The Premonition

Nineteen-year-old Yayoi lives with her loving parents and her brother Tetsuo. Lately though, Yayoi has been haunted by a feeling that she’s forgotten something from her childhood and her past. This premonition grows stronger, and it is as though she was being called to it, goes to stay with her Aunt Yukino. Yukino is rather odd, when she isn’t working, she is in her pajamas, clipping her nails and trimming her ends. Yukino eats only when she feels like it & falls asleep on her side in the hallway. Yukino wakes Yayoi up at 2 am to be her drinking buddy and serves flan in a serving bowl for dinner and watches Friday the 13^th to comfort herself. As the story goes on, Yayoi starts to remember things and her beloved Aunt Yukino disappears and Yayoi must find out what happened to her.

Writing, Characters & Everything In Between

This was my first time reading anything by Banana Yoshimoto. Banana’s writing is descriptive. I love the characters of Yayoi & Yukino. They are both quirky which I like. I love the premonitions and the part about Yayoi knowing she did see a ghost or ghosts or her feeling things. Those were the more interesting parts of the story. I wish the story did more with that. I was expecting a little bit more when it came to it. The chapters sometimes didn’t always do a good job switching from the present to the past & back to the present. Also, the romantic relationships Yayoi & Yukino had were creepy (Yayoi’s creepier than Yukino’s) & that’s all I can say now. You will have to read the book to find out what I’m talking about.  

Overall

Was it the worst book I’ve read? No. Was it the best book I’ve read? No, it just wasn’t entirely what I expected. That doesn’t mean I’m going to give up on Banana Yoshimoto. Originally published in 1988 in Japan, The Premonition by Banana Yoshimoto is out now.