Novelist Suzanne Kamata (Losing Kei, Leapfrog Press) finds within the pages of Goodbye Madame Butterfly a truth about Japanese society:

Japanese pundits wonder why the birth rate is falling. Perhaps, quite simply, Japanese husbands and wives need to learn how to relate to each other better, and to have more sex.

She reviewed our latest book on Her Circle Ezine, a site for and about the women of the world. We'd be remiss if we didn't also leave you with this quote:

Kawakami presents a frank portrait of Japanese women today, via these compulsively readable, expertly crafted essays. Further kudos should go to Yuko Enomoto for her seamless translation.