N.P. by Banana Yoshimoto
Published 1990 · 38,416 words · about 3 hours at an average pace · Fiction, Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction
How hard is N.P. to read?
N.P. scores 62 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it quite demanding. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.
- Vocabulary: 58 out of 100
- The narrative employs generally accessible literary prose, avoiding archaic or invented words. However, the text frequently integrates and explains numerous Japanese cultural terms (e.g., Hyaku Monogatari, kotatsu, misoshiru, kendama), requiring readers to engage with specialized cultural vocabulary, which adds a layer of complexity beyond typical contemporary fiction.
- Sentence structure: 48 out of 100
- The sentence structures are predominantly clear and navigable, with moderate length and logical clause progression. While some sentences contain multiple clauses, they rarely become overly nested or convoluted, maintaining a direct and readable flow. The dialogue is straightforward, contributing to overall accessibility.
- Abstraction: 72 out of 100
- Beyond its character-driven plot, the novel delves deeply into abstract concepts such as fate, the nature of love, the impact of inherited trauma, and the blurred lines between reality and storytelling. Characters frequently engage in philosophical discussions about their 'curse' and the meaning of their experiences, elevating the narrative beyond concrete events into a realm of psychological and existential inquiry.
- Information density: 68 out of 100
- The text is rich with psychological and emotional information, gradually revealing complex character backstories and intricate relationships. It demands close attention to subtle shifts in mood, unspoken tensions, and thematic interconnections, requiring readers to actively piece together motivations and the pervasive influence of the 'curse' on the characters' lives.
- Narrative indirection: 70 out of 100
- The narrator, Kazami, largely recounts events and conversations directly, but the deeper meaning of the 'curse,' the characters' complex motivations, and the true nature of their relationships are heavily implied. Readers must infer much about the psychological impact of the titular book and the characters' choices, rather than being explicitly told.
- Symbolic density: 80 out of 100
- The novel is rich with interwoven symbols, most notably the titular book 'N.P.' itself, which acts as a 'curse' and a container for destructive truths. Characters like Sui are explicitly framed as 'microcosms,' and recurring motifs such as water, summer, and the kendama carry significant, often contrasting, layers of meaning beyond their literal presence.
- Ironic distance: 40 out of 100
- The narrative maintains a largely earnest and reflective tone, with Kazami genuinely striving to understand the disturbing events and relationships around her. While moments of dark humor or self-awareness exist, the primary mode is direct emotional and psychological engagement, lacking the sustained satirical or manipulative ironic distance found in works like Lolita (75) or The Sellout (85).
- Resolution withholding: 78 out of 100
- Despite Sui's concluding letter providing some factual updates on her life, the novel deliberately leaves profound ambiguities regarding the emotional and psychological resolutions for all characters. The true nature of the 'curse,' the long-term impact of their past, and the future of Kazami and Otohiko's relationship remain open-ended, creating a lingering uncertainty.
- Structural complexity: 45 out of 100
- The novel employs a largely linear chronology narrated from Kazami's first-person perspective, with clearly marked flashbacks to her past and her relationship with Shoji. While Sui's embedded letter offers a different voice, it does not fundamentally disrupt the narrative flow or introduce significant formal experimentation.
How N.P. is regarded
N.P. holds a literary regard score of 41 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.