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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It took me a long time to get into the story. Not much happens at the beginning, and the first 100–150 pages felt slow. I also found the book overly descriptive at times, and the characterization could have been stronger, especially for the side characters.
However, the story eventually picks up. I became invested in the murder mystery and the plotline surrounding Darlington. The world-building and atmosphere were compelling, the intrigue steadily built throughout the story, and I appreciated the way the book explored power, privilege, and trauma.
However, the story eventually picks up. I became invested in the murder mystery and the plotline surrounding Darlington. The world-building and atmosphere were compelling, the intrigue steadily built throughout the story, and I appreciated the way the book explored power, privilege, and trauma.
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Throughout reading Tokyo Ueno Station I found it really hard to connect to the protagonist, I'm unsure if this was due to the translation or not, but I found the prose itself very stilted and clinical. Normally I'm a big fan of stream of consciousness writing but without that emotional connection to Kazu I found myself glazing over frequently while reading
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I hated it, but it was very good…. But it was so depressing…and stressful, waiting for the next bad thing to happen. So I didn’t enjoy it.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
finished this book during the silent book club reading sesh, iv been wanting to buy a physical copy for so long and when i finally got one i gobbled it up in one day :,) This is a sad story through and through, it is that side of Japan that tourists seldom see and it is real, raw and heartbreaking.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
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
This book was just okay to me and I mostly think it just wasn’t my style or preference in type of book. It was super slow paced and is very minimally plot based. I mostly just found myself uninterested and getting through it for the sake of finishing.
Stealing this quote from another reader’s (zibbi_is_reading) review because they nailed it:
“It’s packed with empathy and tackles heavy themes, but the stream-of-consciousness structure made it tough to stay fully connected at times. I get that this style mirrors the protagonist’s scattered memories and mental state, but there were moments where it felt more distancing than engaging.”
Stealing this quote from another reader’s (zibbi_is_reading) review because they nailed it:
“It’s packed with empathy and tackles heavy themes, but the stream-of-consciousness structure made it tough to stay fully connected at times. I get that this style mirrors the protagonist’s scattered memories and mental state, but there were moments where it felt more distancing than engaging.”
4/5stars
Really enjoyed this!! So well written, covered so many different topics and POVs, very disjointed but in an interesting/dreamlike way
Really enjoyed this!! So well written, covered so many different topics and POVs, very disjointed but in an interesting/dreamlike way
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hmmm… I think I’ll need to revisit this review in a few months to see how I really feel about the book. One thing that keeps sticking with me is the title. Why focus on Tokyo Ueno Station when the park feels like a much bigger part of the story? I can’t help but wonder if this was an intentional choice or just a way to make the title more appealing to readers.
The book is short, but it’s definitely not an easy read. It’s packed with empathy and tackles heavy themes, but the stream-of-consciousness structure made it tough to stay fully connected at times. I get that this style mirrors the protagonist’s scattered memories and mental state, but there were moments where it felt more distancing than engaging.
The story offers a quiet exploration of grief, poverty, and the lives of people who are often overlooked. It ties personal struggles to larger social and economic issues, especially highlighting the challenges faced by Japan’s working class. It doesn’t just tell a story, it forces you to reflect on how society moves forward at the expense of those left behind.
Content Warning: Death, Grief, Mental Health Struggles