WHY JOIN JFT BOOK CLUB?

You can read a book by yourself, but when you read something thought-provoking or moving, it’s natural to want to discuss it with someone else. This will be an exciting opportunity to connect with other book lovers from different cultural backgrounds, find new and interesting books, authors, or themes, and develop a richer understanding of Japan that you wouldn’t gain from reading alone!

HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK?

1. Once you register for the event, you will receive guiding questions to help you think more deeply about the book.

2. On the day of the event, we will meet via Zoom and in person at Japan Foundation Toronto Library (2 Bloor St E #300, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8 Canada). *How to find us: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/about-us/how-to-find-us/

3. We will start with a quick introduction & ice-breaking activity (*Light refreshments will be served for in-person participants)

4. Depending on the number of the participants, we will break into a few small groups to discuss questions so that everyone has a chance to share their thoughts.

5. After each breakout session, each group will share what they have discussed with other groups.

*There is no right or wrong answer. Different perspectives make discussion more fun and vibrant!

WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE BOOK?

Run Away With Me, Girl, Volume 1 (physical copies and ebooks) and the original Japanese version『かけおちガール』１巻 (physical copy) are available at JFT Library! The checkout of the physical copies are limited to JFT Book Club participants for a 1-week loan period (non-renewable). 

To get a new library card or to renew your existing card, please follow the instructions found here.

  Borrow Ebook     Email Library to place hold (physical copy) 

For more information about the book or where else you can get the physical copies, click here.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Run Away With Me, Girl

(The original Japanese version:『かけおちガール』)

Written by Battan 

Translated by Kevin Steinbach

Published by Kodansha, 2020 / Kodansha USA, 2022

A dramatic, funny, and painful romance manga between two women about how, sometimes, you need to run away in order to find where you truly belong. Perfect for fans of coming-out yuri like How Do We Relationship? and masters of adult drama like Akiko Higashimura (Princess Jellyfish) and Takako Shimura (Even Though We’re Adults). You know that one person you just can’t forget? Not the one that got away, but the one you had, until suddenly you didn’t? Maki’s first love was her high school classmate, a girl named Midori. But Midori broke up with Maki at graduation, saying they were now “too old to be fooling around dating girls.” Ten years later, Maki still can’t get Midori off her mind, and when the two women reconnect after a chance encounter, Maki realizes that, while her feelings haven’t changed, Midori has long moved on—in fact, she’s engaged. Yet the more Maki hears Midori talk about her soon-to-be-husband, the more red flags she notices. And Midori has another secret, one she hasn’t yet shared with Maki. Will it be the last blow to Maki’s hopes that their romance might be rekindled? Or will it be the push that sets them on a new path—one they’ll travel together?

— from Publisher’s website

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Battan debuted in 2016 with her title Nijiiro konpurekkusu (Rainbox Color Complex), published by KODANSHA. Her other works include Ane no yujin (My Older Sister’s Friend, LEED), Kakeochi garu (Kodansha; published in English as Run Away with Me, Girl), Kemutai ane to zurui imoto (Annoying and Cunning Sisters, Kodansha). Soshite hiroin wa inaku natta (And Then There Were No Heroines) is currently being serialized in the online comic platform Web Action. Battan loves dogs.