A review by afi_whatafireads
Dragon Palace by Hiromi Kawakami

dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This book was definitely a WILD ride. From breastfeeding gods to miniature humans living in mole holes, this is a collection that can bewilder others more than not; but its one of the books that felt to me, after looking through the surface of the story, the insights and what Kawakami intended to write with each story was just sad.

Edited on 19th September 2023

Picking up Dragon Palace was.... something else entirely. It left me gobsmacked, shell-shocked and some stories even made me disassociate with myself for a bit. Its a collection of short stories that is written in Kawakami's usual style that made something that was totally out of this world felt normal. Its an exploration of folklores, mythologies - with the central with aging and what it is to be human.


"Unable to live, unable to die, they're just there, eating away at their surroundings. Eating away at themselves. That is who they are.


This collection of 8 short stories might not appeal to everyone, but for me, I felt that, each story has its own deeper meaning in ways that might not sit right by us. Kawakami takes elements from Shinto and Buddhism in these stories and intertwines them with folklores in the Japanese culture that makes everything that is bizarre a symbol of what the story actually holds. Yes, there are stories of Kitchen Gods, and mole people, and seahorse turned human; and even with the outlandish tales that Kawakami wrote, the central theme of aging, questions of patriarchy, sex and mostly of being human that makes the essence of each story more alive than some.

These are some of my thoughts for each individual stories :-

Story 1: Hokusai
Personal Ratings : 4🌟


"Being' human is painful. I wish I could go back to bein' an octopus. But I can't. When water is spilled, it's gone - you can't put it back in the pot."


A man who claimed to be an octopus and based on the philosophies from the infamous painting of Hokusai. The story is both witty and absurd, and the gallivanting ways of the old man was definitely amusing, but I also liked how its a story of resilience. The nature of humans is that we tend to give up easily when things go hard, and the adaptability of the octopus is somewhat as a reminder that abling to adapt will lead you to live a somewhat normal life.

Story 2: Dragon Palace
Personal Ratings : 4.25🌟


"I lived knowing nothing and died knowing nothing."


This story had gotten me saying WTF in so many languages, but I think, I just felt sad overall. Its heavily inspired by the folklore and how the consequences from cults had led to an innocent woman being held as a hostage, a sex slave and then somewhat becoming the goddess as her own. Definitely not for everyone but I was left mortified but also a bit sad overall.

Story 3: Fox's Den
Personal Ratings : 3.75🌟

The more I read the stories; laced with the weirdness and quirkiness, is the backstories of the Gods and folklore. This one was witty.

Story 4: Kitchen's God
Personal Ratings : 4.75🌟

One of my favs from this collection. It reminded me a lot of Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata and the stories of a person who is somewhat stuck in the past and of memories that are uncertain.


"Was I happy? I had never given that question a thought."


Story 5: Mole People
Personal Ratings : 4.5🌟

Also one of my favs. Its bleak and a social commentary of how humans and people are so accustomed to being one thing in their lives that made them miserable overall. The story of aging, growing and how at the end they became only puppets of capitalism. Its a tale of folklore derived from Mujina and this story had showed it in a form that is almost simplistic.

Story 6: Mole People
Personal Ratings : 4.5🌟

Also one of my favs. Its bleak and a social commentary of how humans and people are so accustomed to being one thing in their lives that made them miserable overall. The story of aging, growing and how at the end they became only puppets of capitalism. Its a tale of folklore derived from Mujina and this story had showed it in a form that is almost simplistic.

Story 7: Sea Horse
Personal Ratings : 4.75🌟

of motherhood, womenhood and something more that exceeds than a normal person's expectations. I loved it and was lowkey sad for the story.

Overall, the short stories in here are wilder than most, and it is definitely not for everyone, but I for one enjoyed this one a lot. It centres around old age and how humans are at the end just very vulnerable beings but also strong and resilient in their own ways. Recommended for those who needed something different in your TBR. Its definitely a memorable one.

Biggest thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!