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carlithian's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Bit of an odd one, just a slice of life dealing with the stress of aging and not being able to conceive. Interesting and solem male perspective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Infertility
etherealsuju's review
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
books_and_fairy_lights's review against another edition
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
It was... Okay? Or good, maybe?
Honestly I don't know.
I enjoyed reading it. Three small snippets of a man's life. Episodes of the everyday that are both mundane and extraordinary. In that regard it was very much typical of Japanese literature and I liked that aspect. That being said, I also felt like they were a little too normal or a little too "extravagant" or just slightly off one way or another - and that had the effect that this book didn't impact me as much as similar ones have. It likely was the author's intention to give that "off" feeling, building in quite a few elements off surrealism, but it didn't really do it for me this time. I enjoyed reading it but always felt like I was missing something, like I wasn't understanding (or feeling) everything I was supposed to. Maybe that's the case and half the book went over my head, or maybe it just was a silly little book with not a ton hidden meaning/feeling. A mostly enjoyable read in any case.
Honestly I don't know.
I enjoyed reading it. Three small snippets of a man's life. Episodes of the everyday that are both mundane and extraordinary. In that regard it was very much typical of Japanese literature and I liked that aspect. That being said, I also felt like they were a little too normal or a little too "extravagant" or just slightly off one way or another - and that had the effect that this book didn't impact me as much as similar ones have. It likely was the author's intention to give that "off" feeling, building in quite a few elements off surrealism, but it didn't really do it for me this time. I enjoyed reading it but always felt like I was missing something, like I wasn't understanding (or feeling) everything I was supposed to. Maybe that's the case and half the book went over my head, or maybe it just was a silly little book with not a ton hidden meaning/feeling. A mostly enjoyable read in any case.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Infertility
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
this book was very unsatisfying and kinda lackluster unfortunately. there are so many loose ends and plot points that i didn’t feel got flushed out. such a strange little book, i did like the writing though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Alcohol, and Animal cruelty
chaotic_wholesome's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
abi_laura's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
madelonpaige's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Animal cruelty
apurvanagpal's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.0
There’s a reason why I love reading short books. Apart from the fact that I can finish them in a single sitting, it always surprises me to see how much (or little) a writer chooses to convey in words and how much they decide to leave it for the reader to interpret on their own. It’s a gamble but if it plays well, totally worth it!
Weasels In The Attic by Hiroko Oyamada (tr. from the Japanese by David Boyd) is slim novella comprising of three interconnected stories and it did just that!
Two friends meet across three dinners. Every conversation takes an unexpected route.
In the back room of an exotic pet shop, they snack on dried shrimp and talk about fish-breeding.
In a remote new home in the mountains, they end up discussing about weasel infestation and how to get rid of it.
And finally, our narrator and his wife travel in the midst of a snowstorm back to their friend’s house to meet their newborn child and confined in a room overnight, is haunted by a dreadful dream.
Exploring the themes of marriage, parenthood and fertility, Oyamada creates an unsettling atmosphere right from the beginning and you get a premonitory eerie feeling about something you can’t quite place your finger on.
In less than 80 pages, I thought Oyamada strikes the right balance and restraint to let their uneasiness seep through and unfold with what’s left unsaid between them.
Laced with a slight touch of magical realism, there’s a mesmeric quality and wry humour to the stories that doesn’t lead you to something, rather ends with the same ambiguity that run through these encounters.
And through them, it’s a side eyed commentary on women’s position in the society, men feeling boastful about younger wives and bossing them around, gender roles and how women feel incomplete without embracing motherhood while their partners couldn’t care less about their roles.
Did I love it? Not really. But do I still think about how unusually surreal it felt? Absolutely yes!
Weasels In The Attic is a bite sized wonder that leaves a big impact and conveys much more between the lines! My only qualm, I just wish it were longer or packed a little more ‘wow’ 🙊
TW for animal cruelty.
Weasels In The Attic by Hiroko Oyamada (tr. from the Japanese by David Boyd) is slim novella comprising of three interconnected stories and it did just that!
Two friends meet across three dinners. Every conversation takes an unexpected route.
In the back room of an exotic pet shop, they snack on dried shrimp and talk about fish-breeding.
In a remote new home in the mountains, they end up discussing about weasel infestation and how to get rid of it.
And finally, our narrator and his wife travel in the midst of a snowstorm back to their friend’s house to meet their newborn child and confined in a room overnight, is haunted by a dreadful dream.
Exploring the themes of marriage, parenthood and fertility, Oyamada creates an unsettling atmosphere right from the beginning and you get a premonitory eerie feeling about something you can’t quite place your finger on.
In less than 80 pages, I thought Oyamada strikes the right balance and restraint to let their uneasiness seep through and unfold with what’s left unsaid between them.
Laced with a slight touch of magical realism, there’s a mesmeric quality and wry humour to the stories that doesn’t lead you to something, rather ends with the same ambiguity that run through these encounters.
And through them, it’s a side eyed commentary on women’s position in the society, men feeling boastful about younger wives and bossing them around, gender roles and how women feel incomplete without embracing motherhood while their partners couldn’t care less about their roles.
Did I love it? Not really. But do I still think about how unusually surreal it felt? Absolutely yes!
Weasels In The Attic is a bite sized wonder that leaves a big impact and conveys much more between the lines! My only qualm, I just wish it were longer or packed a little more ‘wow’ 🙊
TW for animal cruelty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
saltycoffee's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pregnancy, and Infertility
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
lynxpardinus's review
dark
mysterious
sad
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Medical content and Pregnancy
Minor: Infertility
While not adult/minor, there is a relationship with a predatory age gap.