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challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book was a ride of shocks right until the last page. I liked the multiple points of view and the easy writing style. The ahha moments were coupled with omg moments. The story deals with complex mother/child relationships and what could go wrong.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Murder, Abandonment
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Japanese literature is so different from American literature. The way that they’re translated and written are very unique. The only reason this book isn’t a 5 star read is because I couldn’t reread it based on some of the disturbing elements. But the pace went along nicely and I enjoyed the multiple POVs for each chapter. Each chapter went between the main plot which involved the death of a teacher’s daughter. It bounced from the perspectives of the teacher, the murderers, the family related to the murderers, and a murder victim. Every chapter had a different shock factor to it that I didn’t see coming. To put it vaguely, this book is suspenseful with the murder of a teacher’s child being discussed right away but further explored afterwards. It unravels the further you read and the different perspectives of the characters really delve into their minds, making you wonder what drives people to act the way they do. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries, thrillers like The Drowning Woman, and Japanese literature. Please heed the trigger warnings before picking this up though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Self harm, Blood, Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Miscarriage, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book and couldn't put it down! I usually don't like the multiple POV's but this was well done. It's about a tragic event that occurs at the school. It seems to be an simple accident, but what unravels is anything but simple.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Suicidal thoughts
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
challenging
dark
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
In some ways, this is a 5 star book, and in other ways a 3 star book. Its a 5 star for creativity. I have never read a book like this and overall I found the writing and the story profound. Its a 3 star book for the fact that it was translated from Japanese, so sometimes hard to read, and one of the main tropes of the book bothered for its implausity as a health care professional. But I found myself wanting to finish it, and the story was profound, so in the end its a 4 star book. If you like short chapters and a light read, this is not for you. If you can stick it out with long chapters, wondering why you care about this, but knowing it comes together in the end, please read this book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child death
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Confessions opens with an incredibly unique premise that hooks you immediately. A teacher lecturing her class and it takes a wild turn. Every chapter after that repeats the same story but from a different character’s perspective. While I see how the information dropped in those chapters tied into the plot, it was just so monotonous. And I feel as though the “shocking” reveals given in each chapter weren’t actually all that shocking.
I almost DNF’d this about 75% of the way through. A few months later I decided to just finish it out and I’m glad I did. The last 2 chapters really redeemed this book for me. It definitely has a cathartic ending and I feel as though there was some thought provoking ideology discussed near the end.
Worth a read if you’re looking for an intro into stories that are a little fucked up.
I almost DNF’d this about 75% of the way through. A few months later I decided to just finish it out and I’m glad I did. The last 2 chapters really redeemed this book for me. It definitely has a cathartic ending and I feel as though there was some thought provoking ideology discussed near the end.
Worth a read if you’re looking for an intro into stories that are a little fucked up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood
✰ "weak people find even weaker people to be their victims."
bleak, unrelenting, dark, uncomfortable, depraved, sick. anyone with a thirst for stories integrating generational trauma, academic pressure, revenge, and the occasional existential spiral will adore this. also, if you want a raw glimpse into social issues in japan (bullying, parental neglect, obsession with success, agoraphobia), it’s all here with absolutely nothing sugarcoated.
bleak, unrelenting, dark, uncomfortable, depraved, sick. anyone with a thirst for stories integrating generational trauma, academic pressure, revenge, and the occasional existential spiral will adore this. also, if you want a raw glimpse into social issues in japan (bullying, parental neglect, obsession with success, agoraphobia), it’s all here with absolutely nothing sugarcoated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death