Chapter One Hundred Ten: The Lake

The Lake is a fairly short novel by Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto.  I've read some of her work before, for one of my undergrad classes, and I enjoyed it then, so when I came across some of her novels in the library, I thought I'd check one out.  While the plot and characters are interesting, I think my favorite aspect of the book is actually Yoshimoto's writing style, or at least how her writing has been translated into English.  (Not speaking Japanese, I can't compare it to the original, of course.)  Her prose is not simple, but very straightforward and direct, clean and purposeful.  I'm not sure I'm describing it well, but I really enjoy the way she just says things without any fuss.  Of course, the main characters in The Lake, a new couple in their twenties, are interesting themselves, with their own quirks and, in the case of one of them, a mysterious and traumatic past.  The slow unveiling of that past as their relationship progresses is the main plot element to this story, and when the mystery is finally revealed, it is done right--it isn't overblown or corny, but believable and matter-of-fact.  I found this novel to be a very interesting read, and if you're looking for contemporary, realistic fiction, this would be an excellent choice.