Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada, translated by Margaret Mitsutani, is acclaimed for its imaginative narrative and themes of language and identity. Critics praise its inventive use of a post-apocalyptic context to explore human connection. Some found the pacing uneven. Overall, it's seen as an intellectually stimulating read.

Readers who appreciate Scattered All Over the Earth by Yoko Tawada and Transl. Margaret Mitsutani are drawn to speculative fiction exploring language, culture, and identity. Fans of The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson and 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami will enjoy this novel’s innovative narrative and global perspective.

In Yoko Tawada's Scattered All Over the Earth, Hiruko, a refugee from a vanished "land of sushi," traverses Europe in search of compatriots, aided by a growing group of friends including Knut, a linguist, and Akash, a transgender Indian student. The novel delves into themes of cultural hybridity, language as identity, and the stress of diaspora through their journey, reflecting Tawada’s exophonic literary identity. The text contains both anti-immigrant and anti-transgender language.

Mysterious / Challenging / Contemplative / Fantastical / Melancholic

- Yoko Tawada, author of Scattered All Over the Earth, is a bilingual writer who pens works in both Japanese and German, reflecting cross-cultural themes.
- Translator Margaret Mitsutani is known for her expertise in translating Japanese literature into English, including works by renowned author Kenzaburō Ōe.
- The novel blends speculative fiction with imaginative linguistic exploration, showcasing Tawada's unique storytelling style.

**Hiruko**  
One of six narrators and a central protagonist, she is a refugee searching for someone who speaks her native language, and she invents a homemade language called Panska.

**Knut**  
A linguist and one of the protagonists, he becomes fascinated with Hiruko and her language journey and forms connections with those who speak different languages.

**Akash**  
A transgender woman from Pune, India, studying in Trier, who develops a crush on Knut and uses clothing to express her cultural and gender identity.

**Nora**  
Originally from Europe and living in Trier, Germany, she becomes involved with Nanook and is challenged by her assumptions about his identity.

**Nanook (Tenzo)**  
An Indigenous Greenlander who adopts a mistaken identity, reflecting on his search for a more stable identity while traveling across Europe.

**Susanoo**  
A foil to Hiruko, he shares a similar background but loses his ability to speak, representing communication beyond language.

**Knut's Mother (Inga Nielson)**  
Seen by Knut as overbearing, she is a character worried about the independence of Greenlanders and acts as a guardian to Nanook.

Yoko Tawada

Transl. Margaret Mitsutani

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