Reviews

Bullet Train by Kōtarō Isaka

valeria_anedda's review against another edition

3.0

Sono giunta a questo libro dopo aver visto il film Bullet Train uscito l'anno scorso al cinema. Avevo adorato il film, trovandolo intelligente e irriverente ma anche grottesco e pieno di nonsense.
Il film è stato molto fedele al libro e infatti ho ritrovato i sette killer sul treno lanciato a trecento all'ora, dialoghi ironici e divertenti, una valigetta piena di soldi e i riferimenti al Trenino Thomas.

Non ricordo di aver mai letto un libro di un autore giapponese e probabilmente, se non avessi amato il film, non sarei riuscita ad apprezzare i vari personaggi, che sembrano usciti da un manga perché sono molto caricaturali e maldestri e fanno scelte illogiche.
La trama è movimentata e ricca di colpi di scena, ma non è molto scorrevole e a tratti pesante - soprattutto in alcuni dialoghi o pensieri dei protagonisti.

that_little_drop_of_poison's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

dsaiz's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense 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

3.5

filipagarcia's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

hortongr's review against another edition

5.0

Amazing. I committed myself to reading the book before watching the movie and I am so so so glad I did. This book had been on my radar for some time before the movie was announced, so I had been wanting to read it, but my fear of spoilers was what really pushed me to pick it up. it definitely took me some time to then actually get around to reading it though... but oh well.

I am SO glad I finally decided to read it because WOW what a wonderfully hilarious thriller. The pacing was incredible. The depth of the characters was wonderful. I'm a sucker for small details returning in unexpected ways AND for ridiculous bits that reappear over and over again and this book had each of those things in spades. The premise is ridiculous, the characters are ridiculous, and I was completely on board for it all (pun very much intended).

lyx_al's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think this is the first time I ever said it, but the movie is better.

cassafrass2273's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

kelsieerenee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense

4.75

purecomedy's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

4.5

most of the time, i had a lot of fun reading this and i enjoyed the rewind-fast forward pacing.

the times where i struggled mainly involved the prince's pov. easily one of the most boring and annoying characters out there. like, wow, you're a 14-year-old with a god complex? eye roll.

fortunately, this was counterbalanced by characters (tangerine, nanao, lemon) whose monologues i could read forever. the last few pages of the novel made me cackle.

vic127's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0