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Vivian's Reviews > The Emissary
The Emissary
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This story is either a premonition or the bogeyman; you decide.
A month before, someone had put up a poster on the wall outside the elementary school: NO ONE SPEAKS OF THE WEATHER ANYMORE OR REVOLUTION EITHER. In bold fancy lettering, it was a take on the famous quotation, WHILE PEOPLE SPEAK ONLY OF THE WEATHER I SPEAK OF REVOLUTION -- but the very next day someone took it down.
Disturbing, yet engrossing, Tawada has created this post-apocalyptic tale that is so understated, but drowning in pathos. You feel swallowed by it as you read, frozen and helpless as Mumei and Yoshiro's lives play out.
"Grown-ups can live if children die," Mumei replied in a singsong voice, "but if grown-ups die, children can't live." Yoshiro fell silent.
This is more like 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up for its excellence as a time capsule. It was much different than I expected from reading the blurb, but I enjoyed it more than my imagined storyline. It may be short, but it packs a powerful punch.
Children without parents had long since ceased to be called "orphans"; they were now referred to as doku ritsu jido, "independent children". Because the Chinese character doku looks like a dog separated from the pack who survives by attaching itself to a human being and never leaving its side, Yoshiro had never felt comfortable with the phrase.
A month before, someone had put up a poster on the wall outside the elementary school: NO ONE SPEAKS OF THE WEATHER ANYMORE OR REVOLUTION EITHER. In bold fancy lettering, it was a take on the famous quotation, WHILE PEOPLE SPEAK ONLY OF THE WEATHER I SPEAK OF REVOLUTION -- but the very next day someone took it down.
Disturbing, yet engrossing, Tawada has created this post-apocalyptic tale that is so understated, but drowning in pathos. You feel swallowed by it as you read, frozen and helpless as Mumei and Yoshiro's lives play out.
"Grown-ups can live if children die," Mumei replied in a singsong voice, "but if grown-ups die, children can't live." Yoshiro fell silent.
This is more like 3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up for its excellence as a time capsule. It was much different than I expected from reading the blurb, but I enjoyed it more than my imagined storyline. It may be short, but it packs a powerful punch.
Children without parents had long since ceased to be called "orphans"; they were now referred to as doku ritsu jido, "independent children". Because the Chinese character doku looks like a dog separated from the pack who survives by attaching itself to a human being and never leaving its side, Yoshiro had never felt comfortable with the phrase.
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Reading Progress
July 19, 2018
–
Started Reading
July 19, 2018
– Shelved
July 20, 2018
–
26.0%
""Grown-ups can live if children die," Mumei replied in a singsong voice, "but if grown-ups die, children can't live." Yoshiro fell silent.
--This is disturbing, yet entrancing at the same time."
--This is disturbing, yet entrancing at the same time."
July 20, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
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Jamie
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Jul 20, 2018 03:06PM
Great review. Adding this one to my tbr.
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Jamie wrote: "Great review. Adding this one to my tbr."Can't wait to see what you think.
I'm so happy you enjoyed the story. I loved the emotion and care in the relationships. And I agree, we've have much to make up to subsequent generations before we die. Thanks for commenting. Btw. I don't we have to understand everything about the story, we can think about what resonates with us and it then it becomes something more. It evolves as we think about and share it, a springboard.
Nice review. This is one I'm very interested in reading. I love Japanese literature and the plot is very intriguing.
It's an interesting concept, Tim. I hope you'll give a spin. It's good enough that I'd reread it.
