多摩川物語

by Durian Sukegawa

映画撮影所の小道具係を辞めようかと悩む隆之さん、客の少ない食堂で奮闘する継治さん、月明かりのアパートで母をしのぶ良美さん……。　多摩川の岸辺の街を舞台に繰り広げられる心温まる人生のドラマ。　収録作品は「黒猫のミーコ」「三姉妹」「明滅」「本番スタート！」「台風のあとで」「花丼」「越冬」「月明かりの夜に」の全８篇。　名もなき人びとの輝ける瞬間が胸を打つ、珠玉の連作短篇集。

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2014

About the author

Durian Sukegawa studied oriental philosophy at Waseda University, before going on to work as a reporter in Berlin and Cambodia in the early 1990s. He has written a number of books and essays, TV programmes and films. He lives in Tokyo.

Source: Oneworld Publications

Reviews

[kira]

I started this book at the same time that I started my internship, which is an hour long commute one-way. even though I probably won't reread it, it'll probably stay with me purely through this association with the start of a new chapter of my life. the switching of protgonists each chapter reminds me of the library mejidorai bookclub one, so reflected a bit on each chapter as I read them

黒猫のミーコ
this made me so sad... the poor woman stuck in an unhappy marriage with a dropkick husband and her cat dies... it's nice that she found out that the cat also touched other people's hearts and lives, but still sad

三姉妹
ok this was cute. kind of weird how he would imagine going on dates with all of the sisters but I guess he's just a human. cute that he might have a chance with the sister that he imagined vibing with the most who also turned out to be the chef of the 煮物 that he's been smelling all this time

明滅
this was another cute chapter. the thing about making memories with friends being more fun than whatever thing you actually do with the friend, especially before they move away, hit close to home. I smiled everytime マル君 said 「かっちゃん」, even though this character is completely different from the かっちゃん that I know

本番スタート！
perspective really is everything, I guess. people are likely to have regrets about certain parts of their lives

台風のあとで
this was equal parts sad and heart-warming. again, perspective is everything. it's understandable why the parents don't want him to hang out with homeless people, but the things that he learnt from them objectively benefited his life, and he has no other friends...

花丼
this was cute. frustrating how he enjoys spending time with the woman from the first chapter but she's stuck with her deadbeat husband! the 花丼 was cute, and it was nice of the billboard painter to make him new signs (without even asking, though?)

越冬
😭😭😭 sometimes life is hard but loved ones can make it better

月明かりの夜に
bro wtf not this making me cry on a rush hour train. the part where the mum the the doll out of the window was so funny. I am genuinely so grateful every day to have good relationships with my parents