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This was another gift from my friend Jeff and it was much appricciated as well. Probably the
first question you want to know is ... What does N.P. mean or stand for? It's a good question and
I think it is best explained by the author herself through her characters:
"What's the book called, anyway? Some initials or something?"
"N.P."
"What does that stand for?"
"North Point."
"North Point? I don't get it."
"It's the title of an old song."
"What kind of song?"
"A very sad one," he replied.
NOTE: All quotes are copyright © 1990 by Banana Yoshimoto. English
translation copyright © 1994 by Ann Sherif. Typos and grammatical errors copyright ©
2000-2024 Monica Hübinette.
N.P. (Paperback)
Author: Banana Yoshimoto, Ann Sherif --
Published: Mar 1995 --
Format: Paperback
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 Amazon.com Price: $10.20
-- List Price: $12.00
-- Save: $1.80 (15%)
-- In stock soon (Order now to reserve a copy)
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 Amazon UK Price:
-- Limited availability
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DESCRIPTION:
In the wake of a celebrated Japanese author's suicide, the publication of his final collection
of stories, written in English, becomes thwarted when its translators also decide to kill
themselves after reading it.
MONICA'S REVIEW:
N.P. is a collection of 97 stories that were written (and published) in English by an unhappy
Japanese man, Sarao Takase. He was working on his 98th story when he suddenly took his own
life at 48 years of age. The translation of the stories into Japanese was taken up by another
Japanese man, Shoji, and when he got to the 98th story, he too tragically took his own life.
The manuscript was left with his much younger girlfriend, Kazami Kano, and Banana's novel is
told through her eyes. Kazami finds out what the 98th story is really about and she must deal
with the affects that story and Takase family have on her.
I am always a little creeped out when I read this book because the version of N.P. that
I am reading has been translated from Japanese to English. I often wonder as I read it if
Banana purposefully wrote it, knowing that it would be translated into English one day.
Somehow, I think she did. Eventually, it gets hard to distinguish reality and fiction as
Banana weaves the two together magically. Banana also touches on subjects that most people
avoid ... incest, love, lesbianism, telepathy, occult, religion, and so on. It makes for a
very compelling and thought provoking piece of literature to read.
OTHER EDITIONS:
There is also an edition available in a French
translation from Amazon Canada®.
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N.P. (Hardcover)
Author: Banana Yoshimoto, Ann Sherif --
Published: Mar 1994 --
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon.com Price:
-- This item is currently not available.
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Amazon UK Price:
-- Limited availability
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DESCRIPTION:
In the wake of a celebrated Japanese author's suicide, the publication of his final collection
of stories, written in English, becomes thwarted when its translators also decide to kill
themselves after reading it.
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Favorite Quotes
Information · Book Reviews ·
Interviews
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I came to see the array of colors that lay behind words. [...] It was then that I first felt
a deep curiosity about language, and understood it as a tool that encompasses both a single
moment and eternity.
--Clarity comes to Kazami after she loses her voice as a teenager--
From the moment we met, I was a butterfly that flew into that space that was his soul
[...]
--Kazami explains the affect she had on Shoji--
She didn't say anything in response, but just smiled sweetly. That smile entranced me, and
made my heart feel pure.
--Kazami's thoughts after meeting Saki Takase--
Her gaze was absolutely pure and transparent, like Sirius sparkling high up in the dark
night sky, like a good dry martini beaming with pure light inside a cocktail glass.
--Kazami's first impression of Sui Minowa--
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