Ms Ice Sandwich: A Quirky and Poignant Novella by Mieko Kawakami
If you are looking for a short but sweet read that will make you laugh, cry, and think, you might want to check out Ms Ice Sandwich, a novella by Mieko Kawakami. This book tells the story of a young boy's innocent crush on a sandwich vendor who has an unusual appearance. It is a witty, moving, and unsentimental tale about first love, loss, and new beginnings.
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Introduction
What is Ms Ice Sandwich about?
Ms Ice Sandwich is narrated by an unnamed fourth-grade boy who is obsessed with a woman who sells sandwiches at his local supermarket. He calls her Ms Ice Sandwich because of her ice-blue eyelids, which he finds mesmerizing. He goes to the supermarket almost every day, just to see her face and buy an egg sandwich from her. He also draws her portrait endlessly in his notebook, trying to capture her beauty.
Who is Mieko Kawakami?
Mieko Kawakami is a Japanese writer and singer-songwriter who was born in Osaka in 1976. She started her career as a musician, releasing three albums and three singles. She then turned to literature in 2006, and won the prestigious Akutagawa Prize in 2007 for her novel Breasts and Eggs. She has since written several other books, including Heaven, The Night Belongs to Lovers, and Ms Ice Sandwich. She is known for her distinctive voice, her exploration of gender issues, and her portrayal of ordinary people.
Why should you read Ms Ice Sandwich?
Ms Ice Sandwich is a delightful novella that will charm you with its humor, warmth, and insight. It is a story that celebrates the power of imagination, the joy of friendship, and the importance of saying goodbye. It is also a story that challenges the stereotypes and prejudices that society imposes on people who are different. It is a story that will make you feel alive.
Main Body
The narrator's obsession with Ms Ice Sandwich
How he discovers her at the supermarket
The narrator first sees Ms Ice Sandwich when he goes to the supermarket with his mother during the summer holidays. He is instantly drawn to her face, which he describes as "sharp and cool". He notices that she has "a thick layer of electric blue" on her eyelids, which makes them look like ice. He also admires her skill at sliding sandwiches into bags with one hand. He decides that she is the most beautiful woman in the world.
How he draws her portrait and admires her features
The narrator becomes fascinated by Ms Ice Sandwich's face, and tries to capture it in his drawings. He uses different colors and techniques to express her mood and personality. He pays attention to every detail, from her eyebrows to her lips He also compares her face to various things, such as a knife, a bird, a flower, and a star. He thinks that she is mysterious and cool, and that she has a secret that he wants to know. He wonders what she thinks and feels, and what she does when she is not working at the supermarket.
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How he deals with the gossip and bullying from his classmates
The narrator's obsession with Ms Ice Sandwich is not shared by his classmates, who think that she is weird and ugly. They mock him for liking her, and call her names like "Ms Ice Cream Sandwich" and "Ms Ice Monster". They also spread rumors about her, such as that she is a robot, a witch, or a man. They even try to sabotage his drawings by ripping them or drawing on them. The narrator is hurt and angry by their behavior, but he does not let them stop him from admiring Ms Ice Sandwich.
The narrator's relationships with his family and friends
His dying grandmother who listens to his heart
The narrator lives with his mother and his grandmother, who is bedridden and dying. His grandmother is the only person who understands his feelings for Ms Ice Sandwich. She asks him to put his ear on her chest and listen to her heart, and then she does the same for him. She tells him that his heart is beating fast because he likes someone, and that he should cherish that feeling. She also encourages him to talk to Ms Ice Sandwich and tell her how he feels.
His distant mother who tells fortunes and embezzles money
The narrator's mother is not very close to him or his grandmother. She works as a fortune-teller, but she also embezzles money from her clients. She does not care much about the narrator's school or hobbies, and she often scolds him for being lazy or messy. She also does not approve of his crush on Ms Ice Sandwich, and tells him to stop wasting his time on her. She thinks that Ms Ice Sandwich is a bad influence on him, and that he should focus on his studies instead.
His new friend Tutti who shares her love of movies with him
The narrator meets Tutti, a girl from his class, when they are both assigned to clean the classroom. Tutti is friendly and cheerful, and she likes to watch movies. She invites the narrator to go to the cinema with her, and they become friends. Tutti also likes Ms Ice Sandwich, but in a different way than the narrator. She thinks that Ms Ice Sandwich is cool and stylish, and that she looks like a movie star. She also wants to talk to Ms Ice Sandwich and ask her about her life.
The narrator's growth and transformation
How he learns to cope with loss and change
The narrator faces several challenges and changes in his life, such as the death of his grandmother, the disappearance of Ms Ice Sandwich, and the move of Tutti to another city. He feels sad and lonely, but he also learns to cope with his emotions. He realizes that nothing lasts forever, and that he has to let go of the past and move on with the present. He also learns to appreciate the memories and experiences that he had with the people he loved.
How he finds his voice and expresses his feelings
The narrator is shy and quiet, and he does not like to talk much. He prefers to express himself through his drawings or his actions. However, he also realizes that sometimes words are necessary to communicate with others. He learns to speak up for himself when he confronts his bullies at school, when he confesses his feelings to Ms Ice Sandwich, and when he says goodbye to Tutti. He also learns to write letters to express his thoughts and emotions.
How he embraces his own identity and authenticity
The narrator is different from other people in many ways, such as his appearance, his personality, his interests, and his preferences. He often feels insecure and isolated because of these differences. However, he also learns to embrace his own identity and authenticity. He realizes that being different is not a bad thing, but rather a source of strength and uniqueness. He decides to be himself, regardless of what others think or say about him.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
Ms Ice Sandwich is a novella by Mieko Kawakami that tells the story of a young boy's crush on a sandwich vendor who has ice-blue eyelids. It is a humorous, touching, and realistic tale about first love, loss, and new beginnings. It is also a tale about the narrator's relationships with his family and friends, and his growth and transformation. It is a story that celebrates the power of imagination, the joy of friendship, and the importance of saying goodbye. It is also a story that challenges the stereotypes and prejudices that society imposes on people who are different.
Evaluation of the novella's strengths and weaknesses
Ms Ice Sandwich is a well-written novella that has many strengths. Some of them are: - The narrator's voice: The narrator has a distinctive and engaging voice that captures his innocence, curiosity, humor, and emotion. He uses simple but vivid language to describe his observations and feelings. He also uses metaphors and analogies to make comparisons and connections. He makes the reader empathize with him and his situation. - The characters: The characters are realistic and complex, each with their own personality, background, and motivation. They are not stereotypical or flat, but rather dynamic and multifaceted. They have flaws and strengths, hopes and fears, dreams and regrets. They make the reader care about them and their relationships. - The themes: The novella explores various themes that are relevant and meaningful, such as love, loss, change, identity, authenticity, friendship, family, society, and individuality. It does not shy away from addressing difficult or sensitive issues, such as death, illness, bullying, discrimination, and loneliness. It also does not offer easy or clichéd solutions, but rather invites the reader to reflect and question.
However, Ms Ice Sandwich also has some weaknesses. Some of them are: - The plot: The plot is simple and straightforward, without much suspense or surprise. It follows a linear and predictable structure, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. It does not have many twists or turns, conflicts or resolutions, challenges or achievements. It may seem boring or dull to some readers who prefer more action or drama. - The length: The novella is very short, only about 100 pages long. It does not have much room for development or elaboration. It may leave some readers wanting more details or explanations, more scenes or events, more depth or complexity. It may seem incomplete or rushed to some readers who prefer longer or richer stories. - The ending: The ending is ambiguous and open-ended, without a clear closure or conclusion. It does not reveal what happens to the narrator or Ms Ice Sandwich after they part ways. It does not answer some of the questions that the reader may have about their future or fate. It may seem unsatisfying or frustrating to some readers who prefer more clarity or certainty.
Recommendation for the readers
Ms Ice Sandwich is a novella that will appeal to readers who enjoy quirky, poignant, and realistic stories about ordinary people and their extraordinary feelings. It is a novella that will make you smile, cry, and think. It is a novella that will touch your heart.
If you are interested in reading Ms Ice Sandwich, you can download the epub version from this link. You can also find other books by Mieko Kawakami from this link. Happy reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Ms Ice Sandwich:
What is the genre of Ms Ice Sandwich?
Ms Ice Sandwich is a novella that belongs to the genre of contemporary fiction. It is a story that depicts the life and experiences of a young boy in modern-day Japan.
What is the tone of Ms Ice Sandwich?
Ms Ice Sandwich has a tone that is humorous, warm, and unsentimental. It uses irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration to create comedy and contrast. It also uses emotion, empathy, and honesty to create warmth and connection. It does not use melodrama, sentimentality, or manipulation to create pity or sympathy.
What is the message of Ms Ice Sandwich?
Ms Ice Sandwich has a message that is optimistic, hopeful, and inspiring. It shows that life is full of changes and challenges, but also full of opportunities and possibilities. It shows that love is not a fairy tale, but a reality that can be found in unexpected places and people. It shows that friendship is not a luxury, but a necessity that can support and comfort us. It shows that identity is not a fixed, but a fluid concept that can change and evolve. It shows that we can overcome our fears and doubts, and find our voice and happiness.
Who are the target audience of Ms Ice Sandwich?
Ms Ice Sandwich is a novella that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages and backgrounds. It is especially suitable for young adults who are going through similar stages and issues as the narrator, such as puberty, crushes, family problems, school troubles, and self-discovery. It is also suitable for older adults who want to reminisce or reflect on their own childhood and adolescence.
How is Ms Ice Sandwich different from other books by Mieko Kawakami?
Ms Ice Sandwich is different from other books by Mieko Kawakami in terms of its length, style, and tone. It is shorter and simpler than her other novels, such as Breasts and Eggs or Heaven, which are longer and more complex. It is also more humorous and light-hearted than her other novels, which are more serious and dark. However, it still shares some of the common themes and elements of her other works, such as gender issues, social criticism, and ordinary people.
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