Goodbye Tsugumi, Hello World.

FIR# 13
Title of Novel: Goodbye Tsugumi
Author: Bana Yoshimoto
Status: Finished
Date read: Sept. 5, 2010
Date finished: Sept. 10, 2010

I had read this novel before when I was a first year student, and when I was able to finally finish the book, I was like, 'No, that can't be the ending!'
Goodbye Tsugumi was much more than appealing the senses; it as relating to us when it comes to relating to family members whom you have a love/hate relationship with. And on top of that, the one you're having that kind of relationship happens to have the possibility that he/she can die any time because he/she is very sick, and you probably will blame yourself if anything happens to that someone you know you love anyway despite their flaws...

Summary
The novel tells the story of the relationship between the love/hate relationship of two cousins: Mary--the narrator and protagonist of the story--and Tsugumi, who, despite being stricken with an unmentioned sickness, manages to be the nightmare of the household with her clever childishness, sarcasm and spitefulness.
The story is set in a flashback style, as Mary recounts her relationship with her cousin Tsugumi--from their childhood up until their last meeting the previous summer--and the wonders of the place they left behind.
Mary also recounts the last time she and Tsugumi spent their summer together one last time in the Summer Inn where Tsugumi's family works before they will move away to another location, which is when the whole story is centralized.
Along with the many experiences Mary has with her cousin, Tsugumi also experiences 'true love' where she meets a boy named Kenji, whom she is smitten with at first sight.
Together, Mary, Tsugumi and Kenji discover the many trials of life through the places they visit, the people they will never forget and, for Mary's part, experiencing as a witness to Tsugumi's near-death experience as she struggles in keeping herself alive from her illness. In the last part of the story, Mary comes to the revelation why Tsugumi is spiteful in all the years that has come: Tsugumi wanted to express herself that even in the verge of death, Tsugumi appreciates life and wants to do everything even in the cost of her health. Her personality, too, is an opposition she wants to project to everyone that she is not frail in spirit despite her fragility of health. In the end, Mary, Tsugumi and Kenji go there separate ways, as Kenji works to help his father at a new hotel, Tsugumi goes to a new town and Mary goes back to Tokyo with a wish that it will all happen again...

Insights
The story is very unique as it not only relates to us because the characters in the story are realistic, but because it is detailed more on the the places and the minor characters the protagonists go to and meet. I especially liked the relationship amongst the three stand-out characters: Mary, Tsugumi and Kenji as they represent what youth has always been. In Mary's part, she is the type of youth who is typical yet a character who develops intrinsically as she experiences and learns more of who Tsugumi is and how important life really is. Tsugumi, in turn, represents the rebellious youth, always unexpected and unabashed. She unconsciously breaks down the norm, whether with her peers or within the household, but fails and also falls for Kenji, who represents a new but rare youth. He is mysterious, kind, understanding and open-minded to both Mary and Tsugumi. He immediately sees what's around him, sparking a wisdom that he both naturally has and gained through experience.
In conclusion, reading the novel was a new experience, as its simplicity, its sensual appeal, witty dialogue(from Mary's and Tsugumi's) and characters won me over and its open-ending left me, not hanging, but floating amongst the clouds...