Emi Yagi

A prizewinning, thrillingly subversive debut novel about a woman in Japan who avoids harassment at work by perpetuating, for nine months and beyond, the lie that she's pregnantWhen thirty-four-year-old Ms Shibata gets a new job in Tokyo to escape sexual harassment at her old one, she finds that, as the only woman at her new workplace - a company that manufactures cardboard tubes - she is expected to do all the menial tasks. One day she announces that she can't clear away her colleagues' dirty cups - because she's pregnant and the smell nauseates her. The only thing is . . . Ms Shibata is not pregnant.Pregnant Ms Shibata doesn't have to serve coffee to anyone. Pregnant Ms Shibata isn't forced to work overtime. Pregnant Ms Shibata rests, watches TV, takes long baths, and even joins an aerobics class for expectant mothers. But pregnant Ms Shibata also has a nine-month ruse to keep up. Helped along by towel-stuffed shirts and a diary app on which she can log every stage of her 'pregnancy', she feels prepared to play the game for the long haul. Before long, though, the hoax becomes all-absorbing, and the boundary between her lie and her life begins to dissolve.A surreal and wryly humorous cultural critique, Diary of a Void is bound to become a landmark in feminist world literature.

For the sake of women everywhere, Ms Shibata is going to pull off the mother of all deceptions...'Incredibly thought-provoking... you'll love Yagi's writing' STYLISTMs Shibata refuses to clear away the coffee at work one day, because she's pregnant and can't bear the smell. The only thing is . . . Ms Shibata is not pregnant.Being a mother-to-be isn't easy. Ms Shibata has a nine-month ruse to keep up. Before long, it becomes all-absorbing, and with the help of towel-stuffed shirts and a diary app that tracks every stage of her 'pregnancy', the boundary between her lie and her life begins to dissolve.Discover this prizewinning, thrillingly subversive new novel that's perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Breasts and Eggs.

¿Mentimos para sentirnos menos solos? Shibata es la única mujer de su oficina. No se puede quejar: es un trabajo estable y aquí nadie la molesta ni le hace proposiciones fuera de tono. Pero está hart

A quirky joyful queer love story about a lonely museum worker who falls in love with a statue of Venus from the author of cult hit Diary of a Void Rika Horauchi s new part time job is to converse with a statue of Venus in Latin every Monday when the museum is closed Initially reluctant Rika starts to enjoy her strange new job Recommended by her old university professor for her exemplary language skills Rika leads an otherwise unassuming life working the rest of the week in a frozen food warehouse As Venus comes to life in the quiet of the museum they talk about everything Venus opens up new worlds for Rika both intellectually and emotionally They soon fall in love But when the museum s curator Hashibami makes it clear he wants to keep Venus for himself what will Rika do When the Museum is Closed is by turns charming funny and surprising a surreal take on our most real emotions and concerns love loneliness freedom perceptions of beauty and how women are seen in society A joyful queer love story this fresh and original new novel confirms Emi Yagi as one of the most exciting Japanese writers published in English today Translated by Yuki Tejima Praise for Diary of a Void Incredibly thought provoking you ll love Yagi s writing STYLIST A

A joyful queer love story from the author of Japanese cult hit DIARY OF A VOIDWhen Rika Horauchi accepts an unusual new part-time job at the museum, she never expects to fall in love with Venus herself.Rika has been tasked with talking to Venus, to keep her company when the museum is closed on Mondays. As Venus comes to life in the quiet of their surroundings, she opens up new worlds for Rika, and they speak about everything. But when the museums curator, Hashibami, makes it clear he wants to keep Venus for himself, what will Rika do?When the Museum is Closed is by turns charming, funny and surprising, a love story about our perceptions of beauty, overcoming loneliness and breaking free.

¿Mentimos para sentirnos menos solos?Shibata es la única mujer de su oficina. No se puede quejar: es un trabajo estable y aquí nadie la molesta ni le hace proposiciones fuera de tono. Pero está harta de no salir nunca a su hora y de que sus compañeros den por sentado que debe encargarse de servir el cafe, limpiar, ordenar Hasta que, una mañana anuncia que no seguira ocupandose de nada de esto. Esta embarazada. O eso dice.Diario de un vacio sigue el dia a dia de Shibata desde que anuncia su falso embarazo y recupera, por fin, tiempo para si misma. Liberada de los ritmos freneticos de su trabajo, mira a su alrededor y encuentra una sociedad desconectada, poblada por individuos esquivos incapaces de mirar al otro. Un manto de soledad parece cubrirlo todo, pero el niño fantasma que crece en el interior de Shibata la hace sentirse acompañada. ¿O realmente hay una vida nueva dentro de ella? Originalisima, inteligente y aguda, la novela debut de Emi Yagi retuerce con insultante destreza los limites entre mentira y verdad y se pregunta que somos capaces de hacer para dejar de sentirnos solos.Diario de un vacio se llevo el premio de los libreros a mejor debut en Japon.