"Staying Together"

Nathania Carissa Vida Octaviani (392020032) 

February 22th, 2021 

Introduction

"Staying Together" is a romance fiction novel by Judith Wilson. The book was first published by Cambridge University Press on March 22th, 2001. 

Judith Wilson is a London-based writer and journalist. She graduated with Distinction from the MA Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London, in 2019. She is the author of 14 books on design. Judith is working on her first novel, set in London in the 1860s. She won 1st prize for the London Short Story Prize 2019 and 1st prize for the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition 2017 in the USA. Judith is also an interiors writer and lecturer. 

The name of the illustrator is not listed in the book. I read this book in goodreads.com and the e-book is only available for 80 pages. So, I have completed the 80 pages. I choose to read this e-book, because I like novel with the romantic genre. 

The Setting 

The story takes place in Japan. Japan is the place where Ikuko & Hiroshi live and Japan also the place where they meet and fall in love with each other. 

Japan is an island country in East Asia, located in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north toward the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south.

(Source: https://japan-magazine.jnto.go.jp/en/special_toto03.html)

Besides Japan, the story takes place in Zambia too. Zambia is the place where Bernard has to live with his children. Zambia, in southern Africa, is a landlocked country of rugged terrain and diverse wildlife, with many parks and safari areas. On its border with Zimbabwe is famed Victoria Falls – indigenously called Mosi-oa-Tunya, or "Smoke That Thunders” – plunging a misty 108m into narrow Batoka Gorge. Spanning the Zambezi River just below the falls is Victoria Falls Bridge, a spectacular viewpoint.

The Characters 

The main character of this story is Ikuko Kanazawa and Hiroshi Masuda. Ikuko is an office worker in Tokyo and Hiroshi is Ikuko's boyfriend. 

Ikuko is a kind girl and a caring person, but she gets bored quickly, especially with whether she live the job she is doing and also a relationship that she has with someone. Meanwhile, Hiroshi is a kind man, wise man, very caring person  and very loyal to his partner. 

The Plot 

The year is 2000. Ikuko Kanazawa, a 23-year-old Japanese girl, is unsure about the prospect of marrying her boyfriend, Hiroshi. She wants more experience of travel and goes to England, to improve her English, promising Hiroshi she’ll marry him when she returns. Life abroad is daunting at first, as she notes in her diary, but she settles into the new routine. At the student hostel, she goes to the photography club, where she meets Zambian photographer, Bernard Chiluba, whose work she admires. Later, she has a chance encounter with Bernard, who shows her round the city. There is a mutual attraction. Bernard realises she plans to marry, but Ikuko is now unsettled – he is so different from Hiroshi. Soon, Lucretia, a fellow student, suspects they are more than friends.

Ikuko goes on a photo club trip to the countryside with Bernard. While returning, a van crashes into the minibus. The driver is hurt but Bernard saves Ikuko from injury. Back at the hostel, after the traumatic events, Ikuko is upset. Bernard comforts her, and they end up spending the night together. In the morning, they have to talk. Neither regrets what has happened, but Bernard reveals he is a single parent, with two children, and Ikuko tells him about Hiroshi. Ikuko is confused about the future, and later confesses all to Hiroshi, who is hurt.

Bernard has to leave for Zambia – his children have been abandoned by his estranged wife. Meanwhile, Ikuko, disillusioned with study, returns to Japan. Three months pass till she hears from Bernard. Their letters to each other had gone astray. She gladly accepts his offer to visit Zambia. There, she adapts to life in rural Africa, keeping house and looking after the girls. Although in love with Bernard, she fails to adjust completely to the new life and culture and eventually returns to Japan.

Conclusion 

Actually, this story is divided into two sections.

First is Ikuko’s story. She is a main character and is going to marry. And she goes to England to develop her English and meets Bernerd who is an African student in England. Then, they became attracted to each other. However, their position are very difficult to be in love.

 The other story is Joyce and Taka’s story. Joyce are very famous media-scientist but she is unfriendly. So Taka does not like her very much except her presentation. One day, he rescues her when she steps on stonefish. After that, their mental distance lessen quickly.  In fact, they have suprising in common.

 When I read this book, I could not undestrand very much. Who is Joyce? Why did the story change in the middle of story? However, I can understand second times. This story is consisted of Ikuko’s past and present. In addtion, it have profound implication. What would you do if you love the person who you must not be in love? Do you believe your destiny? I think I want to believe my destiny because life is easy system but it seems to be complicated. So, for me, I like this story and I recommend many people who believe their destinies to read this book.