The Story of a Single Woman by Chiyo Uno was originally published in Japan in the 70s and is now being released in English for the first time this year by Pushkin Press.

The novel is an I-Novel, a semi-autobiographical story based on Uno’s own life told through the eyes of fictional Kazue who looks back on her young life in her later years. Kazue’s life begins in a small mountain village with her family and takes us to Tokyo via Korea and then onwards to various other places that Kazue frequents. Kazue’s life is unconventional for the time period she lives in and I find her character intriguing due to the choices she makes, in a way I envy the way she can step away from one thing to start afresh. The story is well paced and engrossing, I enjoyed seeing where Kazue was going at the different points in her life. I didn’t expect it to end where it did, as it was quite abrupt but I don’t mind that too much, it makes the book a brief vignette on a period in Kazue’s life. 

I would recommend this book as a short, enjoyable and engrossing read. Especially for people who enjoy a reflective look at an unconventional life (certainly for the time period). 

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the digital