Reviews

At the End of the Matinee by Keiichirō Hirano

mollyan's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

melodys_library's review against another edition

4.0

Everything about this book was - to quote Hirano himself - “exquisitely sensitive and delicately balanced.” It very quietly worked its way into my heart. The story follows two people at the fragile age of 40-ish, both at peaks and crossroads with their careers, and separated by continents, who form the most intense emotional connection…but their individual insecurities drive them to lead separate lives.

This book is very character-driven, which I loved! It started as a slow-burn as the author built the foundation and background of the characters. The story really picked up for me around 30-50% as the characters gained tremendous depth through introspection. I know that feels like a long time to wait to “get into” a book, but I felt it was worth it. I would definitely read another book by Hirano, and wish more of his works were translated into English.

literarycrushes's review against another edition

5.0

Keiichiro Hirano’s At the End of the Matinee is as complex and beautiful as any one of the scores Satoshi Makino might play. While the story is a classic boy meets girl, boy loses girl only to have to find her again, etc., Hirano’s story feels fresh. Makino is a successful concert guitarist nearing middle age when he meets Yoko Komine, an intelligent journalist working in Iraq (the novel was initially published in Japanese in 2016 but takes place in 2007). Their connection is instant, but the two are too respectful to act on their attraction right away – partially because Yoko is engaged to someone else – and they continue to remain in close contact for months via Skype and email as they embark on a globe-spanning game of ‘almosts’ and ‘what ifs.’
One of the many things I loved about this novel was that even though it’s a love story, the characters retain their own full lives, with interests and passions that are entirely separate from their relationship. In some ways, it reminded me of the Before Sunrise tribology - partially because it’s told as a series of conversational vignettes set within the breathtaking backdrops of Paris, Tokyo, and New York. You get the sense that these two characters are meant to be together despite everything pulling them apart. I never needed to suspend disbelief, even when they find their way back to one another over and over again. The story was beautiful, but it was the language that made me feel so deeply about these characters I won’t soon forget. Honestly, this might be my favorite read so far in 2022!

cagell's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.75

peripatetic_library's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lexiemae's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

jessethereader's review against another edition

2.0

I felt super indifferent about this one. I loved the individual journeys that our two main characters went on, but when their stories threaded together, I could never find myself getting on board with it. I don't think it's bad to have infidelity woven into books, because it's a real thing that happens, but I just couldn't stand the way it showed up here. I think had this book been about two people stepping away from a relationship that wasn't working and following them as they focused on their dreams, that I would have liked it a lot more. Instead they keep going back to this relationship that's not working and it's FRUSTRATING.

belladonna230622's review

3.0

I’m about 41% through, but I’m finding it really difficult to stick too. It’s well written and the story is interesting, but I’m not interested enough at the moment to finish it. I might try again next year.

littletaiko's review

1.0

Finally DNF'd around the 50% mark. I really wanted to like this book but just kept being bored out of my mind. Lots and lots of pondering the meaning of love and their relationship but instead of actually discussing anything with each other they do a lot of internal agonizing.

snigdha12's review

4.0

The words in the book flow with ease and elegance like a piece of classical music. The feelings of the main characters are presented beautifully, nothing seems superfluous. It touches aspects of war in Yugoslavia, Iraq and Japan through the lifes of Yoko and her parents which is in contrast with Makino whose life has only been about classical guitar and we don't find out anything about his parents. There is a line in which Makino says "The me that doesn't love you no longer exists. He isn't real." which made me think about how you can't go back from loving someone, even if you grow out of love, there is still a part of you that loved and you can't erase it.

Spoiler

The only thing that I did not like about this book is the twist in the middle of the book in which Mitani Sanae sends Yoko an email from Makino saying they should break up. It felt childish and did not feel coherent to the whole plot. It felt forced in order to add another unnecessary conflict and increase book length or experience parenthood apart from one another. Then the book redeems itself again by the spectacular writing and warm open ending.