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vanbcharlotte's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
taratara's review against another edition
relaxing
5.0
I liked so much! So calm and collected. A focus on details in life. Calm, detailed read.
spyralnode's review
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
One of the reviews compared this book to 'Parasite', and I couldn't agree more. There is nod to voyeurism, to obsession, and even features moments of physical intrusions.
The plot focuses on a block of flats in Tokyo that will be soon demolished. Here is where Taro lives, leading a quiet existence after his divorce. The pièce de résistance of the block is a remarkable sky blue walled and terracotta roofed house, which grabs Taro's neighbour's attention. Nishi asks for Taro's help in having a better view into the house, and hesitantly, he obliges, increasing his own level of interest in it.
This aspect gives the novella an air of mystery. We don't know what is behind this building, what it's real history is, beyond what we are being told by Nishi. If anything, something I'd think would be great is if more would happen on page. Most of the information revealed is told, not shown, and for a book so short a lot manages to happen off page.
Yet, there are many things to indulge in. The writing is moody and slow, it's a quiet book for sure. The themes of aesthetics, architecture, photography, art, rich colour palettes, come together to form a kaleidoscope of colours in your mind. These elements are described evocatively, and are interestingly contrasted with a bleak existence. The event of meeting Nishi and getting involved in her quest to find out more about this house seems to be what adds colour to Taro's life, otherwise it is permeated by loneliness and observances of what goes on around him than to or with him. He seems absent from his surroundings, floating through his space.
I genuinely really enjoyed reading this, although I'd describe it as more of a sad story. But it brought to life strong contours of daily Tokyo life, with sufficient intrigue to keep me reading on.
The plot focuses on a block of flats in Tokyo that will be soon demolished. Here is where Taro lives, leading a quiet existence after his divorce. The pièce de résistance of the block is a remarkable sky blue walled and terracotta roofed house, which grabs Taro's neighbour's attention. Nishi asks for Taro's help in having a better view into the house, and hesitantly, he obliges, increasing his own level of interest in it.
This aspect gives the novella an air of mystery. We don't know what is behind this building, what it's real history is, beyond what we are being told by Nishi. If anything, something I'd think would be great is if more would happen on page. Most of the information revealed is told, not shown, and for a book so short a lot manages to happen off page.
Yet, there are many things to indulge in. The writing is moody and slow, it's a quiet book for sure. The themes of aesthetics, architecture, photography, art, rich colour palettes, come together to form a kaleidoscope of colours in your mind. These elements are described evocatively, and are interestingly contrasted with a bleak existence. The event of meeting Nishi and getting involved in her quest to find out more about this house seems to be what adds colour to Taro's life, otherwise it is permeated by loneliness and observances of what goes on around him than to or with him. He seems absent from his surroundings, floating through his space.
I genuinely really enjoyed reading this, although I'd describe it as more of a sad story. But it brought to life strong contours of daily Tokyo life, with sufficient intrigue to keep me reading on.
jess_alice3's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
aliciagriggs's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
I found this boring and didn't really get the point of it.
But, it's one of those books that I'm going to keep and try again another time, because I wonder if in another reading season I will really enjoy it. So for now, I don't like it, but maybe in the future....
But, it's one of those books that I'm going to keep and try again another time, because I wonder if in another reading season I will really enjoy it. So for now, I don't like it, but maybe in the future....
staticmemories's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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? It's complicated
3.75
tetemushroma's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
for such as short novel this took me so long to finish, although i enjoyed the message of the book it was boring
agmaynard's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lovely short novel of Taro and his neighbors, a meandering journey that is not for the plot-required folks. Examines memory, grief, change and resistance to it, a realization of the connectedness of people and to their environment. If you’re thoughtful, you can see symbols and metaphors.
whatbidoureads's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I love Japanese literature and reading the synopsis, i thought this’d be right up the alley of lighthearted, reflective, and suspenseful. Unfortunately for me, it ended up feeling slow, uneventful, and a bit confusing as well.
I feel the story would be appreciated by other fellow readers so i want to emphasize that this is my opinion of the book, not a reflection of the writer and her work.
It was just not it… i think i was going into this story expecting mystery and suspense as well as growth, and moments that made me reflect on life, loss, hope but it didn’t do that at all.
It might have to do with the format as this book has no chapters. So essentially it’s just one big block, and there’s a few changes of perspective that had me confused. I think i lost interest about halfway through and finished it because i told myself it was a short book, and i could do it (idk what i keep doing this to myself).
I’m sure i just wasn’t in the headspace for it and it didn’t catch my attention, and i want to be objective, but at the same time I’ve read other Japanese pieces of literature that have my heart!
I feel the story would be appreciated by other fellow readers so i want to emphasize that this is my opinion of the book, not a reflection of the writer and her work.
It was just not it… i think i was going into this story expecting mystery and suspense as well as growth, and moments that made me reflect on life, loss, hope but it didn’t do that at all.
It might have to do with the format as this book has no chapters. So essentially it’s just one big block, and there’s a few changes of perspective that had me confused. I think i lost interest about halfway through and finished it because i told myself it was a short book, and i could do it (idk what i keep doing this to myself).
I’m sure i just wasn’t in the headspace for it and it didn’t catch my attention, and i want to be objective, but at the same time I’ve read other Japanese pieces of literature that have my heart!
knittyreader's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free copy through netgalley, in return for an honest review.
This has been the second book I read within a month that appears to be about nothing much, but that gives so much that it's great nonetheless.
What I get from it are things like loneliness, and how small things like receiving something you don't like and passing it on can make a connection between people. While reading this novella, I felt quite interested about the blue house myself, even when I was not as obsessed about it as Nishi. The details given were simply so wonderfully described, that I could see everything passing on before my eyes.
This has been the second book I read within a month that appears to be about nothing much, but that gives so much that it's great nonetheless.
What I get from it are things like loneliness, and how small things like receiving something you don't like and passing it on can make a connection between people. While reading this novella, I felt quite interested about the blue house myself, even when I was not as obsessed about it as Nishi. The details given were simply so wonderfully described, that I could see everything passing on before my eyes.