Scan barcode
shaneloake's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
jwdg's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
gbozic's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
pilebythebed's review
4.0
Japanese author Hideyo Yokoyama is probably best known for a crime procedural called Six Four. But while that novel had some of the trappings of the crime genre, Yokoyama was much more interested in the political machinations of the police, the bureaucracy and the press office. Similarly, his follow up Seventeen, had a real tragedy at its core, but focussed on the internal politics of a small newspaper. While is all to say that while his new novel The North Light (translated by Louise Heal Kawai), does have a mystery tied up with the work of its architect main character, it is clear that Yokoyama has much more on his mind than architecture.
Architect Minoru Aose has found himself famous for the construction of a particular house, so much so that new clients want him to build versions of it for themselves. Minoru does not feel he can do that but just to be sure he decides to go back to the house to talk to the clients that he built it for. Only he finds that he cannot get in touch with them. And when he and his boss Okajima go out to the property they find the front door unlocked and that no one has ever lived there. The only furniture in the house is a chair that Okajima believes was created by a famous German architect called Bruno Taut who lived in Japan for a time. Minoru becomes obsessed with discovering why his clients never moved into the house that he built for them. At the same time, Okajima is trying to manoeuvre the small architecture firm to be in the running for the construction of a memorial for a local artist.
While the mystery of the missing clients drives the plot of The North Light it is not Yokayama’s central concern. As with his other books this is just a scaffold on which to hang more interesting reflections. Yokoyama is much more interested in the craft of architecture. There is an exploration of the life of Bruno Taut, including a visit to a famous house that he designed and built. But more than that, he is interested in the relationship between people in the small architecture office – of the way in which the individuals relate to each other and come together to help their boss realise his dream. Around this is a consideration of the ongoing impacts of the Japanese financial crisis and the fraught commercial relationship between design, politics and the media.
The North Light is another fascinating exploration into Japanese culture from Yokoyama. He dives deeply into his subject matter but in a way that allows readers to understand the discipline and the mindset of his characters. And once again those characters represent a cross-section of Japanese society and history so that readers get an insight into not only the characters themselves but the psyche of the nation. And while the resolution of the various plotlines is a little underwhelming, the plot drivers are not really the point, and the conclusion it does serve to underline the themes that Yokayama has been exploring.
Architect Minoru Aose has found himself famous for the construction of a particular house, so much so that new clients want him to build versions of it for themselves. Minoru does not feel he can do that but just to be sure he decides to go back to the house to talk to the clients that he built it for. Only he finds that he cannot get in touch with them. And when he and his boss Okajima go out to the property they find the front door unlocked and that no one has ever lived there. The only furniture in the house is a chair that Okajima believes was created by a famous German architect called Bruno Taut who lived in Japan for a time. Minoru becomes obsessed with discovering why his clients never moved into the house that he built for them. At the same time, Okajima is trying to manoeuvre the small architecture firm to be in the running for the construction of a memorial for a local artist.
While the mystery of the missing clients drives the plot of The North Light it is not Yokayama’s central concern. As with his other books this is just a scaffold on which to hang more interesting reflections. Yokoyama is much more interested in the craft of architecture. There is an exploration of the life of Bruno Taut, including a visit to a famous house that he designed and built. But more than that, he is interested in the relationship between people in the small architecture office – of the way in which the individuals relate to each other and come together to help their boss realise his dream. Around this is a consideration of the ongoing impacts of the Japanese financial crisis and the fraught commercial relationship between design, politics and the media.
The North Light is another fascinating exploration into Japanese culture from Yokoyama. He dives deeply into his subject matter but in a way that allows readers to understand the discipline and the mindset of his characters. And once again those characters represent a cross-section of Japanese society and history so that readers get an insight into not only the characters themselves but the psyche of the nation. And while the resolution of the various plotlines is a little underwhelming, the plot drivers are not really the point, and the conclusion it does serve to underline the themes that Yokayama has been exploring.
kate66's review
5.0
Another wonderful novel from another Japanese writer new to me.
Aose is an architect, divorced from his wife and trying to keep a connection with his daughter, Hidako. At one meeting Hidako asks about his greatest triumph to date - The Y Residence, which was reckoned to be amongst the 200 greatest Japanese homes.
His interest reawakened Aose tries to get in touch with the clients he designed the Y Residence for but is totally unable to contact them. On visiting the house he finds it deserted and the only thing left is a chair.
The story follows Aose's journey as he tries to discover why the family who asked him to design a "house he'd design for himself" have disappeared without a trace. It leads him all over Japan, introduces him to the work of Taut (a German architect who took refuge in Japan in the 1930s) and leads him to rethink his childhood, marriage and career.
This book really fascinated me. I'm a sucker for books about architecture and the added aspect of the mystery of what happened to the missing family, it grew on me more and more as the novel went on.
There is a lot of information about Taut and various beautiful Japanese residences but it also touches on the relationships we have with our families, our homes and our surroundings. The prose is beautiful and makes for a very readable novel. Aose's character is passionate and driven whilst also being vulnerable. It's a clever book with very human emotions.
I'd highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys Japanese literary fiction with a twist. I'll certainly he on the lookout for more by Hideo Yokoyama.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the advance review copy.
Aose is an architect, divorced from his wife and trying to keep a connection with his daughter, Hidako. At one meeting Hidako asks about his greatest triumph to date - The Y Residence, which was reckoned to be amongst the 200 greatest Japanese homes.
His interest reawakened Aose tries to get in touch with the clients he designed the Y Residence for but is totally unable to contact them. On visiting the house he finds it deserted and the only thing left is a chair.
The story follows Aose's journey as he tries to discover why the family who asked him to design a "house he'd design for himself" have disappeared without a trace. It leads him all over Japan, introduces him to the work of Taut (a German architect who took refuge in Japan in the 1930s) and leads him to rethink his childhood, marriage and career.
This book really fascinated me. I'm a sucker for books about architecture and the added aspect of the mystery of what happened to the missing family, it grew on me more and more as the novel went on.
There is a lot of information about Taut and various beautiful Japanese residences but it also touches on the relationships we have with our families, our homes and our surroundings. The prose is beautiful and makes for a very readable novel. Aose's character is passionate and driven whilst also being vulnerable. It's a clever book with very human emotions.
I'd highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys Japanese literary fiction with a twist. I'll certainly he on the lookout for more by Hideo Yokoyama.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the advance review copy.
lizzillia's review against another edition
4.5
To be published 12 October 2023. This arc sold me on the idea that this was a mystery novel about a family that has gone missing. But it is rather more than a mystery - there are no action scenes, there is no high drama but what you do have is a novel with so many layers that build to - for me - a satisfying ending. Out main character, Aose, is an architect, he is divorced and he sees his daughter on regular 'dates'. He was a victim of the bursting of the economic bubble when he lost his job. What saved him was a request from a family to build them a house. The house he designed was featured in a top 200 list and sounds amazing, using the north light. However, he finds out that the family never moved into the house. When he went to visit it he found it empty except for a chair placed before the huge window. He makes it his mission to try to find this family. As I said earlier, there are layers within this, it is not just about Aose's search for the family. We meet his 'boss' and discover their relationship. We meet his ex-wife, his daughter, his co-workers and all about the pressure to win a competition to design a memorial for a late female artist whose story also plays a small part as well as a connection with architect Bruno Taut who spent two years in Japan prior to WWII. There is a mystery, but this ia a story of the human dramas that are in the lives of all of these characters. As for the ending, I found it satisfying - how everything was explained even down to the reason why Aose was asked to build the house. Not a cosy crime read, but this is a peaceful read that takes you into the lives of Aose and his family and friends.
More...