The Character of Rain (review)

Elegantly translated from the French by Timothy Bent, The Character of Rain is a uniquely conceived self-portrait composed of scenes that evoke laughter, squeamishness, and sheer admiration of the narrator's cleverness. The narrator, whose name is the Japanese character for rain, calls herself "God," "Plant," "the Tube," and "I" during a period (two-and-a-half years) of self-imposed coma beginning at birth. Born in Japan, but of Belgian descent, she suddenly awakens from her vegetative existence "howling with rage" and continues nonstop until her grandmother (visiting from Belgium) feeds her white chocolate. The delectable sweetness gives the narrator her identity: "I" and "me," discovered through pleasure! She insists, "no pleasure without me, no me without pleasure!"

Her two nannies, Nishio-san and Kashima-san, are wonderful characters of opposite nature and class who give the reader insight into Japanese attitudes. A delightful read—satirical, surrealistic, tender, and loving.