by Yoko Tawada
Published 2018
Winner of 2018 National Book Award in Translated Literature Library Journal Best Books of 2018 Yoko Tawada’s new novel is a breathtakingly light-hearted meditation on mortality and fully displays what Rivka Galchen has called her “brilliant, shimmering, magnificent strangeness” Japan, after suffering from a massive irreparable disaster, cuts itself off from the world. Children are so weak they can barely stand or walk: the only people with any get-go are the elderly. Mumei lives with his grandfather Yoshiro, who worries about him constantly. They carry on a day-to-day routine in what could be viewed as a post-Fukushima time, with all the children born ancient—frail and gray-haired, yet incredibly compassionate and wise. Mumei may be enfeebled and feverish, but he is a beacon of hope, full of wit and free of self-pity and pessimism. Yoshiro concentrates on nourishing Mumei, a strangely wonderful boy who offers “the beauty of the time that is yet to come.” A delightful, irrepressibly funny book, The Emissary is filled with light. Yoko Tawada, deftly turning inside-out “the curse,” defies gravity and creates a playful joyous novel out of a dystopian one, with a legerdemain uniquely her own.
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Top voices for narrating this book
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Anna's gentle and soothing voice, combined with her warm and inviting tone, beautifully captures the narrator's graceful, gentle, and engaging quality, perfect for literary prose.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Pleasant
“This voice is an excellent fit due to its measured pacing and bright, expressive quality, ideal for conveying the narrator's wise and playful demeanor through nuanced delivery.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Kira brings an articulate and grounded presence, with a steady cadence that balances clarity with mindful storytelling, making it suitable for the novel's literary prose and thoughtful tone.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Calm
“Her friendly, calm, and conversational approach can bring out the narrator's light-hearted and engaging side, offering a warm and approachable read of the dystopian setting.”
American · Middle Aged · Female · Narrative Story · Confident
“The upbeat and intelligent energy of Tania's voice, paired with a friendly warmth and curious mind, aligns well with the narrator's playful and wise aspects, providing an engaging listening experience.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
An elderly man's voice, carrying the warmth of deep affection and a steady, patient concern for his grandson, yet with a calm and resilient undertone.
Male · Old · Narration · Educational · Deep · Warm · +8 more
“This deep, warm, and measured voice perfectly embodies Yoshiro's elderly wisdom and steady, patient concern, conveying deep affection with a calm, empathetic tone.”
Male · Old · Conversational · Character-Voice · Advertisement · Narration · +58 more
“With a smooth, husky, and breathy texture, this voice can portray Yoshiro's gentle nature and underlying resilience, offering a conversational yet serious delivery.”
Male · Old · Social-Media · Deep · High · Entertainment · +39 more
“The slow and deliberate cadence, combined with a deep, calm tone, reflects Yoshiro's serious yet gentle character, providing a grounding presence for the grandfather.”