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ducktective's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Classism, and Death
flamesocks's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Suicide
Moderate: Classism and Alcohol
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this incredibly depressing book highlights family, loss, grief, and poverty. however, it is not particularly memorable imo, I'm writing this quite a bit after finishing it and had to reread the synopsis to jog my memory which isn't a good sign.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
travisppe's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Very sad and mournful. Didn’t really land with me. I thought the concept was intriguing but the storyline didn’t connect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Classism, Death, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Chronic illness
hapikohw's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was unfortunately underwhelming. I felt like a ghost to the story, or it was to me. Something felt vacant and missing. The premise was very appetizing, but the reality of the book for me was that I was gnawing on bones and left with no meat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Animal death, Classism, Death, and War
islesbiyana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Grief, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Suicide, Animal death, and Child death
zoiejanelle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
some words other reviewers used to describe this book that i find accurate:
- melancholy
- meandering
- solemn
- poetic
this was a fascinating look into japanese culture and gave a simultaneously realistic and depressing view of the religious, class, and economic issues japanese people still deal with today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Child death, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcohol and Classism
Minor: War and Violence
mondovertigo's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Classism
karmajolie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Child death, and Death
Minor: Animal death
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My favorite books lately have been short in length while still packing a massive punch, and Tokyo Ueno Station is no exception. This novel is a masterpiece examination of class, despair, migrant labor, grief, poverty, generational trauma, cultural attitudes towards the homeless, globalism, and mortality. The story is nonlinear; a perfect fit for the way one would imagine a spirit experiencing memory.
This is the first book I have ever read that not only has a homeless narrator, Kazu, but also heavily features a community of folks who live in temporary dwellings. Yu Miri has created an unflinching and empathetic glimpse into the margins of modern Japanese society.
Lastly, Kazu's descriptions of the scenery and historical anecdotes grant readers a clear image of the physical setting. Thus, Ueno Park essentially becomes as real of a character as Kazu himself.
I can't stop thinking about this powerful book. I hope you'll read it, too.
This is the first book I have ever read that not only has a homeless narrator, Kazu, but also heavily features a community of folks who live in temporary dwellings. Yu Miri has created an unflinching and empathetic glimpse into the margins of modern Japanese society.
Lastly, Kazu's descriptions of the scenery and historical anecdotes grant readers a clear image of the physical setting. Thus, Ueno Park essentially becomes as real of a character as Kazu himself.
I can't stop thinking about this powerful book. I hope you'll read it, too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: War and Hate crime