Ms Ice Sandwich
Book review:
A charming coming-of-age story from Akutagawa Prize winning author Mieko Kawakami about a young boy’s adoration for a sandwich lady.
A 4th grade boy has a crush on the lady who sells sandwiches at the supermarket, who he nicknames Ms Ice Sandwich due to her cool demeanour and ice-blue eyelids. He goes to the supermarket and buys an egg sandwich every day of the summer holidays to try and catch a glimpse of her eyes. This novella revolves around the boy’s interactions with Ms Ice Sandwich, his relationships with his distant mother and elderly grandmother, and his budding friendship with classmate ‘Tutti’, as he learns about love, loss, and friendship.
Altogether a poignant, moving tale with an endearing central protagonist who is trying to make sense of the world around him. His internal monologue is very well-written and engaging – Louise Heal Kawai’s translation does a wonderful job at making his voice feel very authentic, with narration that is at once naïve and insightful. Being a primarily character-driven story, the plot may seem simplistic, but Mieko Kawakami touches on profound issues about growing up, the intricacies of relationships, dealing with changes in life, and moving on.
At only 92 pages, this delightful and heartwarming novella is a quick but worthwhile read.
Shelf: 913.6 KAW
Ms ice sandwich.
by Mieko Kawakami ; translated by Louise Heal Kawai.
London : Pushkin Press, 2018.
92 pages ; 20 cm.
First published in Japan in 2007.
Translated into English from the Japanese.
ISBN: 978-1-78227-330-1
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