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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The imagery of the last few pages is sticking with me, but it’s quite a convoluted and muddled path to get there.. Characterization is a little strange, and I feel like the connection to the imperial family is slightly too underplayed to be touted as a key theme. However, I do realize I know nothing about modern Japan, so it might be of more value for someone who understands the geopolitical context of the tsunami and olympics. Good writing (and translation), as to be expected
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Suicide, Death of parent
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The narrator is homeless (and dead). He reflects on his life and how he arrived at his current status. Interweaving memories with observations of his surroundings.
While the narrarative is disjointed and you after find yourself wondering whether you are in the past, present, or future, I enjoyed the journey. I thought telling the story through this type of was similar to how we would listen to a story on a park bench. Interruptions by the surrounding noise and conversations. Filling in the holes through tangents. I see others didn't enjoy it, but I did. I wanted to know where the story would take us.
While the narrarative is disjointed and you after find yourself wondering whether you are in the past, present, or future, I enjoyed the journey. I thought telling the story through this type of was similar to how we would listen to a story on a park bench. Interruptions by the surrounding noise and conversations. Filling in the holes through tangents. I see others didn't enjoy it, but I did. I wanted to know where the story would take us.
It would be criminal to give this less than 4 stars. If I knew more about Japanese geography and culture it’d be an easy 5, but I got lost in the first act in the jumble of Japanese cities and rituals. The actual story of love, loss, and past/present/future is unbelievable. Great short read glad I picked it up.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5/5
And the concept of this novel is very fascinating, but I find it very lacking in execution.
Sometimes the prose in this novel is beautiful. For example, everything about the tragedy of his son and the subsequent funeral is great, as is the sadness of having to find odd jobs to keep the family afloat. But for the majority of the book, it’s very uneven and confusing. It’s difficult to distinguish if what he is talking about at the station is through the ghost experience, or through his past life.
The uneven nature of this might add to the mystery of why he is a ghost, but I think it makes this an inaccessible book for me. It’s not hard to read, but it is hard for me to understand what exactly is going on and makes the pacing really weird and jarring.
It gets points for all of the funeral stuff and the family tragedy but I wish it focused on that more. Almost everything at the station did not click for me. Also, this Riverhead Books edition is a great shape and really nice to hold while reading.
And the concept of this novel is very fascinating, but I find it very lacking in execution.
Sometimes the prose in this novel is beautiful. For example, everything about the tragedy of his son and the subsequent funeral is great, as is the sadness of having to find odd jobs to keep the family afloat. But for the majority of the book, it’s very uneven and confusing. It’s difficult to distinguish if what he is talking about at the station is through the ghost experience, or through his past life.
The uneven nature of this might add to the mystery of why he is a ghost, but I think it makes this an inaccessible book for me. It’s not hard to read, but it is hard for me to understand what exactly is going on and makes the pacing really weird and jarring.
It gets points for all of the funeral stuff and the family tragedy but I wish it focused on that more. Almost everything at the station did not click for me. Also, this Riverhead Books edition is a great shape and really nice to hold while reading.
This book was very strange and difficult to read. I did finish it, however, it was too weird for me.