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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This a problematic man, he's an asshole and fucks teenage girls. Enough said.
I really enjoyed Kawakami’s Strange weather in Tokyo but for my this book just fell flat. The story is split into 10 different perspectives so it’s hard to connect or dive into the life of a lover. Plus Nishino is clearly just a meh guy and honestly I found this a little tricky to finish.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is my third Kawasaki book, having read both Strange Weather in Tokyo (undoubtedly my favourite) and The Nankano Thrift Shop. Much with the other books this is written with a very lighthearted tone, and with a level of simplicity in the writing style. The book is not overcome with detailed descriptions, but gets to the heart of the matter in a single punch.
The idea behind this book is that you read 10 different stories told from the perspective of the women that have been involved with Mr Nishino. Through these accountings you see him grow from a young boy to a middle aged man, and see how his views on love and almost his desperation to be loved and love in return, at times consume him. You never hear from him directly, but you can see various women falling in and out of love with him, and eventually leave for different reasons.
Although it is quite a light story it really is quite sad - at the end of which you are left with a man who is almost incomplete, and who is constantly searching for the next person who might change everything.
The idea behind this book is that you read 10 different stories told from the perspective of the women that have been involved with Mr Nishino. Through these accountings you see him grow from a young boy to a middle aged man, and see how his views on love and almost his desperation to be loved and love in return, at times consume him. You never hear from him directly, but you can see various women falling in and out of love with him, and eventually leave for different reasons.
Although it is quite a light story it really is quite sad - at the end of which you are left with a man who is almost incomplete, and who is constantly searching for the next person who might change everything.
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
I tried to like this book but stories too disjointed and weird for me. Nishino through the eyes of 10 different women.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'd previously read 'Strange Weather in Tokyo' and really enjoyed it, so decided to read more from the same author. This collection of short stories (or is it a novel told from multiple perspectives?), all intertwined by their discussion of 'Mr Nishino', has a similarly gentle and reflective pace. Don't let the title put you off, as I'm also not dying to read about the adventures of a (male) womanizer, but the short stories are actually told from the perspectives of his lovers (all women although not all straight) and ultimately we learn a lot more about these women than we do about Mr Nishino. I really enjoyed how the author manages to get into the psyche of these narrators, who are from various ages and at different points of their own life when they meet Nishino. A lot of these women are troubled by the way they feel about this strange man who is generally pictured in a pretty pathetic light. It's refreshing to see how although each story has the same general set up (woman meets Nishino, the relationship then falls apart), this set up can lead to such a range of experiences. The differences are subtle and the stories leave the reader with a lot of unanswered questions - but if you're the kind of reader who likes unexplained phenomena and subtle observations on human interaction as well as brief but quirky snapshots into character's lives, then you'll mostly likely enjoy this set of stories. I read the book quickly (it's really short) but you could definitely put it down and pick it back up at a much later date, although I'd like to re-read it and consider the connections between the short stories more carefully. Overall, it was refreshing to read a book that focused on the briefer connections we experience in life - rather than reading about the main character's major relationship, this book is almost written from the perspective of a "side" character describing a "side relationship" in their life, and it's remarkable how much wonder and melancholy there is to be found in those relationships.