My favorite books lately have been short in length while still packing a massive punch, and Tokyo Ueno Station is no exception. This novel is a masterpiece examination of class, despair, migrant labor, grief, poverty, generational trauma, cultural attitudes towards the homeless, globalism, and mortality. The story is nonlinear; a perfect fit for the way one would imagine a spirit experiencing memory.

This is the first book I have ever read that not only has a homeless narrator, Kazu, but also heavily features a community of folks who live in temporary dwellings. Yu Miri has created an unflinching and empathetic glimpse into the margins of modern Japanese society.

Lastly, Kazu's descriptions of the scenery and historical anecdotes grant readers a clear image of the physical setting. Thus, Ueno Park essentially becomes as real of a character as Kazu himself.

I can't stop thinking about this powerful book. I hope you'll read it, too.