Abstract

A striking collection of short stories about love, loss, sexuality, and survival through the eyes of women who have lost love.

Bitter yet beautiful—these tales explore sorrow and madness. From “A Man Like Water,” about empty days with a formless man, to “Like Ginger Ale,” a night with a nameless lover, “Luke-warm Ramune,” the quiet pain of a fading romance, and “Drinking Bones,” the haunting story of a wife consuming her late husband’s ashes—seven stories in all.

The book traces Chiren Kina’s evolution as a writer, capturing the thrill of love, the anguish of loss, and the pain of swallowing sorrow. A glimpse of ultimate love and madness—sometimes, tasting sorrow is part of life, and it may one day become the very substance that keeps you alive.

Author’s Information

Born in 1987 in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. In 2009, while still a university student, she wrote the short story Toketara Shibonda. (It Melted and Shriveled), which won the Excellence Award at the 9th R-18 Literary Prize for Women by Women, sponsored by Shinchosha.
She made her literary debut in 2012 with the novel Seidenki to, Miyako no Muishiki. (Static Electricity and Miyako's Unconsciousness), published by Gentosha.

Her major works include:
Minna Hotaru o Koroshitakatta (Everyone Wanted to Kill the Fireflies) and Watashi wa Dandan Kori ni Natta (I Gradually Turned into Ice) (both published by Futami Shobo)
Soshite Hanako wa Kako ni Naru (And Hanako Becomes the Past) (Takarajimasha)
Kami ni Aisareteita (Loved by God) (Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha)
Futari Hitokumi ni Natte Kudasai (Please Form Pairs) (Futabasha)
Natsu no Nioi ga Suru (It Smells Like Summer) (Micro Magazine)