Tokyo Fiancée
Amélie Nothomb
Translated from the French by Alison Anderson
2007
152 pages
Published by Europa
Hmmm. I’m beginning to think I don’t get French authors (and Nothomb is Belgium, but she writes in French). Not that I’ve read scads of French authors. But of the few I’ve read in the last year, I’ve been left with a bit of an empty feeling. I think they’re too literary for me. Or something.
This is a short novel that is based on a year the author spent in Japan in her early 20s. It is autobiographical, although I don’t know how much is true. I suspect a lot, as she talks about writing a book, and that book actually exists.
Amélie returns to Japan (she spent the first 5 years of her life there) to learn Japanese. In an effort to improve her language skills, she hires herself out as a French tutor. A young college student by the name of Rinri answers her ad. Amélie begins to tutor him, and shortly thereafter they become involved in a relationship.
While Rinri falls in love, Amélie falls in like.
There was no name for what I felt for this boy in modern French, but this was not the case in Japanese, where the term koi was most appropriate. Koi, in classical French, might be translated by goût, liking. He was to my liking. He was my koibito, the man with whom I shared the koi: his company was to my liking. -p. 50-51
No, Amélie isn’t very romantic. But she enjoys some good times with Rinri, hiking Mount Fuji, eating okonomiyaki, visiting Hiroshima. Eventually, she falls into an engagement, partially due to a misunderstanding and partially because she doesn’t want to hurt Rinri’s feelings. However, she feels trapped and finally buys a return ticket to Belgium. Telling Rinri she is going to visit family and friends, she boards the plane and returns home. After the phone calls dwindle, poor Rinri finally gets a clue…Amélie is not coming back.
Pretty harsh, eh? Another thing that bugged me was Amélie’s constant references to Rinri as a boy. She was only one year older, yet she portrays herself as so wordly. And since she was the one that slithered out of the relationship, I’d argue that she wasn’t all that mature.
I did enjoy the glimpse into Japanese culture, particularly this insight into the idea of travel:
Here, if you like traveling without company, you’re crazy. In our language, the word ‘alone’ contains the notion of despair. -p. 56
However, there were times when I just couldn’t get past the phrasing. A few examples:
The polystyrene must have still been expanding in my brain, which was synthesizing the growth in the form of a delirium of experimentation. -p. 40
No sooner had I reached the peak than the cloud, acknowledging my avian nature, joined me there to fulfill the mountain’s etymological destiny. -p. 111
Oddly enough, there was no earthquake. Given the area where we lived, such telluric tranquility was an oddity that might be attributable to certain auspicious circumstances. -p. 44
Who the hell talks like that?
In the end, I’m torn. I don’t regret reading it, but I found the stiff language to be a barrier. I wasn’t able to fully immerse myself in the story. But I did like the brief glimpses into Japanese life and the different take on a young relationship.
Thank you to Europa, who gave me this copy at BEA. I’d love to pass it on, so if you’re interested (the cover alone is worth it…Europa does beautiful covers) please let me know and I’ll draw a winner this weekend.
By reading the quotes you provided in your review, I have to conclude that this book sounds a little pretentious at times. I am sorry that it wasn’t a success with you. Hopefully your next read is better!
zibilee´s last [type] ..Heart of Lies by M.L. Malcolm — 336 pgs
For a novel set in Japan with interesting details of life there (especially for a foreigner) try “Plum Wine” by Angela Davis-Gardner. An American woman teaching English in Japan receives a mysterious bequest from a neighbor/mentor. The characters bugged at times (not the most mature), but mostly I enjoyed the story and found it moving.
I don’t get French authors, French movies, or French food. I don’t even get French pastry: not enough sugar! But I wouldn’t turn down a trip there anyway, in the interest of furthering my understanding…
rhapsodyinbooks´s last [type] ..Review of “Blood Oath” by Christopher Farnsworth
I wonder if it’s the author’s work or the translation that didn’t work for you? Don’t throw my name in the hat.
I wonder if part of it is the translation? But those passages you shared were really hard to wrap my head around. And I even like flowery, wordy descriptions sometimes!
Jeane´s last [type] ..Zoe’s Zodiac
I had such a full-on hate for The Book of Proper Names that I hesitate to read anything else by this author. Although, this looks a little interesting because of the locale and the discussion of language/culture differences.
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The Frenchmen and women haven’t been working out for me either. I don’t think they’re too literary, I think they can be so intellectual as to be cold. Just my take.
Andi´s last [type] ..Good Book: The Good Earth
I can’t stop laughing! Reading those sentences reminded me of my students who misuse the thesaurus and come up with sentences like: When my feline expired, I waxed lachrymose (when my cat died, I cried).
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*giggles* Oh dear, those sentences are no good – though it could just as easily be the fault of the translator as the author. They sound terribly stilted! No need to enter me, I’m terrible with books in translation.
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I read Fear and Trembling by this author a few years ago, but didn’t really ‘get it’. Wonder if she’s a victim of translation…
No need to enter me in the drawing.
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I have been saying recently how much I love Europa but this does not seem like a book I would enjoy. Those excerpts . . . wow.
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OMG! Those extracts are all I need to read. Ugh.
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Either that is bad translating for bad writing … very odd, indeed.
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I think that style of writing is a French thing. I had to read a book in French by an art historian for a class once, and I would look up a word, only to discover I didn’t know what it meant even in English! Very frustrating.
heidenkind´s last [type] ..Chicago 40 by Chloe Neill Giveaway-
I actually already have a copy of this novel. I really enjoyed Sulphuric Acid and robert des noms propre so I was curious about this one. You’re right, though, the sentences seem a bit stiff.
Lydia´s last [type] ..Bite the Stars Giveaway-
Don’t give up on French authors…
Amelie Nothomb is quite a popular author in France, her books are short and funny to read. I also think everybody considers her to be a bit crazy (as in ‘artistically’, ‘decadently’, crazy). She created her own artistic character and literary style, both equally crazy, and sometimes a little out of bound. (she’s also a bit of a poseur sometimes I find, and definitely needs attention)
You need to be aware of her special character before you start reading her. And make sure you consider the whole picture (artist and work) with a pinch of irony and humour. She is in her own world and describes her feelings with words that no one else would use. (hence the polysthyrene quote… I believe it would sound fun and ‘decale’ in French but seems too stiff in English)