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emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Characters: 10/10
Relationships: 8.5/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Plot/Intrigue: 8/10
Internal Logic: 9/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Overall: 65.5/70, 5*
"Somehow the whole story is suffused with this quiet tenderness. Little by little I felt something wash over me: a feeling of peace that words can't express. If I had to explain it I'd say it could only have come from the writer's fervent love for life." - Chapter 4, 1:12:14
"After all I was crying because I wanted to cry, and these were the happiest tears I'd ever known." - Chapter 8, 2:23:38
Relationships: 8.5/10
Atmosphere/Setting: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Plot/Intrigue: 8/10
Internal Logic: 9/10
Entertainment: 10/10
Overall: 65.5/70, 5*
"Somehow the whole story is suffused with this quiet tenderness. Little by little I felt something wash over me: a feeling of peace that words can't express. If I had to explain it I'd say it could only have come from the writer's fervent love for life." - Chapter 4, 1:12:14
"After all I was crying because I wanted to cry, and these were the happiest tears I'd ever known." - Chapter 8, 2:23:38
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Miscarriage, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Stalking
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Miscarriage
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Abandonment
Moderate: Child death, Terminal illness, Abortion
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, Pregnancy
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Cozy and calm, but with the stakes being all about human connection, which is very important. Quick read. Great translation, you can still feel the Japanese behind it, which I enjoy. Nice look at the different pleasures reading can bring. Also a look on what family can be and on standing up for what you want
Cons:I hate the trope of the women who has an abortion early in life and then couldn't have children later and is suffe ing terribly for it. I can see why it is narratively attractive, but it perpetrates harmful stereotypes. If not for that, it would have been 4 Stars. Nice book, but not life changing. Other nice books have entertained me more. But tthis book wasnot life changing for me (which is necessary for 5 stars). And minus one star for the hated trope. Ends up at three stars.
Cons:
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Abortion
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Miscarriage
Moderate: Child death
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Cancer, Abortion
reflective
slow-paced
It took me some time to think about how I would rate and review this book.
<<Spoilers Below>>
The first half of this short book followed Takako, a young woman whose life sudden hits rock bottom. With no where to go, she has to move into the apartment above her uncle's second-hand bookshop. She soon falls in love with reading and, through the kind support and love from her uncle, Satoru, is able to slowly regain her footing in life.
The second half of the book suddenly takes a turn. Satoru's long-lost wife suddenly reappears after over a decade and just... moves back in as if she had never left. Takako and Satoru are utterly confused but don't ask questions or demand answers. I cannot fathom this. I was so frustrated at everyone - Takako and Satoru for not honoring themselves enough to demand truth, the long-lost wife for just trying to come back without providing any explanation.
And... then she leaves again at the end of the book. She has a lot of trauma and needs to heal, but I was so frustrated with her.
And that's how the book ended.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but was frustrated with the characters in the second half.
<<Spoilers Below>>
The first half of this short book followed Takako, a young woman whose life sudden hits rock bottom. With no where to go, she has to move into the apartment above her uncle's second-hand bookshop. She soon falls in love with reading and, through the kind support and love from her uncle, Satoru, is able to slowly regain her footing in life.
The second half of the book suddenly takes a turn. Satoru's long-lost wife suddenly reappears after over a decade and just... moves back in as if she had never left. Takako and Satoru are utterly confused but don't ask questions or demand answers. I cannot fathom this. I was so frustrated at everyone - Takako and Satoru for not honoring themselves enough to demand truth, the long-lost wife for just trying to come back without providing any explanation.
And... then she leaves again at the end of the book. She has a lot of trauma and needs to heal, but I was so frustrated with her.
And that's how the book ended.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but was frustrated with the characters in the second half.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Child death
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I really enjoyed the first part of the book, which was set in the bookstore and focused on Takako's relationship with her uncle and her burgeoning love of reading. The second half had some bright spots, particularly her interactions with Wada; but it was much weaker overall. I really disliked the aunt. I have sympathy for her, and I realize there are probably some cultural differences at play here, but I found literally all of her behavior unacceptable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, Grief, Abandonment
Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Child death