N.P

A young woman named Saki, still grieving, joins a group connected to a lost book. The novel follows the manuscript of N.P., a collection of ninety-eight stories by Sarao Takase, an author who killed himself and whose work has been translated by several people who also died. Saki, drawn into the circle of Takase's family, meets his children Otohiko and Sui and begins to feel the pull of the book. Yoshimoto writes in her light, dreamy style about grief, kinship and the strange gravity of a text.

Readers who enjoy contemporary Japanese fiction with a hint of the uncanny will find it quick and atmospheric. It suits those who like novels about love, loss and the way a single book can shape lives.

Inward-looking and thought-provoking; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?