Emily Itami

I loved this debut novel—more than I was expecting: a perfect marriage of lovely language and devourable length; complex, relatable characters and enticing plot; slightly gritty emotions and quietly sarcastic humor. This is a book about the messiness of marriage and motherhood, shifting friendships and relationships, happiness and responsibility. It’s about the secrets we sometimes keep in order to keep part of ourself to ourself.

4.5 Excellent debut novel that tackles issues of identity and social roles - and shows them to be quite universal. The book jacket compared this to a combo of Helen Fielding and Sally Rooney, and I initally thought that was an odd combination, but it's pretty apt. There is a lot of sarcastic, self-deprecating humor a la Bridget Jones - much of it related to the pressure and expectation of modern-day motherhood. I could relate to the challenges of getting just 2 kids off to school, publicly show more presentable, on time, with a healthy lunch (bento box, here) and feeling like all facets of this were being judged or rated on some invisible scale. Or quelling yet another tantrum or unnecessary sibling squabble and thinking "is this all there is? is this what my life has become?" Same is true for the Japanese narrator, Mizuki, living in her Tokyo apartment with work-aholic absent husband of sixteen years, Tatsuya, and 10-year old daughter Eri and four-year-old son Aki. "Parenting is savage -- there is no other activity on earth that you could get up to do four times a night for nearly two years straight, and at the end of it be merely in the running for mediocre." (44) Mizuki used to be a lounge singer and there is no room for that in her conventional life now. She has a part-time gig helping foreigners adjust to Japanese culture and mores (fascinating aspect of the story!) and is struggling to find meaning and purpose in what appears to be a 'perfect' life she should be grateful for. The Sally Rooney aspect comes in with the thoughtful and piercing criticism of our contemporary world. In this country so steeped in tradition - many are described beautifully here - but so modern in its embracing of capitalism and technology, there is tension nationwide on a collective scale, in addition to Mizuki's personal struggle. Layered over (under?) this is the geologic reality of earthquakes and the realization of things truly beyond human control, despite all the technological systems designed to forewarn or mitigate acts of nature. When Mizuki meets suave restaurateur Kiyoshi, her own little world is shaken up. With him, she can be herself; she is noticed, valued, and feels alive again, especially because they begin as friends. But affairs tend to have a natural progression in novels and Mizuki needs to decide just how much she wants to shake the foundation that is her comfortable life. Though this is not a new plot line, I thought it was presented in a fresh way here, with thoughtful writing that develops commonalities, but with a perspective that makes Mizuki's story unique. show less

Mizuki , the protagonist of Fault Lines, is a mother and homemaker with a 'less than blissful' life. While she is not lacking in material comforts, her joyful spirit and spontaneity have taken a backseat to the demands of daily life. She goes about her days catering to the needs of her two children feeling ignored by her workaholic husband and reflects on her life choices with wry humor and candid pragmatism. Even though she spends a few hours a week as an Intercultural Consultant teaching show more foreigners about the culture and customs of Japan so that they find it easier to assimilate, her existance is predominantly defined as wife and mother.

On a rare night out with friends ,she meets Kiyoshi in whose company no longer feels 'excluded'. The time they spend togethor revives her parched soul and joyful spirit . No pretentions and no subterfuge. She is honest with him and he with her. Her take on her husband's indifference also changes.

"After all the years I've spent with him not seeing me , I don't see him any more either. We exist like two blind fish, sliding past each other cordially in our parallel universe, it's a great solution."

While Mizuki enjoys Kiyoshi's company and attention she is practical enough to understand how her decisions affect everyone around her. She knows what she is doing and she knows what it is she has to do. It comes down to making choices and managing expectations - what we expect from life and what others expect from us.

"What are we, apart from the stories we tell ourselves and other people?"

With its thoughtfully penned characters , wry humor, eloquently introspective tones and vivid almost peotic imagery of Tokyo (I have to mention that the cover art is stunning!),Emily Itami's Fault Lines does not disappoint. Mizuki's witty , introspective take on her life is what makes this novel so wonderfully engaging. In Mizuki , Emily Itami has drawn an intelligent woman who allows you to laugh with her and laugh at her all the while admiring her spirit . You don't have to feel sorry for her because you know that she will be okay. With such a lovely debut I am eagerly looking forward to reading more of Emily Itami's books in the future.

I received an ARC of this novel from HarperCollins under no obligation. The review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion. show less

A contemporary reckoning with the realities of motherhood in a culture that doesn’t fully support women’s autonomy. It took more than 50% for me to buy into this book. I found it too angsty for my taste. The descriptive writing kept me going as I experienced Tokyo through its culture, nightlife, and buffet of food. From homecooked meals and bento boxes to street food and on to gourmet, this was a feast for the palette. I would imagine anyone who has visited or lived in Tokyo would show more thoroughly appreciate Itami’s strong sense of place. She writes with the ease of someone who has lived there but also with a wider world view. The circumstances in which she places her characters are universal---stagnant marriage, exhausted parenting, visions of escape to a carefree life. Once I finished the book and began to wrestle with the author’s purpose, I made a turn around. I would enjoy hearing this author’s voice again in fiction form. show less