Mermaid Incident
I have finished reading Michiko Aoyama's new book, "The Mermaid
Escaped."
This book is a nominee for the
2025 Japan Booksellers' Award,
marking a remarkable achievement
as it is Aoyama's fifth consecutive
nomination in five years.
The Mermaid Escaped
by Michiko Aoyama
Nominated for the Japan Booksellers' Award for four consecutive years!
What is the next step for the
author everyone is watching?
A masterpiece novel of maximum happiness!
<STORY> One weekend in March,
the phrase "The mermaid escaped"
started trending on social media.
Apparently, a mysterious young man
calling himself a "prince" is
wandering the streets of Ginza,
saying, "My mermaid has gone
away... she escaped.
To this place."
People are gradually becoming
interested in his puzzling behavior.
And behind this "mermaid incident,"
five men and women are reaching
a "turning point" in their lives.
A former talent turned office worker
dating a woman 12 years his senior,
a housewife shopping with her daughter,
a collector who was divorced by his wife
for being too obsessed with collecting art,
an author waiting for the results of a
literary award, and a hostess working
as a mama at a high-end club.
What unexpected fate awaits the five
people who visited Ginza?
And can the "prince" reunite with
his mermaid? Does a mermaid even
exist or not...
by Michiko Aoyama
From Amazon
First, the charm of this novel lies
in its unique worldview where reality
and fiction skillfully intersect.
Set in the streets of Ginza, it
depicts the turning points in the lives
of five characters, centered around
the mysterious event that trended on
social media: "The mermaid escaped."
As I read on, I felt a deep empathy
for the worries and hesitations of
each character. The problems they
each face—a former talent struggling
with a relationship with a lover 12
years his senior, a complex mother-daughter
relationship, a man who got divorced
because he was too obsessed with his
art collection—felt very real.
What was particularly impressive was
the depiction of the "misunderstandings"
between the characters.
Whether it's lovers, married couples,
or parent-child relationships, it was
heart-wrenching to see how relationships
become strained due to differences in
perspectives and perceptions, even though they care for each other.
The human relationships depicted with
Aoyama's delicate touch are relatable
to our daily lives, and reading it
became an opportunity for me to
re-examine my own relationships with
the people around me.
Also, the fairy tale "The Little Mermaid"
plays an important role in the story,
and I was freshly surprised by how
interpretations of the same story
differ from person to person.
This element adds depth to the work,
making one think about the essence
of fiction.
As the story progressed, the way the
foreshadowing was carefully resolved
was also pleasant, and I was able to
read it to the end without getting
bored.
In particular, I strongly empathized
with the parts depicting the feelings
of people who cherish their belongings.
The ending had an unexpected turn,
and the moment the true identity of
the "prince" and the existence of the
"mermaid" were revealed was truly breathtaking.
I felt that Michiko Aoyama's "The
Mermaid Escaped" is a wonderful work
that gently embraces our worries and
joys as we live in modern society,
and warmly depicts people standing at
turning points in their lives.
After finishing it, the world seemed
kinder, and I realized once again the
importance of human connections.
I am convinced that this book is a
heartwarming masterpiece that can be
recommended to a wide range of readers,
from beginners to experienced readers.
Kindle Edition
Audible Edition
………………
Self-introduction
I've come to like note❤️. More
#MyBookshelf
#Books
#Reading
#UnsolicitedBookRecommendations
#Audible
#MorningRoutine
#LifeReadingBooksOnAudible
#LifeListeningToBooks
#TheMermaidEscaped
#MichikoAoyama