Author: Jeff Backhaus
Publication Year: 2013
Publisher: Algonquin and HighBridge Audio
Edition: eGalley and audio
Source: NetGalley/ and library
Setting: New York City
Date Completed: April - 2013
Rating: 4/5
Recommended: yes
Hikikomori and the Rental Sister, is a
very different story. If some of you are like me and not familiar with
the phenomenon of "hikikomori", it's something that is kind of common in
Japan. The "hikikomori" tend to be mostly men, who retreat in isolation either to
their rooms or someplace else where they do not have to engage with others in the world around them. In the US we would
probably think about someone in this situation as severely depressed and
in need of "electro-shock treatments. In Japan, however, they look to
the "rental sister" as a last hope for bringing a person out of their
self-imposed isolation to function as they once had.
In this novel there are actually (3) damaged
individuals who we are introduced to. Thomas and Silke Tessler are
husband and wife, and Megumi is the "rental sister" in the title who has
recently arrived from Japan.
Thomas, the "hikikomori" of the story, has retreated to
his locked room for over (3) years, ever since his young son who he was
caring for, ran out into traffic and was killed. Devastated by this and
carrying a huge amount of guilt ever since, what started out as
grieving in private, resulted in shutting himself off from the world and
even his own wife. He only leaves his room when he is sure most of the
world, including his wife who sleeps next door, is asleep, and ventures
out for food and supplies he will need. By day he goes over and over the
events leading up to his young son's death. He keeps a journal which he
calls "My Life Through Scars, where he writes his deepest feelings.
Silke is desperate and has been trying to communicate with him verbally
and with notes, but nothing has worked, so she hires Megumi to help even
though she is aware of the risk. Megumi is a young women, also
damaged, who experienced the phenomenon first hand with her own brother.
Her job is establish a relationship of trust and even intimacy if
necessary.
The novel is so different. On the one hand it was
fascinating leaning about this Japanese phenomenon, and the writing is
really beautiful. It's fewer than 300 pages and just (6) discs/ (6)
hours for the audio version. It's read by Scott Bowlby who did a very
good job, but it took me a long time to finish this one. It's a quiet
story that that held my interest, yet for some reason I never felt bad
for Thomas. I warmed up to the two women and their personal
heartaches, but Thomas left me feeling unmoved. I also found it strange
that the story took place in NYC instead of Japan, but for whatever
reason, it worked.
I liked this one better than you did, but I read it in print. The whole phenomenon was fascinating to me.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. I never heard of this practice!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds fascinating. I'm not familiar with hikikomori and agree that we would think the person needed some kind of treatment if that happened in this country.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing this book and wondering what it was about. It sounds like it would have the potential to be moving and sad.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds really unusual!
ReplyDeleteToo sad and frustrating for me right now. I think my reaction would be that he should pull himself together by whatever means and get on with life.
ReplyDeleteI love the evocative name of your blog, makes me want to retreat to the beach with a good book. I have never heard of the phenomenom described in this book either. The difference in cultural perceptions, as you point out, is interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem strange that you wouldn't come to care about Thomas but overall this one sounds very interesting. I'm always up for something unique!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a fascinating story, sad too. You wrote another great review Diane. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this practice a few times but never read a book focused about it. The NYC setting does seem odd though. Glad it worked.
ReplyDelete