Scan barcode
meaghanelizabook'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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Animal death, Child death, and Suicide
apersonfromflorida's review
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Animal death
kitpotter's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
I enjoyed several aspects of this book, including the descriptive writing and exploration of Japanese daily life, culture, and history. However, I struggled with the constantly shifting stream of consciousness and frequently felt lost. The ending stunned and moved me, and I am still reflecting on Kazu's decision.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Abandonment
crystalndolis's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
I found the structure of the book really interesting. The switching between current ghost-status musings by Kazu with his past memories of being alive and the suffering he experienced made for an interesting narrative. Overall it was a sad life for him, and made the inequities in Japan a main part of his story, too. I wish more characters/motives were more fleshed out, but maybe that was the point. Just trying to survive for him made him not have a lot of personality or goals for life, which is a point in itself.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Child death and Suicide
deannawalton's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Child death, Animal death, Suicide, Grief, and Death of parent
natlikestoread's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
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
eyredactyl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, and Death of parent
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
servemethesky's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
The cover was gorgeous, but this book was too depressing even for my taste!
I was glad for the opportunity to learn about homelessness in Japan. It seems like the unhoused are treated better there (for example, given notification and a place to store their belongings if city officials need them to move because of an event), but still underserved and unseen by the vast majority of society. Kazu, our dead narrator, has lived away from his family for 20+ years working to support them, and just faces loss after loss while living and working alone.
This book didn’t pack an emotional punch for me—I think because stylistically, it was written at a bit of a remove. Also, hated the ending. The tsunami tie-in felt so forced. But sure, let’s throw another loss on the pile.
I was glad for the opportunity to learn about homelessness in Japan. It seems like the unhoused are treated better there (for example, given notification and a place to store their belongings if city officials need them to move because of an event), but still underserved and unseen by the vast majority of society. Kazu, our dead narrator, has lived away from his family for 20+ years working to support them, and just faces loss after loss while living and working alone.
This book didn’t pack an emotional punch for me—I think because stylistically, it was written at a bit of a remove. Also, hated the ending. The tsunami tie-in felt so forced. But sure, let’s throw another loss on the pile.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Death, and Child death