Kitchen Lesson Plan

Discuss the seasons in the novella. What happens in each one, and what effect does this seasonal structure have on the narrative as a whole?

The novella starts in the spring with the death of Mikage's grandmother and her moving into the Tanabes'. In the summer, Mikage learns to cook, which results in Yuichi, Eriko, and her spending more time together than they otherwise may have. The fall is when Eriko dies, and the novella comes to an end in the winter with Yuichi and Mikage possibly starting a relationship (it is implied, but not explicitly stated that is happening). The spring is normally a time of birth and winter one of death, but it is the exact opposite in...