South of the Border, West of the Sun

I started this book thinking it would be a nice little read during autumn/winter but as I sit here having read this book I know that this was everything but light and gentle. It was intimate and psychological, it captured the madness of a man who is in love with a mere memory perfectly. This book is truly one of a kind that has you in its chokehold and will leave you drained and speechless once you read it and finally understand the unusual title given to this masterpiece.

If Ms. Löffler, Mr. Karasek and Mr. Reich-Ranicki get into such a fight over a book that it causes a scandal, then I absolutely have to read that book. The three of them could hardly have done a better job of advertising.

The story of a man’s lost love and his struggle to find out what he really wants in his life. Hajime should be happy, everything is turning out well for him and his family. Yet his seemingly flawless, happy life feels off in some way and he can’t figure out why. That’s why when he’s granted the opportunity to reconcile with his childhood friend Shimamoto, he jumps on it with all of his heart laid bare – for better or worse. A tragic, philosophical lovestory that once again shows that longing is a powerful and terrible thing.