Go through a bright story of post-war Tokyo, where dreams clash with reality—introducing the world of Tomi, a waitress working in a fading place, her life, love, and the accompanying sorrows. You have a story of desire and struggle, which I shall attend to.
Catherine Rochester is a versatile professional who has extensive experience in the field of entrepreneurship, equestrianism, yoga, and literature. Since she spent over twenty-five years in the financial industry as an investment banker, hedge-fund manager, and consultant, she founded Capital Resources, Inc. in the 1990s. After retiring, she shifted her attention to competitive equestrian sport and yoga, for which she later became certified as an instructor. The idea of the piece was firmly informed by the temporal concessions of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Rochester went about the process of writing a deeply personal story mirroring the love story of her parents, her father an American and her mother a Japanese, against the backdrop of post-World War II Japan. She was born in a Turkish military hospital in the United States, and she is now living on her farm in Virginia with her husband and her pets.
“Unspoken” by Catherine Rochester is a sequential narration of two sisters, Tomi and Chieko, as they live in Tokyo, where there is a constant risk of earthquakes. As they make their way up and down in their daily lives in a small house, the novel looks at the issues of perseverance, family life, and the struggle to maintain hope in the face of uncertainty. Tomi is an ideal example of extreme nurturing of their mother regarding her heirloom mirror, as she desires to preserve her family heritage despite her personal tribulations. This story opens their eyes to the fear and love that emerge in times of crisis, and it helps the readers not to forget the power that is present in relations. Finally, “Unspoken” is a tragic reflection upon life and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
During the onset of COVID-19, I decided to scan a pile of old love letters between my parents to preserve them digitally. When I unfolded the letters to scan, I read all of them—about a hundred letters.
During her journey to publication, the author, Catherine Rochester, has written several stories chronicling her progress. She hopes that readers will enjoy them.
Story 2
Story 3
Story 4
Story 5
Story 6
This is a book that takes the reader into post-war Tokyo with graphic, unpolished imagery. The author is able to describe the challenges and dreams Tomi had in a very skillful way, thus making the daily life at the Yoshoku Palace realistic and close to the heart. Her kimono and zori are given special attention, which also gives the story a distinct sense of locality.
Reading this composition is equivalent to living in a historical period. This contrast between modern Ginza and Tomi’s old-fashioned life is very striking, leaving a very strong impression of both frustration and hope. Of special interest is a closer look at the expectations of women in a patriarchal society, as noted in the narrative.
Unspoken is a highly moving and believable story. Her way of managing her everyday duties, communicating with overbearing customers, and factoring in the needs of her brothers is easy to relate to. I felt on her side as she struggled to rise out of limitations, a story that keeps the reader coming until the end.
The forthrightness of the prose is outstanding. This style of characterization of Tomi is also powerful, and the readers can sympathize with her grief and wish to see another future. The setting of the story in an outdated restaurant is a drastic contrast to the changing Tokyo city, and it adds a layer to the story that is hard to forget even after the book is finished.
This book makes one think about determination and ambition. Catherine Rochester’s story rings close to any person who has ever felt like they do not belong, and I have. The nostalgic accounts of her surroundings are also welcome to the story, and a balance between hope and sorrow in her struggle is depicted with amazing mastery.
