese society and a depiction of mourning and grief that is universally recognizable." -- San Francisco Chronicle "A transnational literary tour-de-force. Readers will be carried along by its creepy charm." -- The Japan Times "Clarissa Goenawan spins a dark, encapsulating story that will certainly reel you in completely." --Bustle "Mysterious and dark." --Daily Beast "With its dream sequences, chance encounters and leisurely attention to music and food, this debut novel evokes the simple joys of early Haruki Murakami . . . A satisfying heartfelt tale about letting go." --amNewYork Excerpt from Book 1 Like a Long-Lost Friend March 15th, 1989 I met Miwako Sumida at a goukon organized by Toshi, a friend of mine. I had never been interested in group dates. They were desperate measures for desperate people, but Toshi was desperate. Hed been trying to gain the attention of a pretty, short-haired girl in his swimming club. I didnt want to ruin his excitement, but the girl had probably agreed to come because Jin--our other friend, popular and a total charmer--would be there. Toshi and I had been hanging out since our first year at Waseda, so I felt obliged to participate. The goukon was scheduled for noon at a family restaurant near our campus. At a quarter past twelve, the girls were still nowhere to be seen. We ordered milkshakes and continued to wait, listening to Oricon singles from the restaurants only speaker. "Are you sure those girls havent ditched us?" Jin teased Toshi. "Dont say that; theyre just late." Toshi tapped his fingers on the table. "Theyll be here any second." "No matter what, youre picking up the tab like you promised. Well give them another five minutes before we order food." "Shut up." Yawning, I gazed out the window. Wet leaves sparkled in the bright sunlight. It had poured yesterday afternoon and all night, but the rain had stopped right when Id left the house that morning. The scent of fresh soil lingered, mixed with the fragrance of plum blossoms. Suddenly, Toshi stood and waved. I turned toward the door and saw three girls walking toward our table. The one in front was the beautiful freshman Toshi was after, and the two girls behind her were a study in opposites. One had long, silky black hair and a serious expression behind a pair of old-fashioned thick-rimmed glasses. The other was glamorous, with bleached, permed hair and a body-hugging dress that emphasized her curves. The blonde was one-hundred percent Jins type, so I knew Id be expected to make conversation with the glasses girl. Before anyone else could say a word, Jin spoke. "I cant believe youre here, Sumida," he said. The girl with the glasses gave him a thin smile. "Me neither. Id never have guessed Id see you again. Im surprised you remember my name." Jin chuckled. "Come on, my memory isnt that bad." "You know each other?" Toshi asked. "We were high school classmates," Jin said quickly. "Apologies. Ive done things in the wrong order, havent I? Please, ladies, take a seat, and then we can do the introductions." The three of them made themselves comfortable on the long sofa. The pretty girl was named Sachiko Hayami, the stylish one was Chie Ohno, and the one with the glasses was Miwako Sumida. "Sachiko, Chie, and Miwako," Toshi repeated. "Do you mind if we use first names?" "Of course not," Chie said in a cheerful tone. She was so friendly, probably one of those girls everyone had an easy time getting along with. Toshi ordered some light snacks, and we made the usual collegiate conversation. What are you studying? Oh, interesting. Are you in any clubs? Ive been thinking of checking that one out. What about you, Ryusei? Any fun hobbies? Oh, me too. I listen to the radio all the time. Music, mostly. I have pretty eclectic taste. Wow, people have said that about me too! Have you seen any good movies recently? What did you think of it? Wait, dont tell me the ending. I havent watched it yet. As the exchange went on, I became fascinated by how different these girls were. Sachiko and Chie were chatty, while Miwako gave cursory answers to everything anyone asked her, like she didnt want to be there. Then again, I too was only there to pad the numbers. After a while, it became obvious that Miwako really didnt want to be there. She wouldnt stop looking at her watch, which seemed too big for her thin wrist. As expected, Sachiko was more interested in Jin than Toshi. But what piqued my interest was the tension between Jin and Miwako. He seemed overly conscious of her, glancing at her every now and then before averting his eyes. She, on the other hand, openly stared at him whenever he looked at her. When the girls excused themselves to go to the washroom, Toshi wasted no time in grilling Jin. "Youve gone on a date with Miwako, havent you?" he asked. Not bad for Toshi. He was surprisingly sharp that day. Jin slurped his chocolate milkshake. "No way. Shes not my type." "I dont believe you. She kept looking at you." "Glaring, you mean?" said Jin, laughing. "If you must know, we do have an unpleasant history. Im not going to be the one to spill it, so dont bother asking." He lowered his voice. "But the other girl, Chie. Shes hot." "Yeah, and nice, too." Toshi seemed to have forgotten his question. "So youre going for her? Ryusei, I think youd do well with the--" "The mature type," Jin said. "You prefer older girls, dont you?" "Ive never said that," I said, stirring my drink with a straw. "Look," Jin said. "Just go along with it unless youve got a violent objection." I didnt respond. Even without them suggesting it, I would have chosen Miwako over the other two. She seemed sensible. A girl like her wouldnt expect too much from a setting like this. Regardless of whom I ended up talking to, we would probably go to karaoke together as a group, exchange numbers out of courtesy, and part ways, never to see each other again. She would forget me, and I would forget her. That was all. But when it came to Miwako Sumida, nothing was as I expected. As predicted, after we finished lunch, Toshi announced we would be heading to a nearby karaoke joint. Miwako sighed. "How long will this take?" Chie twisted her hair around her finger. "Two to three hours at most?" "Im going take my leave. I dont like singing in front of people, and I need to go to the bookstore." "But well be short one girl!" Sachiko protested. I stood. "Dont worry, Ill go with her. I have to pick up a book too." Jin snickered. "How convenient." "Any violent objections?" I asked, parroting him. He flashed me a smug smile. "No objections. All good. Well see you tomorrow." "Miwako, are you okay with that?" Chie asked. "Why not?" she said, grabbing her bag. Details ISBN1641292636 Author Clarissa Goenawan Language English Year 2021 ISBN-10 1641292636 ISBN-13 9781641292634 Format Paperback Pages 288 Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2021-03-23 NZ Release Date 2021-03-23 US Release Date 2021-03-23 Imprint Soho Press Inc Place of Publication New York UK Release Date 1900-01-01 Publisher Soho Press Inc Publication Date 2021-03-23 DEWEY 823.92 Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! 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