Gush

by Yo Hemmi, Giles Murray (Translator)

In this collection of three deeply bizarre yet comedic novellas, Hemmi delicately interweaves delightful commentary with narratives contemplating the interconnectedness of life. The title story recounts the narrator’s relationship with a beautiful young woman who suffers from a mysterious condition that causes her body to fill with water, and only performing "shameful acts," like shoplifting imported cheeses or making love, allows the water to be released. But as summer wanes into fall and the waters run dry, their relationship develops a divergent sense of urgency that neither of them could have expected.

Imbued with the same magic and mystery, the other novellas follow two narrators’ extraordinary encounters with passing strangers. In "Night Caravan," a man embarks on a midnight journey in the company of two Vietnamese prostitutes and their pimp. Faced with fear and regret, they make their way through the night, blinking numbly at any light that dares shine down upon them. Finally, "Piano Wire" tells the story of how one family’s struggle with cleanliness and order is radically changed when a mysterious teacher shows up on their doorstep.

Genres: Japanese Literature, Short Stories, Fiction

184 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2010

Reviews

[Sae-chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first and third stories were quite intriguing, but there was not enough punch. As a whole, they came out pretty flat, which was disappointing as I think they were potentially very strong. If the point was to get the readers to make up their own version of the stories, maybe they were pretty successful. In any case, I felt I was overwhelmed with warm water and clutters.

The second one was supposed to be titled "Lice". That's all I have to say about it.

And the cover is super ugly.

[Katie C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

????? thought the short story would help me understand warm water under a red bridge more, it didn't really. but i kinda liked it, this idea of mutual dependency but then ... what happens when that need is gone?

third story was also really interesting. not sure what to make of it but many japanese short stories be like that

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. The only story I cared about was the title story, thanks to the movie “Warm Water Under a Red Bridge.” As with most cases, the book was better. Otherwise, eh.

[Tayler K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gush 2/5
Night Caravan 1/5
Piano Wire 4.5/5

Gush was okay, Night Caravan seemed useless, and Piano Wire was great. I feel like I might have been missing something with Night Caravan, but oh well. Piano Wire was just so good though and it felt different enough that I'm not sure why it was included in the same book as the others.
I'd decided reading the first two that I was going to get rid of the book, but now I'm not so sure... Just because I enjoyed Piano Wire.

Anyway. I wasn't really that interested in finishing the book, but I decided to plow through to be able to meet my reading challenge, and I'm glad! (Both for reading Piano Wire and for finishing my challenge.) On to 2014!

[Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what I expected from a book with the title Gush -- water for sure but certainly not the luridly intimate subject of the title story. Gush is three short stories, the gem of which is the final story, Piano Wire in which a family is influenced by a stranger. The middle story, Night Caravan had me reading with a curled lip the entire time for all its vulgarity.

[Lafcadio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stories. The first and third were pretty good. The middle story was like a co-worker explaining what they dreamed last night. For 45 minutes. It was just weird and rambling and nonsensical and boring. It was like a story where you had to be there, except you were there, and it's still boring.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]