Set My Heart on Fire

The first novel by Izumi Suzuki to be published in English is a candid, intimate exploration of passion, music and transgression. Set in the underground bar and club scene of 1970s Tokyo, Set My Heart On Fire follows Izumi in her turbulent twenties through a series of disarmingly frank vignettes. The book portrays missteps, miscommunication, powerful drugs and disorientating meds, alongside good music and unreliable men. Juxtaposed with the protagonist’s growing attachment to Jun, the novel delves into mistaken relationships and the convolutions of desire, while exploring regret and acceptance. A driving, visceral current is provided by a rock-solid soundtrack that spans The Zombies, T. Rex and the Rolling Stones, as well as underground Japanese psychedelic-rock acts like the Tigers and the Tempters. The work is translated by Helen O’Horan and was published on 12 November 2024, with a 192-page, paperback edition.

The narrative offers a vivid portrait of a young woman navigating love, risk and identity in a vibrant, murky world where music and nightlife shape every choice.

Kenmerken

• Set in 1970s Tokyo's underground bar scene
• Frank vignettes over desire and miscommunication
• Protagonist’s turbulent twenties and complex relationships
• Music as a vital, pulsating soundtrack
• Western and Japanese bands referenced
• Themes of regret, acceptance, and transgression