Scan barcode
cyrenasea's review against another edition
4.0
Generally amusing account of an American man teaching English in Japan. A little reminiscent of Sedaris' habit of self-deprecation, but not derivative. Gets good humor out of cultural differences without overtly mocking. I enjoyed it as a light read.
songwind's review against another edition
4.0
I had a good time with this book. The anecdotes are (mostly) amusing, and highlight the fish-out-of-water character of an American in Japan without stooping to making fun of Japan or adopting an air of superiority. Anderson does a good job of livening up the stories that aren't that funny themselves with a wry, self deprecating humor.
McLeod Anderson did an excellent job selling the text. His mid-Atlantic Southern accent was on point (Not sure if that's his real accent, but it's definitely different from his work on Sanderson's Reckoners series.)
The stories eventually had a certain formula to them, but the subject matter was diverse enough to keep them interesting.
McLeod Anderson did an excellent job selling the text. His mid-Atlantic Southern accent was on point (Not sure if that's his real accent, but it's definitely different from his work on Sanderson's Reckoners series.)
The stories eventually had a certain formula to them, but the subject matter was diverse enough to keep them interesting.
jmoses's review against another edition
4.0
A fast, entertaining and amusing read about an American's life in Japan.
moonpie's review against another edition
2.0
The entire time I read Tune in Tokyo, I was wondering why I wasn't enjoying it more. It would have made a good blog, probably, and I can see it working as a series of email updates to friends, but as a book it's disjointed and feels repetitive.
Really, I think the main problem here is that I don't click with Anderson's style. He makes sweeping generalizations and uses strange turns of phrase ("Yasuko's eyelids dim") and talks about drinking and recreational drug use but somehow makes both boring. It just all made me want to roll my eyes a lot! And then I felt mean because he seems like a decent enough dude underneath it all, but comes off as self-involved and spoiled in Tune in Tokyo. That's probably a hazard that comes with publishing something that IS essentially a diary, after all.
If you enjoy Anderson's sense of humor and voice (maybe try the Kindle sample first?), you'll probably enjoy this book, as long as you don't go into it expecting a travel memoir: this is a book about Anderson, not about Japan.
*************
TOTALLY IRRELEVANT FAVORITE TYPO: "Stationary" instead of "stationery," more than once. This is always one of my favorite typos, but it made me giggle more than usual when Anderson discussed a washi paper store . . . "For me, it's a big pile of 'meh,' but those who are into stationary had better fasten their seatbelts."
Really, I think the main problem here is that I don't click with Anderson's style. He makes sweeping generalizations and uses strange turns of phrase ("Yasuko's eyelids dim") and talks about drinking and recreational drug use but somehow makes both boring. It just all made me want to roll my eyes a lot! And then I felt mean because he seems like a decent enough dude underneath it all, but comes off as self-involved and spoiled in Tune in Tokyo. That's probably a hazard that comes with publishing something that IS essentially a diary, after all.
If you enjoy Anderson's sense of humor and voice (maybe try the Kindle sample first?), you'll probably enjoy this book, as long as you don't go into it expecting a travel memoir: this is a book about Anderson, not about Japan.
*************
TOTALLY IRRELEVANT FAVORITE TYPO: "Stationary" instead of "stationery," more than once. This is always one of my favorite typos, but it made me giggle more than usual when Anderson discussed a washi paper store . . . "For me, it's a big pile of 'meh,' but those who are into stationary had better fasten their seatbelts."
ablotial's review against another edition
3.0
I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars for this one. It was quite funny, and I really had an enjoyable time reading it. I'd recommend it if you are interested in Japanese culture at all and want to hear about it in a non-serious tone. But I feel like it's the kind of book that I read and enjoyed but in 6 months I won't be able to tell you anything about it. Except maybe the room of vaginas... I think that image will stick with me :P
It took me longer than I expected to get through this reasonably short book. The book was funny, but somehow I could only take it in small doses. Too much of a good thing? Maybe. I was also turned off by the ways in which Tim and his friends chose to have fun in their time off, all the casual discussions of shrooms and such as if it is "no big deal".
But the stories of Tim's adventures teaching English as a second language in Japan are hilarious. His students are wonderful and the misunderstandings and cultural differences are both fun and interesting to read about. And of course, the new roommate who was just plain crazy was hilarious to read about (though I'm sure it was NOT hilarious to experience first-hand... how scary!). And the band! Oh man, the band. And playing viola with the amazing pianist, and wanting to change the posters. Bringing his boyfriend (yes, Tim is gay, comes up a few times in the story but doesn't really play a central role) to Japan to try to get him to appreciate the culture. So many great stories. Aside from the shrooms (&etc), it seems like Tim is someone I'd enjoy being friends with.
There were fewer notes on the language itself, or linguistic jokes, or linguistic differences, etc, than I had expected from a book about an English language teacher in Japan, but there were a few and I appreciated them.
Fun book.
It took me longer than I expected to get through this reasonably short book. The book was funny, but somehow I could only take it in small doses. Too much of a good thing? Maybe. I was also turned off by the ways in which Tim and his friends chose to have fun in their time off, all the casual discussions of shrooms and such as if it is "no big deal".
But the stories of Tim's adventures teaching English as a second language in Japan are hilarious. His students are wonderful and the misunderstandings and cultural differences are both fun and interesting to read about. And of course, the new roommate who was just plain crazy was hilarious to read about (though I'm sure it was NOT hilarious to experience first-hand... how scary!). And the band! Oh man, the band. And playing viola with the amazing pianist, and wanting to change the posters. Bringing his boyfriend (yes, Tim is gay, comes up a few times in the story but doesn't really play a central role) to Japan to try to get him to appreciate the culture. So many great stories. Aside from the shrooms (&etc), it seems like Tim is someone I'd enjoy being friends with.
There were fewer notes on the language itself, or linguistic jokes, or linguistic differences, etc, than I had expected from a book about an English language teacher in Japan, but there were a few and I appreciated them.
Fun book.
its_tara's review against another edition
3.0
Review:
It’s not often I read non-fiction, and when I do it’s mainly on the subject of Japan. Previously, it’s generally been histories, but when this one went onto the Kindle daily deal, I couldn’t resist it – even if it took months for me to finally get to reading it! I have to admit, the main appeal for me is the fact I’d love to do something like this myself one day, having already learned a lot of Japanese whilst in school, and really wanting to travel whilst I can!
This book did make me laugh out loud – I liked the way that Tim Anderson manages to capture the differences between the Japanese way of life and that of the Western world. He manages to introduce things – like the social gaffes made by foreigners in a funny, but very realistic, way! I also love the way he talks so passionately about his time in Japan, and how frank and honest he is about things, even those he wasn’t so keen on!
The only thing about this book I would give as a warning is that there are a lot of references to drug and alcohol use, so if you aren’t comfortable with either or both of those things, this won’t be the book for you. There’s also a lot of reference to the fact that the author is gay, and the fact is mentioned throughout. This didn’t bother me personally, but there are a lot of comments on Goodreads about that fact – and that some people felt it was overstated.
Overall, I loved the subject matter of the book, and found Tim Anderson to be an enjoyable narrator, even though some of the humour didn’t quite do it for me. A very nice memoir of a few months in modern Japan, and a nice reference for anyone considering doing the same thing!
Overall rating: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality: n/a
Characters: n/a
My Enjoyment: 3/5
It’s not often I read non-fiction, and when I do it’s mainly on the subject of Japan. Previously, it’s generally been histories, but when this one went onto the Kindle daily deal, I couldn’t resist it – even if it took months for me to finally get to reading it! I have to admit, the main appeal for me is the fact I’d love to do something like this myself one day, having already learned a lot of Japanese whilst in school, and really wanting to travel whilst I can!
This book did make me laugh out loud – I liked the way that Tim Anderson manages to capture the differences between the Japanese way of life and that of the Western world. He manages to introduce things – like the social gaffes made by foreigners in a funny, but very realistic, way! I also love the way he talks so passionately about his time in Japan, and how frank and honest he is about things, even those he wasn’t so keen on!
The only thing about this book I would give as a warning is that there are a lot of references to drug and alcohol use, so if you aren’t comfortable with either or both of those things, this won’t be the book for you. There’s also a lot of reference to the fact that the author is gay, and the fact is mentioned throughout. This didn’t bother me personally, but there are a lot of comments on Goodreads about that fact – and that some people felt it was overstated.
Overall, I loved the subject matter of the book, and found Tim Anderson to be an enjoyable narrator, even though some of the humour didn’t quite do it for me. A very nice memoir of a few months in modern Japan, and a nice reference for anyone considering doing the same thing!
Overall rating: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality: n/a
Characters: n/a
My Enjoyment: 3/5
booklvrkat's review against another edition
5.0
One of the funniest books I've listened to ever. Within the first 5 minutes I was chuckling (because I was at work) so much even my co-workers came over to ask me what was up. If you've ever needed a really good "feel good" story... this is it