Mina's Matchbox
(Autor) Yoko OgawaOn sleepless nights, I open the matchbox and reread the story of the girl who gathered shooting stars After the death of her father, twelve-year-old Tomoko is sent to live for a year with her uncle in the coastal town of Ashiya. It is a year which will change her life. While the 1970s transform Japan, her uncle's magnificent colonial mansion is a place out of time; its sprawling gardens are even home to a pet pygmy hippo. Equally beguiling are Tomoko's relatives, especially her cousin Mina. Their growing friendship draws her into an intoxicating world - one full of secret crushes and elaborate storytelling. Rich with the magic and mystery of youth, Mina's Matchbox is an evocative snapshot of a moment frozen in time, and a striking depiction of a family on the edge of collapse. 'Beguiling' New Yorker 'Beautifully composed' Financial Times 'Effervescent' New York Times Book Review 'Transfixing' Time 'I read Mina's Matchbox like a besotted child, enraptured, never wanting it to end' Ruth Ozeki
Yoko Ogawa
Yoko Ogawa is a Japanese author known for her unique and haunting storytelling style. Her works often explore themes of memory, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. Some of her most notable works include "The Housekeeper and the Professor," "The Diving Pool," and "The Memory Police."
Ogawa's writing is characterized by its spare prose, subtle psychological insights, and ability to create a sense of unease in the reader. She is considered a master of the short story form, with many of her works delving into the darker aspects of human nature.
Ogawa's impact on literature lies in her ability to blur the lines between reality and fiction, creating a world that is both familiar and unsettling. Her most famous work, "The Housekeeper and the Professor," is a poignant meditation on memory and the power of human connection.
Overall, Yoko Ogawa is a highly acclaimed author whose works have garnered international praise for their lyrical beauty and profound emotional depth.