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luxsona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What I enjoyed
- Characterization: Ozeki characterizes everyone in such realistic ways. These characters are flawed people with wants, desires, strengths and weaknesses. There were many moments where I strongly disagreed with some of the characters and I feel like that's always a good thing in a book.
- Word Choice: I loved the word choice throughout this whole novel. There were moments where I could practically feel myself transported to the woods of the Pacific Northwest or the streets of Tokyo.
- Authorial Voice: I don't know how to describe this one, but really the whole story felt... confident, for lack of a better word. The voice throughout the whole novel felt completely cohesive. The footnotes add to the sense of authority, and the
connection to quantum mechanics really inspired a lot of philosophical thought.
Overall, this book was a fantastic read. I enjoyed all the little things that made this novel unique. The footnotes, the dual-perspective, the playing around with the concept of time and time-beings. All lent themselves to this book's identity. A fantastic read!
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Bullying
Moderate: War
scirocco_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Rape
recorderkfk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The book grows on you the more you read of it!
Graphic: Bullying, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Violence, War, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Suicide, Xenophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Self harm, Stalking, Death of parent, Grief, and Miscarriage
hannaemilia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual assault
Minor: Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Dementia
audreytallulah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Death, Animal cruelty, War, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Trafficking, Injury/Injury detail, and Gore
Minor: Suicide, Sexism, Miscarriage, Fatphobia, Dementia, Body horror, and Animal cruelty
leweylibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The narrator was the author, and she did such an amazing job with these dual narrators in the story, especially considering one was a child/teenager.
The book was also great enough to me that I know need a physical copy so I can reread it in the future and make better notes of the parts that really hit me hard--and there's a lot of them. Nao and Ruth's characters are great, especially together even though they never technically meet (I love the ending by the way). Ozeki flawlessly weaved these stories together even though they never officially crossed paths. I also loved Nao's father and their relationship and his struggles. I know mental health isn't something that community talks about much at all, so I think it's amazing that this book does talk about it, even if it is painful to read. I love the way this book talks about time and life and what we choose to do with the two. Now I really want to read Nao's book about her grandmother!
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Suicide, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Rape
autumnreads23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Xenophobia, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Suicide attempt, Vomit, Torture, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
Moderate: Death of parent and Alcohol
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, Lesbophobia, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, and Genocide
toffishay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual content, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, War, Xenophobia, Classism, Grief, Abandonment, Misogyny, Death, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Rape, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit, Deportation, and Fatphobia
ka_cam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Self harm, Rape, Death, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Bullying
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, War, Torture, Violence, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, and Dementia
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Genocide, Cancer, Car accident, Colonisation, Deportation, Mass/school shootings, Chronic illness, and Classism