Vanishing World

by Sayaka Murata

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TW: Pregnancy, pedophilia, miscarriage, suicide attempt, sexual assault

A strange, interesting, and introspective book. In Vanishing World, Amane is born into a world were artificial insemination is the ‘normal’ way to have children. She consideres the differences between her birth and others, and as she grows up observes the changing customs. The world she finds herself in is strange and Amane shows us into it.

In totality, this book is a large conversation (it comprises many conversations between couples, friends, and family). As the characters abstain from many aspects of life we think are ‘normal’, like sex, romantic relationships, and even basic community, the text itself reflects this. It’s filled with repetitive conversation and not a lot of action. I think this was a strength to the novel as we see the world through the characters' opinions, and, when action is taken, it highlights how extreme and, in a way, uncanny everything is. 

For a novel about sex and relationships, the language used is detached and hard to connect to. Amane, though, breaks through that language and the monotone life she leads. As we grow up with her, we see many renditions of love, both emotional and physical even if she doesn’t describe it that way. As Amane and her husband migrate to a supercity with an even newer concept of living, the changes in both of them feel jarring. Murata is always excellent at making the strange begin to feel normal and then making the situation even stranger. 

If you've read anything by Murata, you know she goes to lengths and places not expected or, like Amane, extreme. Vanishing World does not disappoint. This shows the end of a world (multiple, really) and the new one taking its place. Again, even in the new world Amane grew up in, we see even a newer one taking shape in the futuristic city. In both, we can see reflections of the world we live in. That blatant style highlights the strangeness of everything. 

Even though earlier I said not a lot happens, the end finishes in the midst of a confrontation of sorts and leaves all sorts of thoughts and questions, as does many other Murata novels. That high leaves the reader edged, dare I say? 

It’s uncomfortable and strange, Murata’s books tend to be both. I’m not sure it completely convinced me of its plight, but days later, I'm still thinking about this read. 

Further reading:

Any other books by Murata. If you want more outrageous and scary, read Earthlings. If you want more ‘tame’ but still compelling read Convenience Store Woman.

Quotes:

“When you and a friend were both in love with the same character, it brought you closer together.”

“Sex was disappearing. My mother’s world was already vanishing. Serves her right, I thought. The world was changing fast. I found that change refreshing.”

“A new world was being imprinted in me. Like a newborn baby, I had absorbed everything in the world in front of me and had steadily become human. Even now I was still absorbing the world around me. And I was transforming into a person who took the shape of this world.”

Thank you to Grove Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

SPOILER THOUGHTS

Although, I was hooked at the beginning, I’m not quite sure what to think of the book as a whole, considering the ending. The parts with the city and beyond didn’t feel like they fit with everything before; maybe it was just my sadness about Amane’s depression. And the ending with the Kodomo-chan, I could see what she was doing, but overall I just wanted more. It didn’t feel complete in a way. It felt like Amane was too far gone into the world, like she was disappearing into the city and everything there. Maybe that’s the point.