Diary of a Void A Novel
Diary of a Void by Emi Yagi, published by Penguin on August 8, 2023, is a novel that explores the complexities of female experience in a contemporary setting. This 224-page book follows thirty-four-year-old Ms. Shibata, who, in an effort to escape workplace harassment, fabricates a pregnancy to gain relief from menial tasks and unwanted attention at her new job in Tokyo. Through this subversive narrative, the story delves into themes of deception and the societal expectations placed on women.
Readers will find a surreal and absurdist tale that highlights the challenges faced by women, particularly in the workplace. As Ms. Shibata navigates her fabricated pregnancy, she discovers unexpected freedoms, including the ability to avoid overtime and engage in self-care activities. The narrative intricately examines the blurred lines between her deception and reality, offering a thoughtful commentary on mental health and the experiences of working mothers. Diary of a Void presents a unique perspective on women’s lives, inviting reflection on the roles they are often forced to play.
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A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New Yorker · NPR · WBEZ’s Nerdette · The New York Public Library · Literary Hub
A New York Times Editors’ Choice
“One of the most passionate cases I’ve ever read for female interiority, for women’s creative pulse and rich inner life.” ―Katy Waldman, The New Yorker
“Always expect the unexpected when you’re not expecting.” ―Sloane Crosley
A woman in Tokyo avoids harassment at work by perpetuating, for nine months and beyond, the lie that she’s pregnant in this prizewinning, thrillingly subversive debut novel about the mother of all deceptions, for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Breasts and Eggs
When thirty-four-year-old Ms. Shibata gets a new job to escape sexual harassment at her old one, she finds that as the only woman at her new workplace—a manufacturer of cardboard tubes—she is expected to do all the menial tasks. One day she announces that she can’t clear away her coworkers’ dirty cups—because she’s pregnant and the smell nauseates her. The only thing is . . . Ms. Shibata is not pregnant.
Pregnant Ms. Shibata doesn’t have to serve coffee to anyone. Pregnant Ms. Shibata isn’t forced to work overtime. Pregnant Ms. Shibata rests, watches TV, takes long baths, and even joins an aerobics class for expectant mothers. She’s finally being treated by her colleagues as more than a hollow core. But she has a nine-month ruse to keep up. Before long, it becomes all-absorbing, and with the help of towel-stuffed shirts and a diary app that tracks every stage of her “pregnancy,” the boundary between her lie and her life begins to dissolve.
Surreal and absurdist, and with a winning matter-of-factness, a light touch, and a refreshing sensitivity to mental health, Diary of a Void will keep you turning the pages to see just how far Ms. Shibata will carry her deception for the sake of women, and especially working mothers, everywhere.
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