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3.5 

Fault Lines

By Emily Itami
Fault Lines by Emily Itami digital book - Fable

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Publisher Description

SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD

"What is the cost of a mother’s desire?...Emily Itami explores this question with wit and poignancy." -- New York Times Book Review

"The perfect marriage of Sally Rooney and early Murakami." -- Kathy Wang, author of Impostor Syndrome

Mizuki is a Japanese housewife. She has a hardworking husband, two adorable children, and a beautiful Tokyo apartment. It’s everything a woman could want, yet sometimes she wonders whether she would rather throw herself off the high-rise balcony than spend another evening not talking to her husband and hanging up laundry.

Then, one rainy night, she meets Kiyoshi, a successful restaurateur. In him, she rediscovers freedom, friendship, and the neon, electric pulse of the city she has always loved. But the further she falls into their relationship, the clearer it becomes that she is living two lives—and in the end, we can choose only one.

Funny, provocative, and startlingly honest, Fault Lines is for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and asked, who am I and how did I get here? A bittersweet love story and a piercing portrait of female identity, it introduces Emily Itami as a debut novelist with astounding resonance and wit.

1084 Reviews

3.5
“I enjoyed the message of this book just not how we got there. It wasn’t bad, just not my speed.”
“I really enjoyed the way this book was written, and how it feels like I'm reading Mizuki's diary or confessionals The writing is descriptive and funny and gives an interesting insight into Japenese culture. The plot itself was really interesting and I enjoyed the pace of the story, until the last few chapters where it felt extremely abrupt and rushed. The ending also felt a bit flat and I'm almost disappointed, that with Mizuki's character growth throughout the book, that it ended how it did. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with many relatable moments and beautifully written quotes.”
Thumbs Up“When I first began reading this, I wasn't really connecting with our main protagonist. There wasn't a clear plot and I didn't feel like I was the target audience. It was just a story about a housewife who seemingly has it all, but is still dissatisfied (and, honestly, had every right to be). It's a short read, but I didn't start to get into the book until about a quarter of the way through. I began to understand and root for her, understanding that I've had people in my life who have experienced similar situations. Some of the chapters felt a little bit like filler chapters, or just short random stories which sometimes made for a chuckle and other times felt dragged out. I enjoyed immersing myself in the Japanese culture and it felt nice that the story was told through both a US and Japanese lense explaining the stark contrasted differences in culture. Which could possibly be why I found the ending the be so disappointing. Overall, it was good for a short read, but still felt a little lacking.”

About Emily Itami

Emily Itami is the author of Fault Lines. She grew up in Tokyo and returned there to live when her children were young. She now lives in London. She has been published widely as a freelance journalist and travel writer.

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