3.87 AVERAGE

hopeful inspiring fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
emotional mysterious relaxing sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
challenging reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
pasarmalam's profile picture

pasarmalam's review

5.0

For several minutes Giovanni stood there daydreaming about whether the sky really was filled with scorpions and warriors, and how much he'd love to walk forever and ever through that sky.

(Heavily subjective review)

This is the closest i could get to read the perfect book. Even the title itself is already perfect [sobs in 銀河鉄道の夜]. I like to imagine the beautiful painting series of stars and fields by Vincent van Gogh while reading this. I've always been wondering why most of Japanese astronomy-themed songs always mention both star and train, as if they are both inseparable, now i think Miyazawa Kenji was the person who started it all. It was also the reason why i started to write short story with similar theme. It's like watching at the origin of this genre (if i can call it a genre), as if this story was written specifically for me. I love it so much. I think i have simply fallen in love with Miyazawa Kenji's writing.
adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced
emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Although about kids, this book is so humorless and dry that I almost dropped it despite the fact that it is so short. The substantive narrative is there. But why do the kids talk like philosophers-in-training? I found its lack of whimsy interfered with my ability to immerse myself into the dream. That begin said, Giovanni's out of body encounter with death was still profound. His confusion and vague sadness regarding death echoes the confusion that kids will face and by situating it within the context of a dream train helps to rationalize grief. The politeness in tone adds to the atmosphere a serenity that makes it worth experiencing for its solemnity and respect for vulnerability. 
adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
funny lighthearted sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character