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The first thing that stood out to me about “Love at Six Thousand Degrees” by Japanese author Maki Kashimada was that there are no breaks in the story.
From the first word, the plot relentlessly pushes forward without giving readers even the slightest chance to catch their breath. In a very immediate way, this restlessness reflects the mindset of the protagonist, whose entire life appears to be the result of the pushing and shoving of outsiders.
The story centres around a housewife who gives in to an inexplicable urge and abruptly abandons her husband and young child to travel to the city of Nagasaki by herself. In Nagasaki, she meets a young man, whom she becomes involved with.
None of the characters in this book have names. They are only known by their roles as perceived by the protagonist: “husband,” “son,” and “the youth.” Having dissociated herself into oblivion due to past trauma, the protagonist appears unable not only to manifest her own identity, but also to perceive those of others.
The relationship between the protagonist and the youth is at the centre of the plot and it supports that weight well. Both of them are enigmatic and cagey, but crucially, they are never bland or boring. In fact, I believe this book is proof that not much has to happen action-wise in a story for it to be interesting. Their interactions tell their own tales and as a reader, you just can’t help but watch as they talk, touch, and gaze at each other in silence.
Kashimada has a fascinating writing style that I personally find really gripping. It is matter-of-fact and stream-of-consciousness adjacent, but at times also delicately lyrical.
Don’t let the length of this book fool you: It may be short page-wise, but each paragraph is dense and packs a punch. For a book this length, it took me a surprisingly long time to finish it. While part of this was due to me being busy, I also noticed that I was consciously slowing down while reading. So, is it a slow burn? Yes, but in the best way possible. “Love at Six Thousand Degrees” is a precious book and has quickly secured a spot as one of my favourite reads so far this year.
just thoughts 