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kingkarl's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lazuli_73's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
ellaeh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pickleburns's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theillegiblevirgo's review against another edition
4.0
the descriptive nature of each line is immaculate.
the jump from past to present is so smooth, i never got lost in time.
the use of repetition and deep nature descriptions kept me grounded and invested.
the jump from past to present is so smooth, i never got lost in time.
the use of repetition and deep nature descriptions kept me grounded and invested.
miwqua's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
phoenix2's review against another edition
2.0
Tokyo Ueno Station centered around the tragic figure of the male narrator, who takes the reader through the historical events that took place in Japan after WWII, and they were somehow related to his own life.
You never really had luck, his mother told him once and, truly, the hero seems to be running out of it till the very final pages of this novella. His life was full of struggles and tragedies, while correlating with the big events in the Emperor's shiny life. And yet the narrator doesn't seem to give up on life, he doesn't even take it upon the Emperor when he makes the comparison of his situation with the latter's. Life seems to go on all around him, as it is shown by the small incidents and stolen conversations at the Ueno Station, where the homeless man is usually passes by. The books main theme, actually, except from the historical events, is the motif of life and death. That duo plays a central role in the character's life, and, in the end, he comes it terms with it and gives a hopeful node to the reader to not give up.
However, even though the story was deep and thought-provoking, it tended to get stuck between repetition and the back and forth pattern of the narration. That resulted in some boring passages that put the smooth storyline on a standstill for a while.
So, overall, even though the writer did a great job with the portrayal of the character and the history of Japan, giving emotional punches here and there, the novella ended up tiring to read.
You never really had luck, his mother told him once and, truly, the hero seems to be running out of it till the very final pages of this novella. His life was full of struggles and tragedies, while correlating with the big events in the Emperor's shiny life. And yet the narrator doesn't seem to give up on life, he doesn't even take it upon the Emperor when he makes the comparison of his situation with the latter's. Life seems to go on all around him, as it is shown by the small incidents and stolen conversations at the Ueno Station, where the homeless man is usually passes by. The books main theme, actually, except from the historical events, is the motif of life and death. That duo plays a central role in the character's life, and, in the end, he comes it terms with it and gives a hopeful node to the reader to not give up.
However, even though the story was deep and thought-provoking, it tended to get stuck between repetition and the back and forth pattern of the narration. That resulted in some boring passages that put the smooth storyline on a standstill for a while.
So, overall, even though the writer did a great job with the portrayal of the character and the history of Japan, giving emotional punches here and there, the novella ended up tiring to read.
rosielazar1's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? No
3.75