Mieko Kawakami's hit novella Breasts and Eggs is receiving an English release as well as an expansion, continuing the story of Natsuko in her quest to become a mother. The original novella - Part I in this release - explores the relationship of Natsuko, a childless woman in her 30s, her sister Makiko, who is seeking breast enhancement surgery, and Makiko's daughter Midoriko, who at 12 and going through puberty, is on the verge of womanhood and finds her mother's self-absorption disturbing. Makiko and Midoriko visit Natsuko in Tokyo one hot summer, and the relationships among the three, as well as with themselves, is explored with humor and insight. The descriptions of ordinary life in Tokyo - the restaurants and bars, the bath houses, the people - is what I found to be most interesting about this part of the novel. Kawakami inserts plenty of pieces of Japan into her storytelling, and I enjoyed researching the foods and customs described in this novel.

Part II of Breasts and Eggs is, unfortunately, not as engaging as the first. Ten years later, Natsuko is still pining for a child, but does not have any viable way of becoming pregnant. She is single and scared of sex, and Japan frowns upon women such as herself using artificial insemination to become pregnant. Part II of this novel explores Natsuko's work and relationships as a writer, and follows her on her journey to potential motherhood ... if she could ever make the decision to go through with it, that is. My problem with Part II of Breasts and Eggs is that it carries on for far too long. While Part I of this book was pithy and compelling, Part II stays inside Natsuko's head for much of the book, while she ruminates over the same topics again and again. There is much insight as to what it means to be a Japanese woman in this book; however, Parts I and II feel disjointed, not continuing the writing style from one part to the next, nor effectively connecting the lives of the characters we came to care so much about in Part I.

Read this book if you have an interest in Japanese culture and the way of life for women there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Europa Editions for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Japanese authors such as Murakami fascinate me. Now I will add Mieko Kawakami to the list.
Book started with a great pace slowed down towards the end, but had overall a good plot.
Another keeper!

I enjoyed the first half of this novel a lot. It reminded me a lot of Murakami, whom I love. Unfortunately I felt the second half drag on a little bit, I still liked the writing style a lot, but I felt like there was a bit too much detail about sperm donation. Overall I did like the book though, and I think some of my issues with it were personal, so I will still recommend it.