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newamsterdame's review against another edition
3.0
Kirino's spin on Japan's creation myth is a long, deep look at the cyclical nature of women's suffering. The female characters of this story-- from the goddess Izanami to the central narrator Namima-- are all assigned roles which they cannot escape. The male characters, on the other hand, are able to push and pull at their destinies and change outcomes. Mahito is able to lift his family's curse through deceit, Izanaki can take different forms and eventually escape his destiny as a life-bringer. But the women, no matter what their hopes or desires, no matter how drastic their actions, don't seem to have the same power.
This translation of Kirino's prose is crisp and efficient. There are places in which it feels like the chanting of the priestess guiding a funeral process, and places where it is clinical and brutal when describing sudden death or murder. Although many of the interior thoughts and motivations of characters remain shrouded, the book portrays Namima, Izanaki and especially Izanami very deeply.
Ultimately, this is a story that uses the lives of mortals to try and capture the suffering of gods-- the cumulative and continuous suffering of a female god presiding over death. In that mission, we're ultimately left a little unsatisfied. But that may be because such suffering really is beyond comprehension.
This translation of Kirino's prose is crisp and efficient. There are places in which it feels like the chanting of the priestess guiding a funeral process, and places where it is clinical and brutal when describing sudden death or murder. Although many of the interior thoughts and motivations of characters remain shrouded, the book portrays Namima, Izanaki and especially Izanami very deeply.
Ultimately, this is a story that uses the lives of mortals to try and capture the suffering of gods-- the cumulative and continuous suffering of a female god presiding over death. In that mission, we're ultimately left a little unsatisfied. But that may be because such suffering really is beyond comprehension.
jessicaemily's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
bytheosean's review against another edition
4.0
i never would have found this book without the help of a college course, and while the yin-yang aspects were a little lost on me, it was interesting to read about a mythology that was separate from that of greek mythology. i will say tho that i did not the “let me put my place of excess into your place of missing” or whatever the hell izanaki said when he found out she had a vagina and made her give birth to the islands of japan, but the rest was fine. (actually. what the fuck was the part w the wasp. that caught me so off guard,, and for her to successfully avenge herself against her human murderer with a stinger?? did he have a bee allergy??? natural selection at that point.)
patchworkbunny's review against another edition
4.0
Namima was barely sixteen when she died. From her birth she was destined to be yin to her sister’s yang. Her sister was to become the Oracle, priestess of the Realm of Light and Namima’s fate was to be the priestess of the Realm of the Dead. Bound to her duties without understanding them, Namima meets a boy, knocking their fates off-course.
The Goddess Chronicle is the latest in The Myths series, retelling the story of Izanami and Izanagi interwoven with the old customs of one of Japan’s most remote islands. The myth comes from the Kojiki or “Book of Ancient Matters”, which dates back to the 8th century and tells the story of the kami or gods. It’s interesting to see the overlap between myths of different cultures. There are elements recognisable in the Greek stories of the underworld. Like Orpheus, Izanagi goes against advice not to look. When it comes to matters of the underworld, when you’re told not to look, don’t look!
Their story combines a creation myth, in which they create the islands that would later become modern Japan, and the resulting tragedy which drives Izanami and Izanagi apart. He vows to populate the earth above and she takes revenge, killing one thousand people each and every day. I love learning about new mythologies, previously knowing very little about that of Japan. The story still keeps the feeling of a myth, almost fable like in its telling and a sense of timelessness. This does mean you shouldn’t expect overly complex characters, but ones that represent ideas.
The writing style also suits Namima’s naivety. When she must take the food to her sister, she does not see it as an offering; no one explains anything to her. To throw away the uneaten food seems wasteful, especially as others of the island are starving. Her sheltered life means she doesn’t manage to put two and two together later on in the story.
The novel has three distinct parts. Firstly Namima’s short life and her journey into the Realm of the Dead. Did you know there’s even a word to describe these stories where the character ventures into the underworld, usually for some task? Katabasis. Secondly is the introduction of Izanami and the retelling of her myth and her current circumstances. Then the final section weaves together their two tales. It is a tale of birth and death, love and revenge.
The Goddess Chronicle is the latest in The Myths series, retelling the story of Izanami and Izanagi interwoven with the old customs of one of Japan’s most remote islands. The myth comes from the Kojiki or “Book of Ancient Matters”, which dates back to the 8th century and tells the story of the kami or gods. It’s interesting to see the overlap between myths of different cultures. There are elements recognisable in the Greek stories of the underworld. Like Orpheus, Izanagi goes against advice not to look. When it comes to matters of the underworld, when you’re told not to look, don’t look!
Their story combines a creation myth, in which they create the islands that would later become modern Japan, and the resulting tragedy which drives Izanami and Izanagi apart. He vows to populate the earth above and she takes revenge, killing one thousand people each and every day. I love learning about new mythologies, previously knowing very little about that of Japan. The story still keeps the feeling of a myth, almost fable like in its telling and a sense of timelessness. This does mean you shouldn’t expect overly complex characters, but ones that represent ideas.
The writing style also suits Namima’s naivety. When she must take the food to her sister, she does not see it as an offering; no one explains anything to her. To throw away the uneaten food seems wasteful, especially as others of the island are starving. Her sheltered life means she doesn’t manage to put two and two together later on in the story.
The novel has three distinct parts. Firstly Namima’s short life and her journey into the Realm of the Dead. Did you know there’s even a word to describe these stories where the character ventures into the underworld, usually for some task? Katabasis. Secondly is the introduction of Izanami and the retelling of her myth and her current circumstances. Then the final section weaves together their two tales. It is a tale of birth and death, love and revenge.
lightsleeper_heavydreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
I was really drawn into this book at first, I love mythology and the setting is so beautiful and bewitching. However about halfway through I got kind of frustrated with the plot becaus the whole book feels like a completely unjustified punishment for the main character while other people get what they want and it's just explaine with fate and predetermination. The characters are all forced to play a certain, often miserable role and cannot escape. I still really liked The Godess Chronicle, the writing was beautiful and I got very emotional reading it.
clauds05's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0
I know very little about Japanese mythology, so this retelling of the myth of Izanami, intertwined with the story of the mortal woman Namima, is quite interesting to me. It's written like a fable and is easy to read while at the same time containing some really strong images and doublings.
mirrorofneptune's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This is definitely not Kirino’s usual setting (mythological vs modern Japan) and not her usual messaging style (very on the nose compared to her other works) but I still enjoyed the story and the mystical elements. Subject matter and tone-wise it did feel in line with her “feminist noir” label. There’s something here about the connection between birth and death and how Kirino is connecting that to womanhood that I think I need to come back to.