My Falling Down House

by Jayne Joso

After losing his job and his home, a young Japanese man seeks refuge in a wood and paper house. He attempts to reconstruct his identity, but with only a cat and a cello for company, and the menacing presence of a shapeshifter (yokai), his ability to hold on to his sanity disintegrates. Recipient of the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Award.

188 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2016

Reviews

[Elsa Evans]

It’s a gentle thought provoking book. The story encouraged me to take a view on homelessness. Not just what caused someone to become homeless but also the response to that situation. Identity is another aspect but it came about quite late in the story, and in the author’s Afterword.

[Angela Lewis]

Imaginative tale, the man who existed within four walls of cardboard reinforcements with Cat and Cello and planted himself. Four seasons of his exile in a Tokyo residence are told in this unusual story.

[Philippa]

A gentle book that calls you to live in the moment.

[Anne Goodwin]

After losing his job, home, and girlfriend in the financial crisis, Takeo Tanaka becomes a squatter in an abandoned and dilapidated house on the outskirts of Tokyo. Perhaps because it’s a traditional house, constructed of clay and straw and bamboo, or perhaps because of his own disappointment with modernity, Takeo resolves to live simply, and alone.
Full review
Two novels about young men’s journey into Otherness http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/1/post/...

[Lyndsy]

Beautiful, mesmerising and intricately honest. This delved deep into the changing psyche of a Japanese man that has lost his world. Post tsunami, Takeo Tanaka looses his job, home and girlfriend.

What we perceive as those all important life goals is examined, emotionally deconstructed and philosophically analysed as he seeks refuge in an unoccupied house that he became enamoured with.

This is a novel of identity, social acceptance and evolution when the world as we know becomes void. His retreat from society slowly changes his mindset, explores his self worth and ultimately forces him to look inwards.

I have to say, I really enjoyed this! Not my usual choice in literature, but the fresh, raw and sometimes dark review of life really added depth and Takeo as a character was a welcome protaganist that we can all relate to! Told entirely from Takeo's own thoughts, the fluidity, style and rhythmic prose really does suck you in an abstract, fly-on-the-wall way! Humbling and heartfelt, this will emotionally explore your core values and challenge your perception of inner strength and resilience.