Emi Yagi’s debut novel blurs the lines between reality and fiction to tackle the insidious presence of workplace misogyny
By Jasmine Ball
‘How many other imaginary children were there in the world? And where were they now? What were they doing? I hope they were leading happy lives.’ This sentiment left a lasting impression on me when I read the short novel Diary of a void in one sitting.
Diary of a void is Emi Yagi’s 2020 debut novel and was awarded the 2020 Osamu Dazai Prize for its penetrating look at working life and gender role expectations in Japan. At its heart, it examines the extreme measures that women in the workforce are driven to in order to achieve social equality. Diary of a Void has been widely received by international audiences who resonate with the universal subject matter of women overcoming workplace misogyny and outdated gender stereotypes. Its satirical style alone is worth the read, but its twist is what keeps you second guessing.
Lucy North and David Boyd handled Diary of a void’s English translation. North also translated the Japanese novel Convenience store woman by Sayaka Murata, which similarly follows a woman in a work environment tackling a conformist society and marital ideals. North incorporates her own flare and style into the translation, rendering both books with an eery sense of familiarity. If you liked Murata’s Convenience store woman, Ottessa Moshfegh’s My year of rest and relaxation or Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the coffee gets cold, this quick read is worth your time …
This review is an excerpt. To read the full article, pick up a copy of the October 2022 print version for free at either the RMIT Student Union in Building 8 on Swanston St or the lobby of Building 94 on Cardigan St.
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