A terrific characterization of both the man and the place, Kathleen. Love the haircut and the footnotes, too. (My love of footnotes to be explained in a future post. :)
"There is nowhere to go with such a beautiful coif. Instead, he goes home for his wife and child to admire. He returns to a son who is waiting near the door, begging him to go back out again, to play baseball. Without seeing the hairstyle, the wife calls out from the dining room table where she is working: Can you both put hats on? The sun is so strong today." Somehow this passage struck me as the at the emotional heart of the place. Nowhere to go with his new haircut, no one takes any notice, and it even has to be covered up, unseen. Powerful.
Thanks so much, Jeffrey. We must talk Japan sometime soon. Sorry for my delay as it’s been quite a difficult month but look forward to getting back to writing and reading. 🩵
I always like how Kathleen draws on her personal experiences for writing her fictions. Here the experience of being expats in Japan couldn't be better written!
A terrific characterization of both the man and the place, Kathleen. Love the haircut and the footnotes, too. (My love of footnotes to be explained in a future post. :)
Thanks so much, Mary. Would love to hear about the footnotes! Just getting back online and will have a look at your recent’s. 💜
For relaxing times, make it Suntory times. - This will stick with me forever. Happy to see some writing from you, Kate!
Thanks Alexander!
Love this, Kate! ❤️ The suffocating atmosphere you create is wonderful.
Thank you Kate 💜
Stunning. It’s quiet and says volumes. The image of the father and son playing catch reminds me of Harry Chapin’s song “Cat’s in the Cradle”. 😂
Oh I love that song!
Thanks Julie. It’s a strange but beautiful place here.
"There is nowhere to go with such a beautiful coif. Instead, he goes home for his wife and child to admire. He returns to a son who is waiting near the door, begging him to go back out again, to play baseball. Without seeing the hairstyle, the wife calls out from the dining room table where she is working: Can you both put hats on? The sun is so strong today." Somehow this passage struck me as the at the emotional heart of the place. Nowhere to go with his new haircut, no one takes any notice, and it even has to be covered up, unseen. Powerful.
Thanks so much, Jeffrey. We must talk Japan sometime soon. Sorry for my delay as it’s been quite a difficult month but look forward to getting back to writing and reading. 🩵
Yes, let's talk when you're less busy! The spring can feel a little frantic here. Recently I haven't really been able to protect my own writing time.
I always like how Kathleen draws on her personal experiences for writing her fictions. Here the experience of being expats in Japan couldn't be better written!
Thanks so much and sorry for the delay. Yes a blend of autofiction and not :) This is my whole life somehow.