Reviews

Vendetta by Laura Testaverde, Yōko Ogawa

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alexxreadss's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.75

schokomami's review against another edition

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3.0

I looked forward every chapter and how it would connect to the previous ones. Although it was not the most thrilling book I've read, I still enjoyed myself.

julieuue's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.5

yashandbooks's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

3.5

I do like the writing style of Yoko ogawa.

stephibabes's review against another edition

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5.0

I was utterly captivated by Revenge. The way in which Yōko Ogawa writes in such a rich yet slightly cold manner is so appealing. Stories that seem totally normal which then just turn into mundane absurdity. It is like reading a dream that turns ever so slightly sinister and you wake wondering if it was a nightmare.

I think I am a Yōko Ogawa fangirl and it will take effort to pace myself and not just binge her other novels.

erasmios's review against another edition

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4.0

Revenge is a dark quick-read, a collection of grim short stories each told from a different character's (who's also the narrator) perspective. I had wanted to read Ogawa for a while so I definitely had some expectations for this novella. They were all met. Ogawa doesn't say much. Her elegant style is distant, a little cold, and she trusts the reader to understand the unspoken words. Sometimes she surprises the reader, slashing out with brutal honesty, and at times those slashes might stand out a little too much. The way the stories connect with each other kept me interested and I was eager to know how it all would wrap up.

I liked the translation too, however I wonder if Revenge is the best title for this book. The original name in Japanese is very different and much longer: Kamokuna shigai Midarana tomurai. "Quiet corpse(s), filthy funeral(s)". (The word shigai isn't used when talking about dead people so "carcass" might be a better translation.)