Gifted
“Gifted” by Suzumi Suzuki is a poignant exploration of a daughter’s final days with her mother, set against the backdrop of Tokyo’s red-light district. Published by Transit Books in 2024, this edition comprises 120 pages and is presented in English. The narrative draws on Suzuki’s own experiences, offering a nuanced portrayal of the complexities faced by women navigating an industry often overlooked in literary fiction.
Readers will find an intimate account of the protagonist’s dual existence as she balances her role as a caregiver to her abusive mother while engaging with the realities of her life as a sex worker. The story delves into the emotional and economic negotiations that define her world, highlighting the fragile connections that exist amid the chaos. “Gifted” provides a frank depiction of the struggles and resilience of women in contemporary Japan, making it a significant addition to the discourse on women’s experiences in literature.
Official synopsis Publisher
A subtle and intimate accounting of a daughter’s final days with her mother, set amid the rush of Tokyo’s red-light district.
Drawing on her own experiences as a hostess and adult film actor, Gifted–Suzumi Suzuki’s first novel to be translated into English–offers a nuanced, frank, and intimate portrayal of the lives of a mother and daughter getting by (or not) in an industry rarely depicted authentically in literary fiction.
In the last days of her mother’s life, a young woman living in Tokyo’s red-light district is thrust into a split existence. By day, she negotiates her new role as caregiver of an abusive parent. By night, she drifts home from the hospital, goes out with other sex-workers, thinks about quitting smoking, and numbly remembers Eri, a friend who died the summer before. Her sensitivity to the details of her surroundings grounds an otherwise unstable world, one where each interaction requires a subtle negotiation of economic and sexual power, and proximity rarely means intimacy or connection. Gifted was nominated for the 167th Akutagawa Prize in 2022.
FAQ
What is “Gifted” about?
Who is the author of “Gifted”?
When was “Gifted” published?
What is the ISBN for “Gifted”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
