"A moving, gentle, beautifully imaginative novel set in Japan where a number of different stories sit within one connective whole."
This insightful, gently powerful novel about death, grief, and understanding of self is both moving and charming. Following strict rules, Ayumi helps those who wish to meet with the dead, while arranging the meetings he begins to question his own life. I love reading stories from the realm of magic realism, particularly those from Japan. The addition of such a fascinating country and different culture adds an imaginative edge and author Mizuki Tsujimura wields a thoughtful pen. Translator Yuki Tejima does a wonderful job, I didn’t even consider the different language involved until I had finished which always marks a successful translation. A number of different stories sit within this book, yet they all connect to and merge with each other. While not shying away from the reality of death, this is a novel that offers hope. It celebrates the understanding of self, of living in the here and now, and taking chances. Lovely and gentle, even as it sits with the realm of death, How to Hold Someone In Your Heart is a moving and whimsical read.
| Primary Genre | Fiction in translation |
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