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franksreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Misogyny and Pregnancy
Minor: Murder, War, and Toxic relationship
nineinchnails's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the end threw me for a loop but i still really enjoyed this! there was a lot of loose ends (and ambiguity) which had this feeling a little anticlimactic but i’m sure i’ll get much more out of this novel on a reread. it does feel a little underdeveloped but it was still really engaging.
this was pretty eerie and atmospheric at parts - it almost felt like a horror, which does explain feeling slightly cheated by the ending. despite how short this was (183 pages) it felt much longer somehow; even the side characters felt relatively complex and well developed.
this was pretty eerie and atmospheric at parts - it almost felt like a horror, which does explain feeling slightly cheated by the ending. despite how short this was (183 pages) it felt much longer somehow; even the side characters felt relatively complex and well developed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Suicide, and Misogyny
Moderate: Murder, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Child death, Animal death, and Grief
Minor: War
Child neglectbaruss666's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: War
senko's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Animal cruelty, and Suicide
risemini's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Grief, Misogyny, Suicide, War, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
threeundertwopnw's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A maddening read at times, as the characters talk a lot without really saying anything. Yet a lot of life in post-war Japan is covered through their stories. Includes a big plot twist that I guessed early on. Fascinating immersive read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Moderate: Child death, Classism, Abandonment, Pregnancy, Death, Suicide, and War
kitten_nuisance's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Suicide, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism, Death of parent, War, and Pregnancy
justinlewry's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Mrs Fujiwara always tells me how important it is to keep looking forward. And she’s right. If people didn’t do that, all of this-I pointed again at the view-all this would still be rubble.
This story is quite deceptive. I questioned the purpose of the narrative for much of the book. On its surface it appears that we are moving between two unrelated periods in our protagonist's life, however in a brief but revelatory moment, it becomes clear that much of what we have been presented has not been entirely true. I believe that Etsuko and her friend Sachiko are one and the same, and that the present day Etsuko has inserted herself into her memories to be the voice of reason and challenge her rationale of the past. Etsuko feels responsible for her daughter's suicide, and the enormity of this weighs heavily in such subtle ways- like it is always bubbling under the surface.
I found the writing style to extremely atmospheric and enjoyed my time with this book very much. I feel that it would be even better upon repeat readings as I would notice more of the breadcrumbs which first seemed insignificant. I am very curious to read more from this author, particularly as I've heard that his other books are all wildly different.
I found the writing style to extremely atmospheric and enjoyed my time with this book very much. I feel that it would be even better upon repeat readings as I would notice more of the breadcrumbs which first seemed insignificant. I am very curious to read more from this author, particularly as I've heard that his other books are all wildly different.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, and War
elainarkk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While this book was certainly intriguing, it was not life-changing. I read this for a British Literature course and found the historical aspects of novel very interesting, as the setting subtly illustrates a post-WW2 Nagasaki. The characters are frightening and the tone tense, but ultimately, the plot falls flat. Even after clarifying classroom discussions, I felt like the book offered little in return for reading it. While there were some intense and reflective portions of it the ending was rather unsatisfying. Also, there were so many plot points fleshed out, only to never be discussed again, but perhaps this was Ishiguro's intention--as much of the book makes better sense in hindsight than in first reading it. Still, I liked the way some of the major themes (motherhood; aftermath of war; trauma; guilt) were expressed. Overall, this book wasn't phenomenal, but it was pleasant enough to read! While I will still be reading more of Ishiguro's work, but I hope it is more decisive than A Pale View of Hills, but with all the same introspection and consideration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: War and Mental illness
cordeliamartin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Grief, Violence, and War
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Death, Abandonment, and Alcohol