Mild Vertigo
By Mieko Kanai
A 5/5⭐️ read
At first, I was taken a little aback because of the stream-of-consciousness writing style, which in general I’m not a fan of because it is difficult for me to follow. It helped that Mild Vertigo was from one character’s point of view.
While it took a little time to get used to it, I fell in love with this novel about the everyday life of a housewife whose life revolves around her home, family and memories. The reader is sitting on the shoulder of the main character, Natsumi, witnessing her going about her life, and hearing every single thought that comes into her somewhat bored mind. it might seem mundane, but such is life. The novel felt real and complex, despite its apparent mundanity.
It is not a story in the classical sense of the word, with a beginning, middle and end.
Despite the supposed boredom of Natsumi’s life, the novel is never actually boring. I found the story enjoyable and interesting also because of the differences and similarities in ways of thinking, in cultures and countries between my own and the author’s.
I intend to read the book again, with a different approach. I believe that this is a book that must be read more than once, the first time to get acquainted with it, and the second time to discover all that was missed.
I plan to read it as if every chapter is a short story to see how the novel changes because I have a feeling it can be read that way as well. It’s a little experiment I’m very much looking forward to.
I highly recommend this book. This is a five stars read, and I’m gonna keep an eye on future publications in languages I can read from this author. I hope more of her work is going to be translated.
Thank you Fitzcarraldo editions for allowing me to read a copy through NetGalley.