Publisher's Synopsis
Sumie Kawakami is an experienced and intelligent reporter who manages to get her subjects to bare their soulsand share their anxieties ina book I found hard to put down. ” —Jeff Kingston,The Japan Times
"Kawakami presents a frank portrait of Japanese women today, via thesecompulsively readable, expertly crafted essays. Further kudos should go to Yuko Enomoto for her seamless translation.” —Suzanne Kamata, author ofLosing Kei
“A tartly written, stereotype-blasting and beautifully made book.” —Roland Kelts, author ofJapanamerica
“Refreshingly intense” —Colleen Mondor,Bookslut
"Smart and lively and thoughtful and moving, like a good Studs Terkel without encyclopedic pretensions." —Daniel Handler, akaLemony Snicket, author of the best-sellingA Series of Unfortunate Events
“Full of rich details of contemporary Japan... in the end readers should understand why Madame Butterfly no longer exists. Or perhaps never existed at all.” —Todd Shimodaauthor ofThe Fourth Treasureand365 Views of Mt. Fuji
"Aneye-opening, detailed look at the private, intimate lives of Japanese women... This isan intelligent and authoritative work, covering everything from adultery to sex volunteers and the role of fortune tellers in Japanese romance. It is at once illuminating and entertaining, credible and so engrossing you will find it difficult to put down." —Robert Whiting, author ofTokyo Underworld,The Meaning of IchiroandYou Gotta Have Wa
Sumie Kawakami’sGoodbye Madame Butterflyis an intimate look at the sex lives of Japanese people from a female perspective. This groundbreaking work of nonfiction will shatter the myth of the pliant, coy Japanese woman and replace her with a complex, erotic, sexually charged and fiercely independent woman who struggles to find her place in a male-dominated society.
"Kawakami presents a frank portrait of Japanese women today, via thesecompulsively readable, expertly crafted essays. Further kudos should go to Yuko Enomoto for her seamless translation.” —Suzanne Kamata, author ofLosing Kei
“A tartly written, stereotype-blasting and beautifully made book.” —Roland Kelts, author ofJapanamerica
“Refreshingly intense” —Colleen Mondor,Bookslut
"Smart and lively and thoughtful and moving, like a good Studs Terkel without encyclopedic pretensions." —Daniel Handler, akaLemony Snicket, author of the best-sellingA Series of Unfortunate Events
“Full of rich details of contemporary Japan... in the end readers should understand why Madame Butterfly no longer exists. Or perhaps never existed at all.” —Todd Shimodaauthor ofThe Fourth Treasureand365 Views of Mt. Fuji
"Aneye-opening, detailed look at the private, intimate lives of Japanese women... This isan intelligent and authoritative work, covering everything from adultery to sex volunteers and the role of fortune tellers in Japanese romance. It is at once illuminating and entertaining, credible and so engrossing you will find it difficult to put down." —Robert Whiting, author ofTokyo Underworld,The Meaning of IchiroandYou Gotta Have Wa
Sumie Kawakami’sGoodbye Madame Butterflyis an intimate look at the sex lives of Japanese people from a female perspective. This groundbreaking work of nonfiction will shatter the myth of the pliant, coy Japanese woman and replace her with a complex, erotic, sexually charged and fiercely independent woman who struggles to find her place in a male-dominated society.
