After waking up from a nightmare, Gilbert decides to flee his life. Upon arriving in Tokyo he quickly meets Yosa, a young man contemplating suicide. Together the pair search Japan to find the perfect spot for Yosa to end his life. What follows is a beautiful melancholic and heart-warming adventure. One I would highly recommend.

Picked by John

When Gilbert wakes one day from a dream that his wife has cheated on him, he flees – immediately and inexplicably – for Tokyo, where he meets a fellow lost soul: Yosa, a young Japanese student clutching a copy of The Complete Manual of Suicide. Together, Gilbert and Yosa set off on a pilgrimage to see the pine islands of Matsushima, one looking for the perfect end to his life, the other for a fresh start. Playful and profound, The Pine Islands is a beautiful tale of friendship, transformation and acceptance in modern Japan.