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2.62 AVERAGE
2.62 AVERAGE
Doesn’t handle the subject matter—particularly sexual exploitation—with care or delicacy, but rather indulges and glorifies assault with graphic, pornographic scenes.
The premise is strong, but the execution falls flat with boring characters and very slow—sometimes inconsistent—pacing.
The philosophy is quite strong—but lacks effective subtlety or subtext. I saw many publications relate Nakamura to Dostoevsky, which is absolutely atrocious on every level.
What should’ve been a 300-page tight, concise thriller (which lacks thrills) is bloated by 200 pages of philosophical filler.
I read 235 pages of this book and almost put it down 9 times, the 10th being the final nail in the coffin.
The premise is strong, but the execution falls flat with boring characters and very slow—sometimes inconsistent—pacing.
The philosophy is quite strong—but lacks effective subtlety or subtext. I saw many publications relate Nakamura to Dostoevsky, which is absolutely atrocious on every level.
What should’ve been a 300-page tight, concise thriller (which lacks thrills) is bloated by 200 pages of philosophical filler.
I read 235 pages of this book and almost put it down 9 times, the 10th being the final nail in the coffin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
A bad mixture of science and theology coupled with disgusting sex scenes. I found this closer to "frat boy infantile" than the magnum opus the jacket reviews promised.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A story of two Japanese cults. Strangely they discuss physics. Of course they are not what they seem. Big twists at the end. But I never really cared about the major characters. But I will likely check out future books by Nakamura.
Too many rape scenes that were written like porn. No thanks
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Juuusttttttttt not that interested + reading other things at the moment
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book really wasn’t for me. The narrator bored me so I couldn’t focus on the plot, and I didn’t realise it changed POVs and so I was getting lost in the audiobook a lot. And if you don’t like hearing weird sex scenes then this book isn’t for you. I managed to somehow tune back in at the weirdest lines during the sex scenes and it icked me out bad.
One of the worst books I've ever read. Possibly the most 2-dimensional, unlikeable, boring, despicable characters ever created. The most interesting part of this book was the jacket blurb, which totally sucked me in.
I am always intrigued by cult stories but this one disappointed from beginning to end.
The endless sex, rape, orgy scenes were an obvious ploy to keep some readers entertained. Same with the mindless murders and the supposedly insightful asides from the unlikeable psychopaths running the show. But they left me scratching my head, wondering what the purpose was. Maybe I shouldn't have given so much credit to the author, thinking there must be some greater story being told here. There wasn't.
By the last page (yes, I was silly enough to read it to end thinking there *must* be something more to the story) I was hoping they would all die. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to find most of them still breathing at the end.
The other downfall was the translation. Well, I think it was the translation. The writing was terrible. Embarrassing, even, for such a celebrated writer. All I can hope is that it was better in the original Japanese.
I really can't stress how awful this book was. I don't recommend it. If you do take the plunge, the waste of however much time it takes you to read it is totally on you.
I am always intrigued by cult stories but this one disappointed from beginning to end.
The endless sex, rape, orgy scenes were an obvious ploy to keep some readers entertained. Same with the mindless murders and the supposedly insightful asides from the unlikeable psychopaths running the show. But they left me scratching my head, wondering what the purpose was. Maybe I shouldn't have given so much credit to the author, thinking there must be some greater story being told here. There wasn't.
By the last page (yes, I was silly enough to read it to end thinking there *must* be something more to the story) I was hoping they would all die. Unfortunately, I was disappointed to find most of them still breathing at the end.
The other downfall was the translation. Well, I think it was the translation. The writing was terrible. Embarrassing, even, for such a celebrated writer. All I can hope is that it was better in the original Japanese.
I really can't stress how awful this book was. I don't recommend it. If you do take the plunge, the waste of however much time it takes you to read it is totally on you.