Fear And Trembling
(Amelie Nothomb)
The novella, ?Fear and Trembling? by Amelie Nothomb is essential reading for anyone who has felt unloved and useless at work. Set in corporate Japan, Nothomb?s book is evidence that not all Japanese business strategies are efficient.
Amelie, our heroine, is of Belgian descent but has warm childhood memories of Japan. Amelie loves the country and respects its distinctive values, so it is ironic that she becomes a victim of the Japanese corporate culture that she was so desperate to join.
?Fear and Trembling? is all about work. We know nothing of Amelie?s outside life, all we know is that she is a Belgian woman; a graduate who speaks perfect Japanese. In the West, Amelie would be a highflier, but in Japan her considerable abilities get her into nothing but trouble. Amelie threatens the male dominated, ridiculously hierarchical structure of the firm, so her desire to do a good job is quickly suppressed by her immediate superiors.
Amelie soon becomes a victim of workplace bullying. Her boss, Fubuki, is female; an unusual role for a woman to occupy in the firm. Amelie is in awe of the beautiful Japanese woman and despite the disgusting way in which Fubuki treats her, she continues to admire and respect Fubuki right up until the end of her one-year contract.
Fubuki is a cruel person who destroys Amelie?s self esteem to such an extent that Amelie actually agrees with her diagnosis that she has learning problems. Jubilant in her assessment of Amelie, Fubuki then assigns her a job which she believes is within her scope; toilet attendant.
?Fear and Trembling? is both sad and frustrating; the reader is desperate for Amelie to stand up for herself. The book is only made bearable by the high quality of its writing and its wonderful black humour.
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