406. The Dilemmas of Working Women by Fumio Yamamoto

BOOK REVIEW: The Dilemmas of Working Women by Fumio Yamamoto

Has any male ever asked a woman what it's like to be a woman? The answer would most probably be a not really or even an outright no! If that's the case, pick this book up and read!

Published in English a quarter-century after becoming a sensation in Japan, this beloved Japanese bestseller explores the lives of five ordinary women through sharp humour and deeply moving emotional insight.

In 'Naked', Izumi has to juggle the brunt of finding a job after her divorce, a younger man who wants her attention and the difficulty of filling in the void both emotionally and career-wise.

Haruka is seemingly boasting about her fight with breast cancer in 'Planarian'. The struggle she seems to go through in this short story is the fact that no one actually understood her battle with one of the most common female ailments and the need for emotional and mental support on the side of the cancer survivor.

'Here, Which is Nowhere' focuses on Kato who, as a married lady, has to get through work in a convenience store without being sexually harassed. It also highlights the challenges of parenting (especially motherhood) when children are in their teens.

Mito needs to break up with her boyfriend or marry him in 'The Dilemmas of Working Women'. Complexity arises when the female partner is thrown the role of the breadwinner while the male partner is still dependant on parental financial support. It portrays how male immaturity and pushiness is often the problem when it comes to relationships.

Finally, in 'A Tomorrow Full of Love', Sumie just needs somewhere to live and someone to love her for who she is. Sadly, this story also depicts how women are used as sexual objects and are "paid" for it in kind, either with material goods or food. 

Now I know why books by Asian writers are highly sought after. They actually portray situations that everyday people go through and bring it life in a short yet punchy narrative. I'm definitely going to add more Asian authors on my TBR and bookshelves!