Strange Weather in Tokyo Audiobook By Hiromi Kawakami, Allison Markin Powell - translator cover art

Strange Weather in Tokyo

A Novel

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Strange Weather in Tokyo

By: Hiromi Kawakami, Allison Markin Powell - translator
Narrated by: Allison Hiroto
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Shortlisted for the 2013 Man Asian Literary Prize, Strange Weather in Tokyo is a story of loneliness and love that defies age.

Tsukiko, 38, works in an office and lives alone. One night, she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, "Sensei", in a local bar. Tsukiko had only ever called him "Sensei" ("Teacher"). He is 30 years her senior, retired, and presumably a widower. Their relationship develops from a perfunctory acknowledgment of each other as they eat and drink alone at the bar, to a hesitant intimacy, which tilts awkwardly and poignantly into love.

As Tsukiko and Sensei grow to know and love one another, time's passing is marked by Kawakami's gentle hints at the changing seasons: from warm sake to chilled beer, from the buds on the trees to the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Strange Weather in Tokyo is a moving, funny, and immersive tale of modern Japan and old-fashioned romance.

Photo credit: ©Hisaji Hara and Natsumi Hayashi

©2012 Hiromi Kawakami (P)2018 Audible, Inc. Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Urban Women's Fiction Funny
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I really like the story itself, but the narrator is so robotic it makes the character lack emotion.

Great Story

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The whole book has the sensibility of haiku. It’s distilled, delicate, sensual, deep, tender, subtle. The narrator was perfect for the part & I’m already planning to relisten to it soon.

Loved it

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Lovely written story and a great narrator. It was a bit slow, but endearing.

Lovely story

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overall good story and we used together time and characters in an interesting way. I'm just starting to get into this kind of book and I enjoyed it.

enjoyed. not my usual

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well written excellent flow fascinating unusual story. quick fun read. wholeheartedly recommend for anyone

read this gentle love story

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This book was a great listen it so masterfully takes us through the daily interactions of two people who need each other so very much. Love has no bounds.

Beautifully written work about life

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Story about an unusual romance between an elderly professor and her former student, told through the seasons in Tokyo. The descriptions are very colourful and overall this book gave me a sense of peace.

Very charming

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I thought that this was OK. I found the voice to be a little too distant for my taste. It didn't help that I didn't particularly care for either of the mains.

A Little Too Cool for Me

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A cute and warm story of love between two people aged 30 years apart. Cozy food and drinks in the odenya, mushroom hunting in the forest in Tochigi, Kappabashi the kitchenware district, high school reunion, island inn, ... the book takes us into the average Japanese person's leisure life outside of work. Every moment in the book is after work or on the weekends, giving the book a relaxed setting that is easy to read on.

I've listened to the book twice in a row. It's a nice leisurely listen, especially if you are interested in Japanese daily life, Japanese food, culture, nature, or quiet and gradual romance.

Cozy Love Story and Leisure Time in Japan

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I read this book since it was on a list of books that describe Japanese scenery well. It certainly accomplished that with equally delicious sounding food. The story though was 5ish hours, and after 3 hours I was ready for it to end. The two main characters are nothing special and rather dull.

Beautiful descriptions, lackluster characters

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