Description

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Trapped in trauma, alone abroad, and loathing the lockdown. Will she find freedom?
Japanese Kigaiko Wazawai knows: if she cannot feel whole, it won't be the Corona virus that will kill her.

Guided by philosophical discussions with her grandfather, and metaphorical dreams, Kigai ventures into a journey of self-discovery and online dating, and the Korean-American Jacob Isdadi she gets to know soon becomes a close companion.

However, their path is full of obstacles: her unprocessed trauma pulls her back; the pandemic blocks them from meeting; and if the present wasn't enough, the historically tense Japanese-Korean relation forms additional stumbling blocks.

Kigai fights through a labyrinth of different approaches to escape her inner prison until there seems no way past a compromise: not reaching her destination, or losing the man she loves.

Bestseller in the US, UK and Germany, this melancholic, almost dark first part of the series is about self-discovery and healing from trauma and depression. If you like flawed characters with a tragic backstory who struggle to find love in a distant relationship, you will love this psychological literary fiction that provokes thoughts long after finishing the last page.Buy Prison of Loneliness today, when you want to follow the escape from inner restraints.

For which audience is it written?
Depending on the interests, the book can appeal to people:
- Fighting with or wanting to understand mental health (loneliness, trauma, PTSD, depression, rape, grief)
- Living abroad or intrigued by Asian culture (Japanese, Korean-American)
- Wanting to learn about relationship theory through a story rather than a textbook (toxic relationships, love languages, attachment styles, online dating)

Which genre do you attribute this book to?
The novel has all elements of upmarket fiction.
With psychological self-development as the backbone of the story, this is literary fiction.
The tragic love story brings an additional layer of modern romance and women's fiction.
Real-life events inspired many descriptions and actions, so it could even be called auto-fiction.
Cultural differences between one's home country and country of residence, as well as in the interactions with other people, justify the classification as Asian literature or world literature.

There's free bonus. Find out how to get it in the book. The bonuses:

The Prison Dreams Uncut
Kigai forgot many details about her dreams as she woke up. Relive the dreams of Kigai as if they were real.

The Interpretation Help
Reading the novel you will theorise about the metaphors, but you won't know if you are right. Check out this sheet and understand all the elements.

The Deciphering Game
Participate in the deciphering game and win an invitation to a live stream with the author, an interview for your social media/blog/podcast, or a private conversation with the author, if you prefer.