This book though: Strange Weather In Tokyo

As the pages were dwindling down to less than 30, I was really hoping that this would go on further. When it did end, I definitely couldn't have concluded Tsukiko and her Sensei's story better. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami is lovely and charming and I really think the title is so fitting to the mood of the entire novel. 

Reading the novel was like watching a quiet independent film, where we see our main characters walk, arms hooked together, in the streets of Tokyo. It was splendidly crafted as a feel-good, random, and somewhat strange romance between a woman in her late 30s and her former high school teacher (Sensei is 'teacher' in Japanese).

I picked this book up, primarily, because of that brief synopsis. I just thought it was very Japanese in terms of, I guess, its quirkiness and it was just something that I haven't read before. Although, Haruki Murakami's Dance, Dance, Dance has almost the same premise, which I have already read. But the main characters are an older man, maybe in his 30s or 40s and a teenage girl. 

This novel is in the perspective of Tsukiko. At the beginning I really thought I was reading through a teen's perspective up until chapter 4 or 5.  She complains that she's almost 40 and yet she still thinks and acts like a teenager. Her life got me thinking about my life when I reach that age. She lives alone in a flat filled with books and food. On her days off from work she sleeps in 'til morning, eats, drinks tea in bed, and reads. I couldn't help but notice the similarities with my own life. This is how my own weekends look like. I can only imagine how long she's been doing this. I do these things right now in my 20s but, I don't know if I'll still be doing them in my 30s or 40s. That has got me thinking a lot. I grew up knowing exactly what it means to be alone. My parents only have me, as their child. It has always been and it seems, forever will be. I alone, was in the house when they are out for some errands. I alone, was the one to consume the 7-8 packs of the delicious Yakult in our fridge. I didn't have any siblings to fight them over with. They were all mine. I am definitely OK with being alone. I am used to it. But how about being used to the idea of loneliness? I am alone now but I haven't thought much about being lonely, in like, forever? I know that my friends will always be there. I am hoping that some of them might still be around, even when they already have their families. What about a life-long partner? I don't know. I, literally don't know what's in-store for me, and my loneliness or "alone-time?"

Reading about Tsukiko's life made me think of my lonely and monotonous days. It's quite depressing but that's what reading books lead you to do. It makes you THINK and it makes you REFLECT. It changes your perspective and for that, I am forever grateful to humans and their writing. Literature gives life an ice cold wake-up call.

I've never had a lot of chances in high school. I just wasn't mature enough for a relationship, let alone think about having one. I was too busy with school and listening to my parents; and most importantly, I made it a point to establish friendships first. Was that so wrong? Well, now that I think about it in my 20s, in Tsukiko's perspective; maybe I should have tried. I can't go back. What do I do now?

So now, I am feeling panicky but at the same time, confused. I am still quite attuned with living alone, forever. I seem to not have a problem with that, as of now? What I am afraid of is the future. I'll always have my books and good tea but will that be enough for me?

originally published on 1/17/16