'Poignant . . . deeply nostalgic.' GLAMOUR 'Strange, melancholy and beautiful.' BRANDON TAYLOR 'The supreme poet of solitude.' SPECTATOR There was no past, no future, no words, nothing - just the light and the yellow and the scent of dry leaves in the sun. Japan's internationally celebrated storyteller returns with five stories of healing and hope. Effortlessly beautiful, nostalgic and melancholy, the stories in Dead-End Memories explore the stories of five women who, following sudden and painful events, find solace in the blissful moments in everyday life. The daughter of a restaurant owner experiences a budding romance, accompanied by the ghosts of an elderly couple. After a scandalous near-death experience, an editor gains a new lease of life. A woman seeks refuge in the apartment above her uncle's bar after being betrayed by her fiancé. As Yoshimoto's gentle, effortless prose reminds us, one true miracle can be as simple as having someone to share a meal with, and happiness is always within us if only we take a moment to see it.
Banana Yoshimoto
Banana Yoshimoto is a Japanese author known for her novel "Kitchen," blending themes of love, loss, and healing with a minimalist prose style. Her works often explore contemporary issues faced by young adults in Japan, earning her a reputation as a leading voice in modern Japanese literature.