(tent) God

A bear invites me out for a walk. We’re headed to the riverbank. So begins one of nine quietly wondrous tales in this tender and bittersweet collection, where mysterious creatures appear with the changing of the seasons. Encounters and farewells unfold—strange, gentle, and sometimes a little sad. Each story warms the heart, and somehow, brings tears to the eyes. Includes Hiromi Kawakami’s unforgettable debut story, “God” (Kamigami), which launched her literary career. Winner of the Dazai Osamu Prize, Le Prix des Deux Magots (Japan), and the Murasaki Shikibu Literary Prize, this acclaimed short story collection reveals the delicate beauty of the everyday—touched by a hint of the otherworldly.