Diary of a Void - Emi Yagi
At first I thought this book would brush off pregnancy as some blissful sun-and-rainbows stage, but it does a great job depicting how pregnancy and cultural practices make women’s roles only as a medium for society's expectations. The monologues on Virgin Mary and the tired pregnant woman in the alley were apt in this matter. I also liked the sarcastic bits when the men in the office were acting like children and how women even in workplaces, are expected to do the 'womanly' work of tidying. I don’t know if it was intentional but the cover was very relevant like the space "void" over the stomach. Although I’m not sure how much I liked the ending—it felt kind of unbelievable and rushed. Would I have liked a more surreal ending? Maybe but I’m not sure. I don’t think I’m creative enough to figure out what ending would have suited better. Also how the hell did she get maternity leave? You need a medical certificate from your OBGYN to confirm your pregnancy to your employer...
I enjoyed it quite a bit. Rather absurdist but it also got it's point across and left me with a lot to think about. one thing I found really interesting is how clearly none of this lie would've happened in the first place if women had been treated equally in the workplace in the first place. Then her search for meaning and finally belonging as she is pregnant, only to realise that afterwards it's right back to being in a messed up position again. And also the fact that the book points out that no one really benefits from the way things are set up right now. I don't think I fully picked up everything it was trying to do or say but that's all right. Interested in seeing what everybody else got from it now .
Oh another thing I liked was towards the end, when she finally visited the doctor - I know it's absurd and unbelievable but what stood out to me is that that's the point where you as reader start to fall for her lies. At least I did, I fully expected an ending where she had willed a child into existence somehow, only to realize that I, too, had been fooled. Just like all the other characters.
