AUTOFICTION
Hitomi Kanehara, Vintage Books, US$12.31
If Tokyo-born Hitomi Kanehara were to write an autobiography, she would have a whale of a story to tell. Dropping out of school at the young age of 11, she shot to prominence a decade later after her debut novel Snakes and Earrings won the coveted Akutagawa Prize in Japan.
Her fourth offering, Autofiction (a form of fictionalised biography) proves that she has not lost her touch. The book chronicles the life of Rin, a novelist based in Japan. At first glance, she has the epitome of a happy life – young, married and successful. Yet there is more than meets the eye.
We are first brought to the attention of the seriousness of Rin’s emotional issues when she suspects an air stewardess has successfully seduced her husband – just because he heads to the washroom during a flight. As the story continues, Rin’s wild imagination (she has an imaginary friend), serious paranoia and strained relationships are slowly unveiled. Just as you start wondering what caused these problems, you get your answer – Rin is approached by her editor to produce a piece of autofiction.
The rest of this short novel consists of three chapters read backwards in time. How truthful these accounts are is not stated anywhere in the book, but it would appear that Rin has led (or conjured up) a rather eventful past. Throughout her 22 years, Rin has been many things – the abused girlfriend, the homeless bum and at one point, even a teenage mother.
Also featured is the darker side of Japan, of which Rin is all too often a victim. Nothing is mentioned about the capital’s shiny skyscrapers. Instead, grungy clubs, inky bars and dark alleyways take centre stage. Perhaps because it has been translated, Autofiction seems to use English that is watered down significantly (you probably won’t learn any new words). However, do not let the simple vocabulary fool you – the book proves that big words aren’t necessary for honesty, gritty and compelling works of fiction.
Kanehara manages to skilfully put together a series of shorts that is full of emotion, ups and downs (mostly downs) and plenty of thought-provoking monologue.
He Ruiming
