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welshbookfairy's review
3.0
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Firstly, if you plan on reading this book, set aside plenty of time for it, it took me so long to battle through it. At a huge 635 pages, this novel isn't for the faint hearted.
This novel is an insightful reflection of Japanese culture, with an in depth description of the police system and how authority works in Japan. It is a window into the terse relationship their police have with their press, and vice versa. No side is left untold.
Our main character is Mikamo, who is a member of the police force. Although he spends fifteen years, or so, as a detective, he is transferred to become Press Director of Media Relations in the Administrative Affairs department, who have a tense relationship with the Criminal Investigations department.
His daughter has run away from home, he is haunted by a kidnapping - code named Six Four - that took place fourteen years ago, and he is determined to uncover the police organisations secrets.
Sounds exciting, right? Don't hold your breath. The synopsis alludes to an anomaly that Mikamo discovers in the case of the kidnapping, which to me, was slightly misleading to how the storyline actually enacted. I excepted investigative work, and got journalism at best. I am a veteran of detective novels, and was really looking forward to sinking my teeth into this enormous entity, however the narrative was so much more different than those I had experienced before. In fact, I was surprised at how unconventional this detective novel was written to the ordinary crime fiction I've come to know and love. Not that the reading experience was unpleasant, only that I went into it with such a firm idea in my head that I spent a lot of the novel waiting for what I expected to happen.
The storyline was a bit complexing to me at first as I came to grips with how the Japanese system worked. I will admit that I learned a hell of a lot about Japan, which is great as I've been looking to broaden my horizons. But unfortunately, it made it that much harder to get into an already gruelling storyline.
The narrative is tense from the beginning, with peaks scattered through the pages, and pretty much no equilibrium to speak of. The story is so well written and detailed that it made the experience that much more realistic. And my blood pressure felt consistently raised a touch.
The main character, Mimako, was a hard character to like, or relate to, the only emotional reaction I had to him was of sympathy. I found him sexist and bullish, which, I imagine is an authentic reflection of the police force in Japan, unfortunately. Although I didn't like the protagonist of this novel, I was still pretty invested in his story.
The pace is slow, but the writing is compelling. The need to discover other peoples secrets is just part of our human nature; we find it almost physically impossible to mind our own business, even if you say otherwise, the author uses this to their advantage and keeps the readers guessing with each chapter (and there are many of them).
I persevered with this novel because the synopsis had stated there was a twist that no reader could predict, and although the author delivers on that, there is no closure to speak of, with any of the impactful events that occur during the progression of the story. However, I do believe that this book is part of a series, although it's only this novel that has been translated into English. Which might imply why the readers have no true closure on any of the main subject matters in the story.
If you read this, I recommend you don't go into it with your usual crime fiction head on, instead, be open minded, and interested in the Japanese culture, there are secrets and twists that will keep the reader entertained even if you are ashamedly uncultured like myself. Although this is not my cup of tea, I did enjoy learning about Japan, and Hideo Yokoyama; consider my horizons broadened.
unhallowed90's review against another edition
4.0
Very slow book but definitely in a good way. Lots of small building pieces. The twist was good but not as amazing as the jacket makes it sound.
_pickle_'s review against another edition
5.0
A hard book to read. It is the most interior, psychological book I've read. Layer on top of this a real obsession with bureaucratic minutia. It is dense and requires a lot of concentration from the reader. BUT. It is totally worth it. It does an excellent job of exploring japanese professional culture and policing. The way it creates and explores its character is compelling. It feels incredibly human in the way it captures emotions. Knock out.
suzanabozyid's review against another edition
2.0
Stopped reading at 300 pages. I am confronted with bureaucratic squabbling enough in my daily work as a civil servant to not want to read about it in my spare time.
clmckinney's review
4.0
This book is a bit hard to describe. I would say it is a bureaucratic thriller. It does deliver on plot though. It is an intricately woven tale. The drawback is that it often goes into detail about the inner workings of police departments and functions. It can get a little overwhelming with so many characters and roles. But I would say that the plot goes against the grain and thus makes it very original. I would give this one a 4/5.
marinazala's review against another edition
3.0
** Books 09 - 2019 **
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2019 and 2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
3 of 5 stars!
I remembered buying this books since i can't stand about the pink edges and also it is so cheap around IDR 60K. Another point that makes me interest to buy this pieces is i am eager to read more Japanese' author. No hesitate i'm bringing this book to cashier >__<
It took me a whole world to finish this pieces. I read this books slowly in my airplane to Japan in 2018 but it never finished until today. The storyline actually is makes me curious about an Media Relation Press Director, Mikami that looking for his disappeared daughter, Ayumi and in the same time he also one of ex-criminal investigation staff who investigated an six four Shoko Amamiya's kidnapped case. The culprit is never being catched by police and Shoko Amamiya is found dead.
I already set my high expecatation to this books. But actually i'm wrong. the storyline is not amused me. it slowly takes pain my ass to finish this books. too many things that not-important-stuff that being mention in this books so the storyline became complicated. another point is i'm not really fans of political and intric stuff between criminal investigation department or administration department. why the story is not straight on point just focusing how to catch Shoko Amamiya's kidnapper? =__=a
The story is getting better just in 20% last pages. you can feel how boring i am reading for 80% pages of this pieces. the real rating actually just 2,8 of 5 stars but i give more addition 0,2 stars since i appreciated more how Shoko Amamiya's dad trick to found who is murdered his daughter.
2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - A book you meant to read in 2018
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2019 and 2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
3 of 5 stars!
I remembered buying this books since i can't stand about the pink edges and also it is so cheap around IDR 60K. Another point that makes me interest to buy this pieces is i am eager to read more Japanese' author. No hesitate i'm bringing this book to cashier >__<
It took me a whole world to finish this pieces. I read this books slowly in my airplane to Japan in 2018 but it never finished until today. The storyline actually is makes me curious about an Media Relation Press Director, Mikami that looking for his disappeared daughter, Ayumi and in the same time he also one of ex-criminal investigation staff who investigated an six four Shoko Amamiya's kidnapped case. The culprit is never being catched by police and Shoko Amamiya is found dead.
I already set my high expecatation to this books. But actually i'm wrong. the storyline is not amused me. it slowly takes pain my ass to finish this books. too many things that not-important-stuff that being mention in this books so the storyline became complicated. another point is i'm not really fans of political and intric stuff between criminal investigation department or administration department. why the story is not straight on point just focusing how to catch Shoko Amamiya's kidnapper? =__=a
The story is getting better just in 20% last pages. you can feel how boring i am reading for 80% pages of this pieces. the real rating actually just 2,8 of 5 stars but i give more addition 0,2 stars since i appreciated more how Shoko Amamiya's dad trick to found who is murdered his daughter.
2019 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge - A book you meant to read in 2018
atalinay's review
5.0
Although it was long and slow-paced compared with other mystery novels, I absolutely loved this book. Many of the bad reviews stem from the book being long and the plot being focused on problems within the police rather than the mystery. I personally enjoyed Mikami's perspective as a former detective working in media relations. I found it interesting to read a Japanese perspective in a mystery novel and about the inner working relationships going on within sections of the police. As for the length, the book is divided into 81 chapters each transitioning the plot onward making it hard to put down. I can't exactly pinpoint why I loved this book so much, but it was a very enjoyable read.
emilyandherbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Emily and her books
Se vuoi tenerti aggiornato sulle mie letture e recensioni...
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« "Sei Quattro" era il codice con cui identificavano il caso di rapimento e assassinio della piccola Shoko, avvenuto quattordici anni prima: il primo vero caso di rapimento verificatosi nella giurisdizione di D. »
Non aspettatevi il solito thriller o crime.
[b:Sei Quattro|35378596|Sei Quattro|Hideo Yokoyama|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496764437l/35378596._SY75_.jpg|21990167] di [a:Hideo Yokoyama|5529932|Hideo Yokoyama|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1533216004p2/5529932.jpg] è divenuto un caso editoriale in patria e all'estero, arrivando alla creazione di un genere specifico in cui inserirlo: il bureaucracy thriller.
Il punto centrale del romanzo non è risolvere un caso o trovare l'assassino, bensì trovare la verità nascosta all'interno delle mura dello stesso dipartimento di polizia. Fondamentali sono i sottili fili che collegano i vari dipartimenti: sezione amministrativa, prima sezione, la squadra mobile e soprattutto l'ufficio stampa.
L'ufficio stampa così importante per la comunicazione con l'esterno, ma anche bistrattato dalle altre sezioni perché incaricato nel dover intrattenere contatti con i giornalisti sempre in cerca dello scoop da pubblicare.
Mikami Yoshinobu, capo dell'ufficio stampa ed ex ispettore, si ritrova invischiato in un caso che va oltre la sua immaginazione. Dopo quattordici anni, il caso "Sei Quattro", nome in codice per il rapimento e assassinio della piccola Shoko avvenuto nel 1989, sessantaquattresimo e ultimo anno dell'era Showa, viene riportato a galla con la volontà di risolverlo una volta per tutte. Il capo della Polizia nazionale vuole venire in visita per scusarsi ufficialmente con la famiglia della bambina uccisa. Mikami inizia a investigare i motivi che si nascondono dietro a questa visita, svelando però verità scomode per la polizia stessa.
Il punto di vista dell'ufficio stampa all'interno della polizia è uno dei motivi per cui consiglio di leggere [b:Sei Quattro|35378596|Sei Quattro|Hideo Yokoyama|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496764437l/35378596._SY75_.jpg|21990167]. Conoscere i retroscena all'interno del dipartimento di polizia l'ho trovato molto affascinante, ma a lungo andare la narrazione è risultata lunga e pesante. In alcuni punti è stato difficile anche ricordarsi i personaggi, numerosi e alcuni dei quali appaiono poche volte anche dopo capitoli. Fortunatamente la lista a inizio pagina è spesso stata d'aiuto nel riuscire a capire tutti i rapporti tra le varie persone.
Alla fine è stata una lettura piacevole e diversa dal solito, ma che consiglierei solo a veri appasionati di thriller alla ricerca di una narrazione differente da ciò che hanno già affrontato.
Se vuoi tenerti aggiornato sulle mie letture e recensioni...
♥ Youtube
♥ Altri link utili
« "Sei Quattro" era il codice con cui identificavano il caso di rapimento e assassinio della piccola Shoko, avvenuto quattordici anni prima: il primo vero caso di rapimento verificatosi nella giurisdizione di D. »
Non aspettatevi il solito thriller o crime.
[b:Sei Quattro|35378596|Sei Quattro|Hideo Yokoyama|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496764437l/35378596._SY75_.jpg|21990167] di [a:Hideo Yokoyama|5529932|Hideo Yokoyama|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1533216004p2/5529932.jpg] è divenuto un caso editoriale in patria e all'estero, arrivando alla creazione di un genere specifico in cui inserirlo: il bureaucracy thriller.
Il punto centrale del romanzo non è risolvere un caso o trovare l'assassino, bensì trovare la verità nascosta all'interno delle mura dello stesso dipartimento di polizia. Fondamentali sono i sottili fili che collegano i vari dipartimenti: sezione amministrativa, prima sezione, la squadra mobile e soprattutto l'ufficio stampa.
L'ufficio stampa così importante per la comunicazione con l'esterno, ma anche bistrattato dalle altre sezioni perché incaricato nel dover intrattenere contatti con i giornalisti sempre in cerca dello scoop da pubblicare.
Mikami Yoshinobu, capo dell'ufficio stampa ed ex ispettore, si ritrova invischiato in un caso che va oltre la sua immaginazione. Dopo quattordici anni, il caso "Sei Quattro", nome in codice per il rapimento e assassinio della piccola Shoko avvenuto nel 1989, sessantaquattresimo e ultimo anno dell'era Showa, viene riportato a galla con la volontà di risolverlo una volta per tutte. Il capo della Polizia nazionale vuole venire in visita per scusarsi ufficialmente con la famiglia della bambina uccisa. Mikami inizia a investigare i motivi che si nascondono dietro a questa visita, svelando però verità scomode per la polizia stessa.
Il punto di vista dell'ufficio stampa all'interno della polizia è uno dei motivi per cui consiglio di leggere [b:Sei Quattro|35378596|Sei Quattro|Hideo Yokoyama|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496764437l/35378596._SY75_.jpg|21990167]. Conoscere i retroscena all'interno del dipartimento di polizia l'ho trovato molto affascinante, ma a lungo andare la narrazione è risultata lunga e pesante. In alcuni punti è stato difficile anche ricordarsi i personaggi, numerosi e alcuni dei quali appaiono poche volte anche dopo capitoli. Fortunatamente la lista a inizio pagina è spesso stata d'aiuto nel riuscire a capire tutti i rapporti tra le varie persone.
Alla fine è stata una lettura piacevole e diversa dal solito, ma che consiglierei solo a veri appasionati di thriller alla ricerca di una narrazione differente da ciò che hanno già affrontato.
ericgaryanderson's review
4.0
I found SIX FOUR compelling. One of his blurbers describes Yokoyama as a Japanese James Ellroy, which I can sort of see, but ultimately Yokoyama is less raunchy and (though this is a risky thing to say given that I'm reading an English translation) less frisky with language than Ellroy. What you get here is a very deeply layered procedural: past and present crimes converge as various offices within the police department come into conflict and various bureaucrats and detectives pursue various schemes, not all of which are overt and readily apparent, so that there's LOTS here about tensions between the press and the police department's media relations office, for example, and lots here about your protagonist swimming, as they say, upstream against various currents. One caution: this novel has a big cast of characters, many of whom have similar-sounding names beginning with M. It takes a bit of a concentrated effort to pick the story back up when you go back into the book after stepping away from it for a spell. But I thought the narrative gathered plenty of momentum and it kept me interested.