Jean M. Roberts : The Book's Delight

  Review: Ramen, Existential Crisis by Roie Oknin Genre: Literary Fiction Pages: 164 Published: 5 August 2026 Book Blurb: Koji is twenty-seven and one module short of a degree in Politics and Government. The missing module is Crisis Management. It feels appropriate. For six years, he has worked in a tiny ramen shop with eleven seats, one dish and a broth whose flame has not gone out in thirty-two years. The ramen noodles cook for exactly eighty-five seconds. Then the timer fails. A stranger gives Koji his business card. Someone from his past walks into the restaurant. Around him, other people make decisions and continue with their lives. Koji has always known what should be done. Doing it is another matter.   Short story: I loved this spare, beautiful story!   My Review: From the first page, the writing style of Roie Oknin sucked me in. It’s spare but beautiful, nothing superfluous, everything is exact; just like making the perfect bowl of ramen soup. Koji is an achingly ...