When I first started reading this I thought I'd accidentally requested to read a smut-lit book but it turns out it was just what the protagonist did for fun. Shaka was born with congenital muscle disorder and lived in a group home found and paid for by her deceased parents. Whiling away the hours writing erotic fiction, Shaka had thoughts and questions about things she wanted to experience that able-bodied women could, that she wanted to post on social media but she saved them to her drafts, until she didn't. A care worker at the home found her online postings and offered her what she wanted at price.

I didn't enjoy this much, mainly because I felt that there wasn't much of plot, mostly the personal views of a disabled woman. The story petered out to no satisfaction and left me wondering whether it needed more substance. I didn't think Shaka's feelings and thoughts were farfetched by any means, but the whole story felt more like a longread fiction piece rather than a novel.

Hunchback is not an easy book to read in a number of ways. Written about and by a severely disabled woman it's about the life and struggles of someone who has never wanted for anything in life materially or financially. Born with a devastating muscular disorder Shaka Isawa lives in a Hi Tech facility with her life depending on machines and carers writing erotic stories about thing she imagines but has never experienced. All Shaka wants is to experience things other women experience, even to the point of a particularly traumatic and disturbing one that shocked and horrified me until one reflection I managed to understand.

This is a very dark book ,I don't know how much of it is autobiographical but Shaka's story is one of frustration, dark thoughts and yearning. The life of someone with severe disabilities battling to do even the basic things of life ,changing position,reading and much else is told in a way that the reader is made fully aware of what a challenge doing things that the more fortunate of us do without a thought . Shaka has wants,desires and ambitions that she plays out online but wants to experience in reality.

Already an award winner in Japan this is a powerful book that pulls no punches, not least in the quite graphic detail of the reality of struggling with everything from other people's perceptions, the frustration of a highly intelligent person thwarted by a dysfunctional body and the reality of even the most basic of bodily functions and hygiene needing the help of others. That said Shaka is a very strong-willed person who knows what she wants and is determined to get it.

Not a book for everyone, often dark and disturbing it's not a book that will bring much joy into your life but it's superbly written and if you can handle the content its one that will stay in your mind for a long time and you'll realise why it's been lauded as one of the most important Japanese novels of the 21st century.

Shaka Isawa’s spine is twisted so deeply that her lungs struggle to take in oxygen. She uses an electric wheelchair most of the time. Shaka gets paid to write erotica online and studies at university, both from the privacy of her own room. She is the owner of the care facility that she resides in, thanks to her wealthy parents, and donates all of the money she makes from her writing to food banks and shelters. She secretly posts her deepest, darkest wishes under a pseudonym online: she would like to experience an abortion.

The beginning of this book was so well written that I thought I had downloaded the wrong file! Each element of this story was expertly crafted and expertly interwoven throughout the text. The story prods the reader into considering the current climate for disabled people, and how poorly constructed our current society is. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, especially able-bodied people with no experience of physical disability.

4/5 stars

This was a short yet not easy read! It was the first time I read from the POV of a heavily physically disabled person, and was really insightful to read about her daily life, thoughts and struggles, with the Japanese culture backdrop added in as well. Fascinating and very necessary novel!

I can see this being a polarising book. For me it was a fascinating read, both a realistic portrayal of a disabled person and the small glimpse into Japanese culture. I want to read from this author again.