3 out of 4 stars
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American Misfit by David Tabatsky is the true story of the author's detention in a Japanese prison for possession - and suspected dealing - of marijuana. Japanese police burst into Tabatsky's house in the urban sprawl of greater Tokyo. They find a small amount of marijuana and demand to know his supplier. He is taken "downtown" to the police station, booked and put in a cell for the night, which he shares with three other men. He has no idea how the legal system works in Japan or how long he will remain imprisoned. The original holding period is three days, which can be extended by ten - and it is. Then the prosecutor adds another ten...
Tabatsky's writing style impressed me from the opening scene where the police invaded his home. His sentences are sharp and concise: "They talk all at once. Heads are twitching. Their mouths make noise like tense birds. They strike matches and blow. Smoke gets in our eyes. They’re yapping at each other. My ears are pestered with bumbling English." The book also includes many examples of literary prose, such as: "The walls are blank memory banks, tainted momentarily by one man’s folly, only to be erased to absorb the next bust of foolishness." Describing the interior of the police station, this clearly refers to mug shot photographs taken against these walls.
This book is a compelling exploration of how Tabatsky loses his sense of control, then all sense of self, the longer he remains imprisoned. His behaviour becomes erratic. He suffers from insomnia and headaches. He also loses his sense of humour, which is a big deal for a man who is a clown and street performer. The narration is a real eye-opener for anyone who has not personally experienced time in prison. And the judicial system in Japan is far more rigid than that in the United States, especially for drug offences.
Tabatsky states: "There is a popular proverb in Japan, which says, 'The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.'" This is an apt metaphor for the relative conformity of Japanese life, with people taught to work hard to fit in. Americans, by contrast, are encouraged to stand out, be bold, express themselves in unique ways. As a Caucasian man in Japan, a "Gaijin", Tabatsky believes he is similar to a black or brown man in America, who would be indicted for the same minor offence due to the bigotry of the judicial system. "One man's privilege is another's detriment."
The narrative of American Misfit is quirky and creative. Tabatsky even narrates an ongoing boxing bout between his "sound mind" and his "unsound mind" to symbolise his deteriorating mental and emotional state. The book also has many interesting insights into Japanese culture and customs, with the main jailhouse narrative broken up by other events from Tabatsky's life in Tokyo. We learn about his tiny eight-by-seven-foot apartment, the rail system, public baths, and more. It also includes some moving moments during the author's tough time in prison, including a visit from his best friend "Iggie" (Igarashi) on day 24 of his prison stay. Tabatsky finds himself gripping Iggie's forearm firmly throughout their conversation, terrified to let go.
The only aspect of this book I found annoying was Tabatsky's continuous substitution of "l" for "r" (and vice versa) for Japanese speech most of the way through the book. While cute and amusing at first, certain longer sentences took time to decipher, plus it felt just a bit racist. I think a small sample at the beginning would be enough for the reader to get the idea, then write the rest in plain English for readability.
I believe American Misfit is worthy of 4 stars. It is a strongly written and compelling story of one man thrown well out of his comfort zone, losing control of his own life. Unfortunately, I found ten errors by around page 190, so I must rate it 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in real human drama or Japanese culture. Just be aware that it does contain some coarse language, which I found justified given Tabatsky's emotion-charged predicament.
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American MIsfit
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I think it really helps to include a sample or two of the writing when an author is particularly good, like David. With the sheer volume of self-published books out there now (many poorly edited or written), quality writing impresses me like never before.
