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sofiacazares's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Misogyny
nozycozy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Moderate: Infertility, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Trafficking, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, and Sexual assault
kunny's review
- 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
It felt like sipping freshly brewed green tea while feeling the sun warming your skin on a light summer morning.
Even though it was not explicitly stated, Natsu is very much asexual coded. It was the first time I had ever read such a good presentation of the way I felt about sex, womanhood and the expectations of life around you.
It gave me hope to grow with my asexuality, instead of standing awkwardly next to it, being scared all the while I didn't know how I could manage it and expect someone to love me.
Don't get me wrong though, this book is not about romantic love. It instead represents female friendships and even grief in a very respectful and connecting way.
It explores motherhood and sperm donation in a deep manner, showing us the struggling,as well as the success moments, which I very much appreciated.
It is, overall, a 5.00 for me, just because I can't rate it higher.
Graphic: Pregnancy and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Dysphoria, Misogyny, Cancer, Child abuse, and Rape
vellumveela's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Body shaming, and Sexism
Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Transphobia
asainspace's review
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual violence and Cancer
jaswoahreads's review against another edition
- 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
1.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Body shaming
Minor: Alcohol, Child abuse, and Addiction
micamicami's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Abandonment
Minor: Bullying, Infertility, Pedophilia, Classism, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, and Rape
alina3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Transphobia, and Cancer
Minor: Suicide attempt
sofiadanielle's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Also, the synopsis on the back does not really have much to do with the novel, as the whole ‘Midoriko’s silence’ gets resolved in Book One, which is only roughly 30% of the novel? So.. That also sort of detracted points for me, though I suppose I could’ve done more thorough research about the novel before reading.
This book made me think a lot about being a woman. Though I am not in the same stage of life as Natsuko, I found myself pondering the same things she did; about loneliness, about relationships, career path… These themes and Kawakami’s dedication to them definitely push the novel towards that 4 star rating for me, if only personally. The ending also felt fulfilling in my opinion, both in terms of themes and for the characters!
I am excited to read more of Kawakami’s work after completing this novel!
Moderate: Child abuse, Terminal illness, Sexism, Alcohol, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, and Infertility
maceydowns's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Infertility, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Sexism, Classism, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, Death, Grief, Medical content, Pedophilia, Cancer, Death of parent, Rape, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Body shaming and Transphobia