Under Kawakami’s subtle hand, Tsukiko’s willingness to follow Sensei’s particular instructions lends a sense of believability to the overall story which frames Tsukiko’s more ghost-like tale. Through the novella’s languid pacing and characterization, it seems natural that she would tell this story—revealed to be personal and mysterious—to Sensei. The author impressively makes effective use of the short novella form to convey a world of detail.

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