What can I say, Banana does it again. In three short stories, she manages to capture three women's stories in the entanglement of the simple act of sleeping, love, and of death -- a sleepwalker because of a death of lover, one haunted by the ghost/memory of a former lover's other girlfriend, one who does nothing but sleep because her lover's husband is in a coma. Each is written in sparse yet beautiful prose. Each story is a gem with Banana's trademark otherworldliness. ( )

This book contains sad yet heart warming stories. I wasn't too sure about it when I first picked it up, however I loved each story, and I found myself wanting to read more of each, and of the author. ( )

Uhm, I actually don’t know where to start. Or rather, it’s hard to find the exact words to describe Asleep, but I’ve never been so sad while reading a book. It never fails whenever I read a Yoshimoto Banana novel — the words and narration are so simple, but it captures everything, and the weight of the words and the emotions are heavier than they appear. It’s a good thing I was reading this in between at work otherwise I could’ve bawled my eyes out, haha. It was that sad.

The only thing I’d understood right now from the very beginning was that even love was supported by loneliness. That neither one of us could haul ourselves up out of the deadly numbness we felt when we lay together, so silent, in darkness so isolating it seemed to shine. (Asleep, p.114)

I like how this novel portrayed love, sadness, isolation and loneliness without trying so hard. The writing seems effortless, and yet all the necessary emotions were there. It’s the kind of heaviness that you don’t mind carrying along; the kind of sadness that lingers in your heart. It tastes bitter and sweet on your lips. Kind of like that.

I love this book, even though it squeezed my heart as I read through it.

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OK, I admit it. I initially bought this book because I kept seeing it in the deeply-discounted Bargain Books section every time I went to Chapters (which is probably more often than I should go). And I think 'Banana Yoshimoto' is one of the coolest names an author could ever wish to have. So I bought it.

I have since learned that Yoshimoto is in fact one of Japan's better-known contemporary writers. And Asleep is in fact a lovely book. It's a bit strange. As a translation, and from Japanese no less, where the pace of story-telling can be different from what readers are used to (at least readers like me, who perhaps overdose on Canadian literature now and again (though reviewing my book list of books read-to-date, I seem to be expanding those horizons this year)), the book feels slightly magical and other-worldly (though again, if you've ever been to Japan, that assessment isn't too far off the mark). In a way, speaking of Can-lit, Yoshimoto reminds me of Alice Munro (at least in the earlier days before I realized I was confusing Munro's books because they all dealt with women in unusual or awkward situations).

Asleep actually is three novellas about three very different women who have strange spiritual connections to sleep and all that it entails. And here I unashamedly steal from the jacket dust-cover: 'One, mourning for a lost lover, finds herself sleepwalking at night. Another, who has embarked on a relationship with a man whose wife is in a coma, finds herself suddenly unable to stay awake. A third finds her sleep haunted by another woman whom she was once pitted against in a love triangle.' There is a dreamy quality to the book itself - you could almost be reading some form of long poem. I took my time with this book, not wanting to spoil its sometimes near-perfect balance, but often was compelled to read 'just a few more pages' to see what would happen next.

Yoshimoto has written a few other books which have been translated from the Japanese; of these, I think Kitchen will be the next one I search out (even if it isn't available on discount. ( )

A book of three novellas each dealing with a youngish Japanese woman dealing with the trauma of losing a loved one. I hadn’t realized it was three separate stories til I got several pages into the second one—thought it was just another section dealing with the first story! Very poignant, fluidly written, quite a unique outlook presented. Not always “enjoyable” because who can truly enjoy reading about someone going through painful times—but definitely thought-provoking and interesting, and a definite change of pace from my usual reading fare. ( )