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2.83 AVERAGE
2.83 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A lot shorter than I expected after seeing the Netflix series based on it, and it's always difficult reading a book after you've seen the TV adaption, but it does have the same, at times funny, but a lot of the other times deeply and genuinely sad feel about it.
I enjoyed the clumsiness of characters and rather realistic and relatable awkward moments.
Despite being about comedy, the story had an overall sad tone in my experience, partly because of how topics like "passion" and "creativity" were handled. This is another thing I liked about Spark.
I didn't find any other memorable or notable aspects though.
It wasn't really bad but the plot was a little disjointed and honestly I couldn't understand the point of the story. I would have rated it higher if I'd found a satisfying conclusion.
Despite being about comedy, the story had an overall sad tone in my experience, partly because of how topics like "passion" and "creativity" were handled. This is another thing I liked about Spark.
I didn't find any other memorable or notable aspects though.
It wasn't really bad but the plot was a little disjointed and honestly I couldn't understand the point of the story. I would have rated it higher if I'd found a satisfying conclusion.
adventurous
funny
sad
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
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
I actually loved this book.
Seeing the low ratings here on Goodreads and the negative reviews, I need to say that I beg to disagree. Maybe people just don’t get it, but I did. I truly did.
This book was genuine, feel good, and an unputdownable read. It was just a very simple story, really, but it felt so endearing all throughout.
Full review to come soon!
Seeing the low ratings here on Goodreads and the negative reviews, I need to say that I beg to disagree. Maybe people just don’t get it, but I did. I truly did.
This book was genuine, feel good, and an unputdownable read. It was just a very simple story, really, but it felt so endearing all throughout.
Full review to come soon!
Tokunaga is one half of a comedic duo called Spark. They perform a very specific form of comedy called Manzai, in which a straight man and a fool trade jokes, puns, double meanings and misunderstandings in a fast paced conversation.
He meets Kamiya, a slightly older comedian from a different duo who agrees to act as a kind of mentor, and so most of the novel is about their relationship. Tokunaga thinks his sensei is some kind of genius, but he comes across as a complete idiot, and Tokunaga himself isn't much better. The jokes, such as they are, are a kind of verbal slapstick and are woefully unfunny.
This is simply one of those translated novels where cultural differences really do matter.
He meets Kamiya, a slightly older comedian from a different duo who agrees to act as a kind of mentor, and so most of the novel is about their relationship. Tokunaga thinks his sensei is some kind of genius, but he comes across as a complete idiot, and Tokunaga himself isn't much better. The jokes, such as they are, are a kind of verbal slapstick and are woefully unfunny.
This is simply one of those translated novels where cultural differences really do matter.
Spark by Naoki Matayoshi is a quirky little book translated from the Japanese. It’s about a comedian and his mentor. It’s interesting to read about the Japanese culture of manzai comedy. Oftentimes the humour in the book didn’t seem funny to me. I think I would have liked this book much better if I knew more about manzai comedy and its references.
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Thank you to Steerforth Press for my early review copy!
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Thank you to Steerforth Press for my early review copy!