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31.Aug.2009 Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara

Filed In: Kanehara, Hitomi

9780099483670Snakes and Earrings is a novella by young contemporary Japanese author which won the Akutagawa prize (a prestigious literary award in Japan). The front of the book states it as a cult-classic in Japan. I can understand why. The book is bold in carrying the darker issues of Japanese youths: body modification (split tongue, gigantic earrings), tattoos, and sadomasochism, to name a few. I was surprised there was no drugs, only lots of beers, and sex. Like many Japanese books, it discusses issues that revolve around loneliness and desperation, the unwillingness to live and the view of death as solution.

I’m not sure if I really “got” it. Their world seemed a bit too far off for me. I was intrigued by the details of tattooing and body modification that the book covers for a bit, but I wasn’t fond of the characters. The setting felt very Japanese, with details like buying hair bleach from a 24-hour convenience store and “companion” job for young girls (they basically need to look pretty and pour drinks for high corporate workers). So the book does have some interesting bits, but the main storyline felt a bit shallow. It reminded me of Banana Yoshimoto’s books. Most probably because the authors were both young and they wrote about young Japanese people and their problems.
Kanehara H

Do prepare for a rough ride. You know how Japan is a world of two extremes? Old and new, reserved and outrageous, polite and crazy. Well, Snakes and Earrings is the darker extreme. The book however, is very short, so most probably it would finish before it disturbs you.

Hitomi Kanehara moved out of home when she was 11 and dropped out of high school when she was 15. She then regularly emailed her stories to her father — a literary professor. Honestly I can’t imagine writing this kind of book and have my dad read it.

I think this book could easily be semi-autobiographical. The back of the book shows her picture with various sizes of earrings on one ear, which the main character has as well. The heroine is also described as “barbie-girl” and has lived away from home since young.

3 stars
2003 (Japanese), 2005 (English), 128 pp

Award
2003 Akutagawa Prize

Also reviewed by
booklit | Book Haven | In Spring It is the Dawn | Bookphilia

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There are 26 Comments to "Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara"

  • Book Awards Challenge III | Books of Mee says:
    31 August 2009 at 10:22 pm

    [...] Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (finished 08/09, ) 2003 Akutagawa Prize [...]

    Reply
  • R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IV | Books of Mee says:
    31 August 2009 at 10:26 pm

    [...] Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara [...]

    Reply
  • Michelle says:
    31 August 2009 at 10:38 pm

    This does sound a little like Ryu Murakami’s book which I just read. But with Ryu’s book written quite some time ago, this book you’re mentioning here might relate a lot better to the darker side of modern day Japan.

    It’s interesting how you said that this book doesn’t mention drugs at all, because in Ryu’s book, I think the main theme was drug use, as exemplified also by the title Almost Transparent Blue which depicts hallucinations when on drugs.

    I actually might like to have a look at this book.

    Reply
  • Japanese Literature Challenge 3 | Books of Mee says:
    31 August 2009 at 10:38 pm

    [...] Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (finished 08/09, ) [...]

    Reply
  • Nymeth says:
    31 August 2009 at 11:14 pm

    Hmm..I’m not sure if I’ll ever get around to reading this, but I’m intrigued. Especially because I know nothing about that side of Japanese culture.

    Reply
  • Suko says:
    1 September 2009 at 1:49 am

    Thanks for an interesting review, Mee. This is making me more eager to get the books I ordered for the JLC-3–oh when will they arrive?!

    (P.S. It will be interesting to see how real life Japan does under new leadership.)

    Reply
  • Misty says:
    1 September 2009 at 2:16 am

    Yeah, I wasn’t sure I “got it” either. A lot of it felt like shock tactics to me, and because I am no stranger to piercings/tattoos/scarifications, the shock thing didn’t really happen. Maybe something was lost in translation.
    Her life is pretty crazy, though. And I don’t think I would want my dad anywhere near this book had I written it, let alone emailing him bits as I go. Weird.

    Reply
  • mee says:
    1 September 2009 at 9:35 pm

    Michelle: I’d be interested to see how you compare their works.

    Nymeth: Yes it does open your eyes to part of the world or sub-culture that you would otherwise know nothing about.

    Suko: What books did you order? Well I’m just gonna have to wait for your reviews, won’t I?

    Misty: Lol exactly. Well Japanese is famous for being weird. The details of body modifications were pretty interesting to me. Weren’t exactly shocking, more like intriguing. Like for example I never realized that you shouldn’t gain weight much if you have tattoo because it can stretch and look horrible (Wonder what happens if you get a lot skinnier. I guess it would look horrible too). Then the different sizes of earrings with the gauge numbers. The little things that people don’t usually think about.

    Reply
  • Bellezza says:
    2 September 2009 at 10:24 am

    Reading your review reminds me of what I’ve read in Yakuza Moon; it’s the true story of the underworld in Japan’s gangs/warlords/drugs. I don’t normally associate those things with Japan, but apparently, they’re there as in any culture.

    Reply
  • mee says:
    2 September 2009 at 10:05 pm

    Yes even their covers are kinda similar. I was thinking to read Yakuza Moon, but wasn’t very sure. Snakes and Earrings is very thin so I figured even if I didn’t like it it would finish quickly. Now I don’t think I could digest another of such book in short period of time. I need a gap.

    I am actually waiting for your review of Yakuza Moon since I’ve seen the cover on your sidebar for a while.

    Reply
  • anothercookiecrumbles says:
    3 September 2009 at 2:02 am

    The cover is gorgeous, in a weird cultish way. It sounds intriguing, so I’d definitely like to give it a shot at some point – specially, if it’s thin!

    Reply
  • iliana says:
    3 September 2009 at 11:45 am

    I’m really intrigued by this one! Especially as you said it sort of reminded you of Banana Yoshimoto. I still haven’t picked up a book for the Japanese reading challenge and was contemplating a Murakami or Yoshimoto but I may have to add this author to my list!

    Reply
  • Mark David says:
    3 September 2009 at 4:08 pm

    I’ve watched the film but haven’t read the book. To be honest with you, I only watched it because of the actress that starred in it. I think she’s really pretty. And for that reason, I got even more disturbed by the “sadomasochistic” scenes in the film. This is definitely not a story that most people would be able to handle. I almost couldn’t. But I have to admit that Kanehara has this brilliance that lies in her bold but rather insightful depiction of perversion.

    Reply
  • Mark David says:
    3 September 2009 at 4:13 pm

    Oh nice review, by the way. I also felt that it must be semi-autobiographical. If you look at pictures of Kanehara, she does look like the outgoing, free-spirited “fashion victim” (as the term used in the movie) who despite her prettiness is also inclined to experiment. Perhaps the character or the character’s story is something she at one time envisioned herself going through. I guess we all get to imagine our dark side at least once in our lives.

    Reply
  • mee says:
    5 September 2009 at 9:55 pm

    anothercookiecrumbles: I definitely like the cover too! Yeap if you’re intrigued I think it’s worth giving it a shot.

    iliana: I do need to emphasize that this book contains ’strong’ contents that would never be in Banana Yoshimoto’s books (well, not in the two that I’ve read anyway). If you’ve never read Murakami, I’d recommend to start with him, since his works are easily the most likable for majority of readers.

    Mark David: I didn’t know there’s a film based on the book! *squeal* I always look for movie adaptation of books I read, so I’m definitely going to look for this one. The actress sure is pretty! I watched the trailer and I’m not sure if I could stomach all those piercings. I’m a bit squeamish about it, and of course the other disturbing scenes, s&m and whatnot. I am glad though, that there’s an author that could carry these strong contents in relatively stylish manner. And I completely agree with what you said about Kanehara. Looking at what she looks like makes the book so much more believable.

    Reply
  • Mel U says:
    21 September 2009 at 6:51 pm

    I bought this book on impulse at the recent Manila International Book Fair-it was my goal to buy a number of books by Japanese authors-to me this book is worth reading as your investment of time is low. I think it was first printed in a magazine or newspaper. I also enjoyed the little details about tattoos and tongue piercings- your review is, as always, very perceptive

    Would you go out of your way to read a second book by Kanehara?

    Reply
    • mee says:
      21 September 2009 at 8:48 pm

      I enjoyed the little details about the tattoos and tongue piercing/splitting too since there aren’t many books that discuss those obscure topics. Yes I think I’d like to read a second book by her. Not any book by her, but I’m definitely intrigued by Autofiction – which is pretty thin as well. How about you?

      Reply
  • Mel u says:
    21 September 2009 at 9:16 pm

    I just read the Amazon.com reviews of her second work in English-Autofiction-yes I would read it for sure-it is alsoa short novel and would not be a big time consumer-her world is kind of a counter balance to that of Banana Yoshimoto-

    Reply
  • tanabata says:
    22 September 2009 at 12:14 am

    I didn’t realize this had been made into a film either! Interesting point comparing it to Banana Yoshimoto. I’ve often felt Yoshimoto’s books, the couple that I’ve read, somewhat shallow too. Like you said maybe it’s just because we can’t entirely relate. Anyway, it’s been so long since I read this it was nice to read your thoughts on it. Thanks for the review.

    Reply
    • mee says:
      23 September 2009 at 9:17 am

      I needed to clarify more when I compared it with Yoshimoto’s books before, because though I found the “shallowness” somewhat similar, the topics they covered are completely different. (Like what Mel U and I discussed above)

      Reply
  • Lost in Translation Challenge | Books of Mee says:
    25 September 2009 at 9:17 pm

    [...] Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (translated from Japanese, finished 08/09, ) [...]

    Reply
  • Orbis Terrarum Challenge 2009 | Books of Mee says:
    25 September 2009 at 9:21 pm

    [...] of the country 8) Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie (Pakistan) (finished 08/09, rating 3/5) x) Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (Japan) (finished 08/09, rating 3/5) 9) Silk by Alessandro Baricco (Italy) (finished 09/09, rating [...]

    Reply
  • R.I.P. IV Challenge Wrap-up | Books of Mee says:
    2 November 2009 at 7:55 pm

    [...] Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (urban gothic) [...]

    Reply
  • Book Awards Challenge III Completed! | Books of Mee says:
    28 November 2009 at 4:42 pm

    [...] Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (finished 08/09, ) 2003 Akutagawa Prize [...]

    Reply
  • Orbis Terrarum Wrap-up | Books of Mee says:
    10 January 2010 at 8:05 pm

    [...] Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata (finished 03/09, rating 3/5) Snakes and Earrings by Hitomi Kanehara (finished 08/09, rating 3/5) Strangers by Taichi Yamada (finished 09/09, rating 2.5/5) I Am a Cat [...]

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