About the Author

Emi Yagi was born in 1988, and is currently a corporate employee and an editor. Diary of a Void is her first novel, and it won the 36th Dazai Osamu Prize, awarded annually to debut writers.

Reviews

If you're in the mood for a matter-of-fact and incredibly thought-provoking read, you'll love Yagi's writing.
*Stylist*

The tension grows along with the comedic details. . . . Diary of a Void starts as stylish satire... but it becomes something even more profound. Always expect the unexpected when you're not expecting.
*Departures*

A subversive, surreal read that will strike a cord.
*Red Magazine*

One of the most passionate cases I've ever read for female interiority, for women's creative pulse and rich inner life.
*The New Yorker*

Endlessly strange, funny and meaningful... This book is a powerful exploration of what it means to be single and childless, and of the impact of work on our bodies and mental health
*Good Housekeeping, *Books of the Year**

Yagi has a light touch for the endless ironies made possible by her premise. There is humor, but also the realization that the alienation of pregnancy and motherhood is no reprieve from the oppressive office culture that inspires Shibata's experiment.
*New York Times Book Review*

Delightful . . . Yagi's focus is on how acting pregnant reshapes Shibata's relationship to herself... Yet the book never idealizes pregnancy...We see the difficulty of being a woman with or without a child, and Yagi emphasizes how society makes both roles harder... If you've ever wanted to bite back at a nosy boss, a rude co-worker, an unfair assignment, or the endless list of shoulds we face, then maybe you'll find something to enjoy in Shibata's audacity too.
*The Atlantic*

One of the most intriguing new novels of the summer.
*Independent*

Shibata is a modern-day Bartleby.
*The Baffler*

Darkly funny and surprisingly tender.
*Kirsty Logan, author of THINGS WE SAY IN THE DARK*