Amrita

It is the trademark of Banana Yoshimoto to translate the strange and abnormal into familiarity, and in Amrita, this is no different; the reader is introduced to a series of strange events from Yoshio, Yoshio's friends, and Ryuichiro's friends. Although the term clairvoyance is used, the word does not fully capture the true essence of these characters' abilities. It is more accurate to describe their abilities as one would describe folk deities and spirits, thus, the story is in many aspects a modern shinto tale. The collective effect of this narrative is a sense of 'flow' where the reader is led through event after event linked by Sakumi's stream of consciousness.

The writing style is unique and enjoyable. I get the feeling that Banana Yoshimoto transplants Sakumi's amnesia to the readers through a non-linear introduction of characters and events. Many times I found myself referring back furiously trying to recall a seemingly off-handed remark, that turned up to have greater significance later in the plot. Information is also slipped into different parts of the story, making it difficult to remember where exactly one has read a particular detail about a character. This writing style makes the story quietly seductive allowing the reader to drift from one event to another, from one scene to another, captivated by the vivid descriptions of Sakumi's experience and the realistic depictions of human drama that feels very familiar. Then, at key junctures, Banana Yoshimoto turns around and reminds the reader that a little tidbit of information that the reader might have overlooked, hence, drawing a connection between the reader and Sakumi by depicting a sense of novelty mixed with familiarity.

Another strength of the novel is the richness of its characters. Banana Yoshimoto's sharp observation on the human condition allows her to serve up the psyche of the characters in the thick, confusing, way that our thoughts often interweave with each other. And yet, it is served with her subtle insight into those complex thoughts, which provides the reader with a sense of intellectual therapy.