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tigger89's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.0
This book was lovely. I was concerned it might be too sappy/inspirational for my tastes, but it managed to come in just on the safe side. Perhaps it was the bittersweet nature of the narratives, in both content and conclusion.
With five narratives that cross over into each other, each time revealing more of the complex connections behind the story, there's a lot to keep track of. If you're someone who's bad at names, you might want to keep notes, eg: "Susako Hirano, ch 3, moon rabbit's older bro." Don't be me, lulled into a false sense of security early on, but flipping frantically through to check names by the end of chapter 4.
I do want to say that, contrary to tags, this book is not magical realism. Magical realism requires its magic to be unremarked upon; the magic just is, what else did you expect? But the magic of the general store, while almost ordinary in nature, is unusual for the setting, and is remarked upon by every character who learns of it. So, this isn't the magical realism book you're looking for.
With five narratives that cross over into each other, each time revealing more of the complex connections behind the story, there's a lot to keep track of. If you're someone who's bad at names, you might want to keep notes, eg: "Susako Hirano, ch 3, moon rabbit's older bro." Don't be me, lulled into a false sense of security early on, but flipping frantically through to check names by the end of chapter 4.
I do want to say that, contrary to tags, this book is not magical realism. Magical realism requires its magic to be unremarked upon; the magic just is, what else did you expect? But the magic of the general store, while almost ordinary in nature, is unusual for the setting, and is remarked upon by every character who learns of it. So, this isn't the magical realism book you're looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Cancer
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide
aegireads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
very mawkish but i like that kinda stuff lmao
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Violence, Terminal illness, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion
moonchildshine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Have you ever read a book so good you feel like your mind had been blown when you finished it? Like, you already know this book is good when you read the first quarter but then it's progressively getting better and better? I rarely read a book which has that kind of effect but I'm ecstatic to say that this is one of the book.
You know, I deadass thought it couldn't get any better when I read chapter 2---please, I cried alot (but in a full contentment, not in sadness, mind you)--but with every page-turn, it always prove me wrong. I was so mesmerized. How can Keigo Higashino wrote this kind of masterpiece??? Just, how???
Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 was my favorite, but chapter 5 (the last chapter) is so fucking bewitching, enthralling, spellbinding and *insert hundreds of other similar adjective here*
There are so many characters, plus, it has omniscient 3rd pov. Usually, when I find a book like this, my little dumb brain would be so lazy to keep up. But this book is extremely intriguing since the first page until the last. Never a dull moment. I'm sure, if I read this during weekend, I probably finish it in one sitting.
PS. God, I hope obliviate is a real charm so I can obliviate myself and read this for the first time in my life.
You know, I deadass thought it couldn't get any better when I read chapter 2---please, I cried alot (but in a full contentment, not in sadness, mind you)--but with every page-turn, it always prove me wrong. I was so mesmerized. How can Keigo Higashino wrote this kind of masterpiece??? Just, how???
Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 was my favorite, but chapter 5 (the last chapter) is so fucking bewitching, enthralling, spellbinding and *insert hundreds of other similar adjective here*
There are so many characters, plus, it has omniscient 3rd pov. Usually, when I find a book like this, my little dumb brain would be so lazy to keep up. But this book is extremely intriguing since the first page until the last. Never a dull moment. I'm sure, if I read this during weekend, I probably finish it in one sitting.
PS. God, I hope obliviate is a real charm so I can obliviate myself and read this for the first time in my life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Cancer
rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really liked the mystery surrounding the Namiya General Store, I think it is a very interesting premise. I was quite intrigued by this "magical" aspect of the story.
After the first introductory section, the book divides into separate vignettes, that are still skillfully inteconnected but are told from different point of views. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of short stories collections, in general I struggle to appreciate them as much as a novel. In this case, I also had a bit of an up-and-down reading experience, with certain sections that I liked more and other sections that dragged a bit for me and that I found less enjoyable. I still appreciated the ending, and I found it a good way of wrapping up the story.
Also I think that I started reading expecting a very lighthearted and magical story and while it was a magical and surreal story, it dealt with quite a lot of very heavy topics and I'm not so sure if all of them (and the characters involved) were handled equally well.
Lastly, I have to mention a brief passage that left a bad taste in my mouth. I do not know how the original Japanese sentence was or how the English translation adapted it, but in my translation there was a scene in which a man (maybe in his 20s?) is reflecting about a young girl and he thinks something along the lines of "There was a completely unusual sensuality for a little girl, and he would have liked to find a way to make her turn around towards him". All that I could think was why, why do you have to inlcude such a comment, was it really necessary? I really did not like it.
After the first introductory section, the book divides into separate vignettes, that are still skillfully inteconnected but are told from different point of views. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of short stories collections, in general I struggle to appreciate them as much as a novel. In this case, I also had a bit of an up-and-down reading experience, with certain sections that I liked more and other sections that dragged a bit for me and that I found less enjoyable. I still appreciated the ending, and I found it a good way of wrapping up the story.
Also I think that I started reading expecting a very lighthearted and magical story and while it was a magical and surreal story, it dealt with quite a lot of very heavy topics and I'm not so sure if all of them (and the characters involved) were handled equally well.
Lastly, I have to mention a brief passage that left a bad taste in my mouth. I do not know how the original Japanese sentence was or how the English translation adapted it, but in my translation there was a scene in which a man (maybe in his 20s?) is reflecting about a young girl and he thinks something along the lines of "There was a completely unusual sensuality for a little girl, and he would have liked to find a way to make her turn around towards him". All that I could think was why, why do you have to inlcude such a comment, was it really necessary? I really did not like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Car accident, Cancer, Self harm, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion, Infidelity, Fatphobia, War, Infertility, and Classism
rockwithyou's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent
Minor: Abortion and Terminal illness
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