First published 2024
In May 1938, Japanese novelist Aoyama Chizuko arrives in Taiwan after sailing from Nagasaki. The colonial government has invited her to the island, but she ignores their official events and imperialist ceremonies. Chizuko wants to explore authentic Taiwanese life and satisfy her enormous appetite for local food. The authorities assign her a young Taiwanese interpreter named Chizuru, who shares the same characters in her name. Chizuru proves charming, scholarly, and precise. She organizes Chizuko's journeys across the island and cooks exceptional meals. During train trips and shared dishes of braised pork rice, over conversations and cups of winter melon tea, Chizuko falls for her companion. She tries to bridge the gap between them, but Chizuru maintains careful distance. Only after they separate does Chizuko understand the forces that kept them apart. This novel examines how colonial power shapes even the most personal connections between two women.
Genres: romance, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, asian-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Taiwan, Nagasaki
Period: 1938
298 pages · Paperback · Graywolf Press
Content warnings: colonialism