The book is set in Japan and the gist of the story is a young woman Kayo who over several years compulsively becomes addicted to shopping and particulary clothes and gets herself into terrible debt which involves some truly awful situations when she has to pay back her debt. Her long suffering husband Ryu eventually takes matters into his own hands with drastic changes to both their lives.
I particulary liked the 'healing' that Kayo goes through in the garden in rural Japan and the kindness shown by her husband in trying to help her but i think the story was ruined by one unnecessary scene when Ryu does something very unpleasant to her which seemed a complete personality change in him. It would have been much better for him to have shown compassion and sorrow instead of what he does instead and slightly ruined the book for me and put me right off Ryu.
It is definately a thought provoking book and one that i would recommend to friends and family.

WoW! What an adventure for the reader with this dark book! I am tempted to call the protagonist a more self-aware but depressed Asian Shopaholic but there is so much more to this complex story.

This is a haunting narrative and a thought provoking read. You also get a glimpse into Japanese life and culture which I personally loved!

Please follow the link below to read my full review on Desi Lekh,