A Pale VIew Of Hills

Finished reading the book in a single sitting from morning till evening while I was in Phuket.

Was discussing the book with Jados. Telling her that the book was like umami.

So tasty but just cannot explicitly describe it. Yet when it is gone, the taste seem so transient as if it was never there.

Was contemplating the main themes of the book. I suppose the book was trying to link the parallels and opposites of the characters and their experiences. As well as the changing of the Japanese psyche of "obligations", especially in the relationship between the first husband and the father-in-law of the narrator, Etsuko.

It is possible that Sachiko's life after leaving for America is paralleled by Etsuko's life after moving to England. There are opposites too in terms of the type of husband each of the women had in their first and second marriage. The drunkard American 2nd husband of Sachiko reminded me of another character in another of Kazuo's novel - Sir Cecil of When We Were Orphans. But then again, Sachiko reminded me of Miss Sarah Hemmings anyway.

This probably won't make much sense to you unless you have read the books.