SYNOPSIS:
We all have something to tell those we have lost . . .
When Yui loses her mother and daughter in the tsunami, she wonders how she will ever carry on. Yet, in the face of this unthinkable loss, life must somehow continue.
Then one day she hears about a man who has an old disused telephone box in his garden. There, those who have lost loved ones find the strength to speak to them and begin to come to terms with their grief. As news of the phone box spreads, people travel to it from miles around.
Soon Yui makes her own pilgrimage to the phone box, too. But once there she cannot bring herself to speak into the receiver. Then she finds Takeshi, a bereaved husband whose own daughter has stopped talking in the wake of their loss.
What happens next will warm your heart, even when it feels as though it is breaking.
When you've lost everything, what can you find . . ?
MY THOUGHTS:
This was such a charming book and so much more than I anticipated. Although the subject matter surrounding the novel was extremely sad and heart-wrenching it was surprisingly an uplifting story, one of hope, grief and moving forwards. Based on a real life natural disaster you are immediately drawn to the families that have been affected and cannot help but feel their pain and grief at losing love ones. The way they manage to still function is absolutely astounding and this is where the book's focus is, on the ones left behind learning to carry their pain and put one foot in front of the other day by day.
The story centres around Yui, who has lost her own mother and her young daughter. As a radio DJ she hears about a phone box where people from all over are travelling to to talk to their love ones. Yui decides to visit and meets a whole host of characters who are also grieving. Some who have lost love ones in the tsunami, others from natural illness or old age. All who find not only comfort in the ritual of visiting the phone box but a place to morn their love ones as part of their grieving process.
The story is told in such a beautiful way, almost poetic at times and I found it moving and humbling. The individual stories of the other characters were very touching, as well as following Yui on her own journey of self discovery after losing the most precious things in her life. This book made me reflect on my own life, my hopes, my dreams, my anxieties and on how blessed I truly am.
Many thanks to Bonnier Books for my gifted copy of The Phone Box at the Edge of the World.