Baachan

by Sharnie Fenn

A vulnerable and uplifting memoir about the author, Sharnie Fenn, and her sassy Japanese grandmother, Baachan, and how her life-changing advice helped her navigate growing up Japanese-Australian and overcoming her crippling identity crisis, healing from an abusive relationship and learning how to find her voice and to live shamelessly. In this raw and emotional anecdote, Sharnie finds herself stuck and defeated. She was a healthy 25-year-old who at times, wanted nothing but to change places with her arthritis-ridden, widowed Baachan because she radiated with life. During their phone calls and her visits to Japan, Sharnie noted down the thought-provoking advice and powerful words of encouragement that Baachan would casually slip between conversations in an attempt to absorb her mindset. Between gossip about her elderly neighbours or recent news about the Japanese Emperor, Baachan never failed to pass important life lessons about family, letting go, seeking help, life partners and on being alone. What makes Baachan so alluring is that behind the gentle, frail Japanese grandmother, there was once a girl who survived World War II, a girl who single handedly cared for her disabled mother, a teenager who dropped out of school and worked tirelessly to bring home enough rice, a woman who lost her husband to terminal cancer and now lives all alone in a two-storey, creaking home, content . At 84-years-old, she still paints her nails bright pink even though she isn’t going anywhere and eats chocolate-covered strawberries in bed and despite the heartbreaks and tragedies of her life, is happy . Complete with family photos, cute illustrations of Baachan, an insight into interesting Japanese traditions and culture, and beautiful Japanese proverbs, Baachan is a heartfelt book that resonates, inspires and uplifts.

Genres: Nonfiction

203 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2023

Reviews

[Bea Lima · Rating 5 out of 5]

glad my sis finds amazing books i can read afterwards - this warmed my heart

[Rolando Orlando · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me of my mom and helped me get through her recent passing.

[Arjun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Baachan”- Grandma in Japanese is a beautiful novel , an ode to a grandmother by her granddaughter! Sharnie Fenn , the author who in her mid 20s has tried to list down how her humble grandma who grew up in World war 2 Japan has held the entire family together! Some of the meaningful life tips that I would take from this book are as follows :
1. Welcome those who enter your life and stay in your life , but do not chase after those who decide to leave your life willingly !

2. There are 3 things that each of us should be capable of saying at any point of time : Arigatou ( meaning thank you), gommenasai ( meaning sorry) and tasukete kudasai (asking for help - you’re never alone)

3. Seek the right company ; birds of a feather flock together

4. Kotodama- meaning that Words have magical power ; voice out positive nice thoughts about people ( even the smallest of comments on the tiniest of things can impact someone’s lives positively and positively impact their day)

5. Belief of Japanese Shintoism that God is in every thing around us including the air we breathe , the food we eat etc.. the people whom we lose are not lost forever - they just merge with everything around us! You can find them if you know where to look !

6. Traits to look for in good partners - respect to each other , empathy , listening ability, strong moral compass , passion/ hobby which shows zeal for life

7. Ageing is the natural way of life - accept it, embrace it. Whole heartedly ! Find your ikigai (purpose) ; it doesn’t have to be very grand ! It should stir you to wake up everyday ! It can change with age as well - basis your mobility and body !!

Being the 1st book to finish in this new year , I would definitely recommend this soul nourishing book to everyone who want to know the secret for a happy life from an 80 year old Japanese grandmom who has lived a wonderful life !

[Marz Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Almost) me, reading Baachan at the coffee shop:

Her friends moan defeatedly, “My hands are too wrinkly. They make rings and bracelets look bad. I’m not worthy of beautiful things anymore”. “No” Baachan tells them, gently but very firmly. She picks out a ring from her collection and slides it onto their rubbery finger. She points at the web of deep trenches running down the back of her friend’s hands. “You’ve hugged and held and pushed and applauded and pinched and played and loved so much with these hands. (…) There is no one more worthy of beautiful things than you”

All you need to know is that this is a book about a young woman and her family, particularly her grandma ('Baachan' in Japanese), and that it might just make you feel less alone.
And it's also a book to feel for people you don't even know.
Baachan's life lessons are so good, her life is so interesting, and I found myself wishing Sharnie (the author, Baachan's granddaughter) and her family all the best in the future.

Also, look at Baachan! She's an icon:

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was nostalgic for me as a fellow half Japanese Australian. I drew a lot of parallels, down to my own Baachan living in Sendai. I grow sad for her now, she has dementia and isn't as social as she once was. Her house was once a lighthouse in her community and now it feels the shine is leaving :(
This book brought me joy and familiarity in being able to relate with the author's experiences in identity, held between two cultures and the safety net of love from her family. Thank you for writing this Sharnie.

[Ananya Pande · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and heartwarming. I’m literally sobbing 😭😭

[Giulia Gandolfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite book

[Alejandra Ce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Un favorito del año.

Natural y autentico. Sobre baachan, su abuela.
Que bella manera de enaltecer a tu familia con este libro, lleno de amor y una narrativa bella de su historia, su manera de ver la vida y de ser.

Disfrute que la conocimos atraves de sus enseñanzas de vida que se quedan en mi, de proverbios japoneses llevados a la accion, de sus risas y su corazon tan puro. Lindo conocer sobre Japon de esta manera tan cercana.