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rorikae's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
'The Kamogawa Food Detectives' by Hisashi Kashiwai is a cozy book about a restaurant that tracks down long lost recipes and dishes for its patrons. The story centers on Nagare and Koishi Kamogawa, a father-daughter team that run the restaurant. Each chapter follows a new patron who comes to visit the diner to inquire after a dish from their past that they would like to experience again. We get to learn more about each character through their experience with the dish and how Nagare recreates the lost recipe.
I really appreciate the character work for each patron that visits the restaurant. They are all so vastly different and have different motivations for why they wish to experience that particular meal again. Many are nostalgic for old times, past relationships, or lost loved ones. Kashiwai also adds some delectable food writing that helps elevate each section. I do wish we spent a little bit more time with Nagare as he works to track down the meal based off of snippets of memories relayed by the customers. The story is very formulaic, with each character coming for a meal, telling Koishi about the meal they wish to eat again, and then returning to try the meal once Nagare has learned how to recreate it. This formula can be quite comforting, which makes this story more cozy. I would be interested to see if the following books in the series continue this formula or if they are different in any way.
I really appreciate the character work for each patron that visits the restaurant. They are all so vastly different and have different motivations for why they wish to experience that particular meal again. Many are nostalgic for old times, past relationships, or lost loved ones. Kashiwai also adds some delectable food writing that helps elevate each section. I do wish we spent a little bit more time with Nagare as he works to track down the meal based off of snippets of memories relayed by the customers. The story is very formulaic, with each character coming for a meal, telling Koishi about the meal they wish to eat again, and then returning to try the meal once Nagare has learned how to recreate it. This formula can be quite comforting, which makes this story more cozy. I would be interested to see if the following books in the series continue this formula or if they are different in any way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
theliteraryteapot's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
The concept of a restaurant solving mysteries in the form of looking for lost/forgotten recipes is really great. I loved the food descriptions. But I completely disliked the execution.
Poor writing: very simple one sentence to describe an action and then the rest is just dialogues. There were so many repetitions as well (this is why editors exist). Poor character work: the two main characters are so bland, no depth whatsoever, no development, we know almost nothing about them. They sort of didn't feel human. As for the mysteries, we never see the characters actually solving them, we only see the end results.
There was so much potential but this was a disappointment.
Poor writing: very simple one sentence to describe an action and then the rest is just dialogues. There were so many repetitions as well (this is why editors exist). Poor character work: the two main characters are so bland, no depth whatsoever, no development, we know almost nothing about them. They sort of didn't feel human. As for the mysteries, we never see the characters actually solving them, we only see the end results.
There was so much potential but this was a disappointment.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Misogyny, Death, Terminal illness, and Dementia
aseel_reads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I want the recipes for all the food mentioned but otherwise, I kind of hated this? Maybe it would read better in print but the daughter was such a wanker at times??
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief, Classism, Dementia, Medical content, Death, and Death of parent
atamano's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Dementia, Grief, Death, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
zophiebrown's review
emotional
inspiring
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? No
5.0
A beautiful set of 6 vignettes centered on the memories tied to food. Each story follows the same structure with meeting the new customer, hearing about the dish they want recreated, and then the reveal of the dish followed up by a father-daughter moment. Delightful and full of touching moments.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Terminal illness
ninahuynh's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Such a wonderful concept and collection of intertwining stories! I am always amazed at how Nagare is able to find the details to the dish with just a few descriptions or words. And all the food talk and description really had me hungry and picturing Ghibili food throughout the entire book 😆 6 stories and 6 different dishes. All unique in their own way. This book really exemplifies how food and our memory are closely connected with each other.
I do wish he treated Drowsy better though :(
I do wish he treated Drowsy better though :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Death, Dementia, and Grief
gcrkl's review
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Alcohol, Dementia, Grief, Terminal illness, and Death
hjcomic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? No
4.5
This book will make you hungry and nostalgic in equal measures.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Death of parent
whosjessanyway's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
A cute, short lighthearted read. I think I expected something different from the cover and the writing was very simple, but I still had a good time. If you enjoy this type of cute japanese stories, you will probably enjoy this one too :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dementia, Terminal illness, Death, and Grief
clarney12's review against another edition
reflective
sad
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? Yes
2.25
Cute book, the basis of the storyline had such potential - very repetitive, characters unlikeable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Minor: Abandonment