Gifted

A moving portrayal of a troubled mother-daughter relationship, shortlisted for Japan´s prestigious Akutagawa Prize. In 2008, the unnamed narrator of Gifted is working as a hostess and living in Tokyo´s nightlife district. One day, her estranged mother, who is seriously ill, suddenly turns up at her door … In sharp, elegant prose, and based on the author´s own experiences as a sex worker, Gifted heralds the breakthrough of an exciting new literary talent.