The Enlightenment of Katzuo Nakamatsu by Augusto Higa Oshiro

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What to say, what to say?

I follow a blog called roughghosts and in a cosmic coincidence, they posted about this book on June 15th. I bought a copy of The Enlightenment on June 1st. Along with about four other Archipelago titles (I have an addiction to their square format, I need help!)

It made me totally thrilled to learn that this blog I respect quite a lot had posted about a book I’d independently selected – it is like your university English lecturer saying you have good taste in books!

So I obviously had to try to ignore the post, read the book and then read the post to see if I was smart enough to ‘get’ the book and if so how much – or should I just throw myself in the sea? We shall see.

I haven’t read a book that takes words and makes them so damn stunning, whilst simultaneously being one of the most depressing books I’ve read. Not in a long time. Not since Fernando Pessoa’s The Book of Disquiet. And that tracks because they’re both poets. In places it was quite a triggering read for that reason because it really captures that hollow feeling at the core of being human.

I got a lot of biblical vibes with this one. The Nebuchadnezzar parallel. Maybe that’s just me. 

That coupled with the introduction of wildness, the madness of birds. I loved it. A really nice read. A little bleak, but I was in the mood for it. I think it could probably do with a more interesting plot overall, but this is more an experience read really.

I’m not writing an essay on the book, but I did get real suggestions of depth here that mean that I’ll probably revisit it again in future. I love finding books I can be sure will offer more with each read!