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leahthenerd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I thought this was really clever in it's interwoven nature, and I'm trying to like short stories more so I won't be a hater
nyne's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.25
ryoshisato's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
stardust_ashes's review against another edition
3.0
Well, that's too bad because I had high hopes for this book that were not quite met.
I'm to blame because I lack knowledge about Japanese folktales, but I was hoping it was not needed to enjoy the stories. Indeed, I liked some of those stories as they were, but most of them left me yearning for more.
I liked that the stories were discreetly linked, and it would have been great to go a little further on this idea.
After the short stories, it was pleasing to discover information about the folktales they were inspired by. It truly helps to highlight the cleverness of the short stories. Maybe it should have been presented earlier in the book as the stories go, so the reader can grasp how interesting this book is. Maybe with new knowledge about the traditional stories and a little time to forget this book, it would be great to go through it again to understand it fully.
I'm to blame because I lack knowledge about Japanese folktales, but I was hoping it was not needed to enjoy the stories. Indeed, I liked some of those stories as they were, but most of them left me yearning for more.
I liked that the stories were discreetly linked, and it would have been great to go a little further on this idea.
After the short stories, it was pleasing to discover information about the folktales they were inspired by. It truly helps to highlight the cleverness of the short stories. Maybe it should have been presented earlier in the book as the stories go, so the reader can grasp how interesting this book is. Maybe with new knowledge about the traditional stories and a little time to forget this book, it would be great to go through it again to understand it fully.
eren_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Theoretically this book should be perfect for me with it being a collection of short stories that are retellings of Japanese folklores with a feminist twist. However, I found that whilst I didn't necessarily disagree with the feminist messages in the short story collection I found that it lacked subtlety when discussing these issues.
For instance, the short story Smartening Up focuses on the politics of shaving. I felt that whilst I didn't disagree with the issues the author brought up around shaving it felt as though there was no subtlety to it. Particularly in this quote:
For instance, the short story Smartening Up focuses on the politics of shaving. I felt that whilst I didn't disagree with the issues the author brought up around shaving it felt as though there was no subtlety to it. Particularly in this quote:
It seemed to me unquestionable that it looked better. But when had it become better? Who had first been struck by the notion that skin would be more attractive if it was shaved? Who had been the first woman to shave? How had other people around them been convinced by their logic and begun shaving themselves? Why had I, born such a long time after them, come to think the same? Why, in the twenty-first century, did I have to fork out huge sums of money to go to the hair removal clinic?
It felt as though the author was just telling me how they feel about shaving rather than showing it.
In other stories I felt as though they ended fairly abruptly and that they could have been longer.
trsmrcrie's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
emiia's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
LOVED IT! If you've read Convenience Store Woman and\or There's no Such thing as an Easy Job thought !!!!; if you support womens rights and womens wrongs AND like yokai\ghost stories, this is FOR YOU
subwayscenne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
misskrechel's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
widhxbr138's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Really enjoyed this. Not what I'd normally read, but a nice introduction to Japanese ghost stories. Was pleasantly surprised by the strong feminist themes throughout. Would reccomend reading it physically to flick back and forth between the reference tales at the end