Permeated by a deep affection for the city of Tokyo, its cuisine, its mass transit, its look and feel ... And the food! The unpretentious way Washington writes about food is a throughline in his work ... Not much happens in Palaver, though by the mother’s departure, we see that things will be a little less arctic in the son’s family of origin going forward. It’s enough, at least enough for the reader who appreciates texture and delicacy, queer authenticity, and a well-placed crisped oyster.
Contemplative, conversational, and atmospheric ... The story brings in earthquakes real and emotional as readers come to understand how the mother and son each ended up where they are, the hurts they carry, and their readiness, perhaps, to see beyond their assumptions about one another.
Bighearted ... The situation is rather straightforward, but Washington’s nuanced portrait of the gulf between mother and son and their difficulties bridging it offers keen insights into human relationships ... The author’s fans will love this.
