Reviews

N.P. by Banana Yoshimoto

amarezza's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

homefreys's review against another edition

challenging mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

victoriarosemartine's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book! I find myself thinking about it at random throughout the day. Her writing style feels almost dreamlike, and the taboo topics within this book feels like a series of unfortunate events.

faulkneribarelyknowher's review against another edition

4.75

Banana’s done it again…

fantastic gripping charming magical realism. some classic ideas from the literary “fantastic” (notably doppelganger, in Sui and Saki as sisters, in Sui and Kazami as ex-lovers of Shoji, in even Otohiko and Sui as sibling-lovers, double suiciders (“Sui”-cide?”)).

i found some beautiful themes i resonated with, like translation and repressed queerness, even the beautiful casual alcoholism. but i especially noted the theme of forgiveness in Sui and Kazami’s relationship: despite the violence, kidnapping, drugging, Kazami still retained an affection (friendly and romantic!) for Sui.

Yoshimoto’s metaphors were on another level in this novel, metaphors that aren’t purely analogical but essence-based or feeling-based, like:

“The sound echoed in my ears for a moment, just as the rhythm of the surf stays with you.” 192

sssteicy's review against another edition

3.0

Empecé a leer este libro pensando que sería una historia policial de muertes relacionadas por un libro, pero terminó siendo un viaje de instrospección con unos personajes muy completos.
De la nota final de la autora: “Todas las diferentes personas que hay en este mundo tienen derecho a vivir como crean y donde quieran, sin sentirse amedrentadas por nadie”

“Dicen que las personas abren su corazón cuando están frente al mar”.

trin's review against another edition

1.0

Banana Yoshimoto features on a lot of Japanese literature recommendations lists. My theory is that these reccers just like the idea of endorsing an author whose (assumed) name is Banana. Because wow, this book was awful. College creative writing class awful, by which I mean trying really hard to be edgy, but in fact incompetent. Yoshimoto throws a lot of ingredients into the pot: suicide! Incest! Faux lesbianism! But she doesn’t do anything with any of them—just leaves them to ostentatiously simmer, as if to say, “Do you see what I’m cooking with here? I’ve got people offing themselves, and some [b: Flowers in the Attic|43448|Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger, #1)|V.C. Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327880853l/43448._SX50_SY75_.jpg|3311885] action, and women who might, maybe, like to experiment! Aren’t I extreme?”

I should have known that anybody who decides to call herself “Banana” would be trying too hard.

bellep's review against another edition

dark funny reflective slow-paced

• 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

3.25

kkmccall's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

phoenix2's review against another edition

3.0

N.P is a fast-paced, weird short read with Yoshimoto's style of writing at its finest. Interesting characters, lots of food for thought, and an odd story that contains a lot of elements, like love, death, supernatural theories, and many more, are what one should expect by reading N.P. There are though some themes, like sexual relationships between siblings, or father and daughter, that aren't everyone's cup of tea. But the author handles them with sensitivity and acceptance.

cansinnoh's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest