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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
So unfortunately I did that thing I always do where I don't write the review right after I read a book. And now it's 3 weeks later and I'm straining my brain to remember what I wanted to say about the book. Sorry I'm dumb.
This was the second book I read by Yoshimoto (my first was Kitchen which I loveeeed) and I really enjoyed it. That's saying a lot for me too because I don't usually enjoy short stories.
I'm not sure what exactly I can say that will properly imprint how the book left me feeling. Her writing is beautiful and exact. Short and to the point, and yet still capable of making me remind myself to breathe after a passage makes lose my breath. The stories in Lizard aren't exactly related to each other- rather they all are focused around the idea of hope. She gives us snap shots of someone despairing- either because a drab day or because of life in general - and then ends the story with a glimmer of hope that makes you smile. This whole book makes the attempt to show you that things will be okay.
For example the first story shows us a man on the train who is disappointed with his life. He doesn't want to go home to his wife. He's considering just riding the train until the end of the line. Getting off there and starting all over. A random person sits down next to him and starts asking him about his wife and reminding him of the reasons he fell in love with her in the first place. This whole book is like that. There is nothing extraordinary happening. No big revelations. Just snap shots of people going on and making the most of what they have.
Since I'm not sure if I am doing a good job explaining this book, I'll leave you with my favorite quote. When I read it, I flipped the page back and read it again. And then I called my best friend and read it to him. I probably would have read it to anyone walking past my porch at the time too.
“Your love is different from mine. What I mean is, when you close your eyes, for that moment, the center of the universe comes to reside within you. And you become a small figure within that vastness, which spreads without limit behind you, and continues to expand at tremendous speed, to engulf all of my past, even before I was born, and every word I've ever written, and each view I've seen, and all the constellations, and the darkness of outer space that surrounds the small blue ball that is earth. Then, when you open your eyes, all that disappears.
I anticipate the next time you are troubled and must close your eyes again.
The way we think may be completely different, but you and I are an ancient, archetypal couple, the original man and woman. We are the model for Adam and Eve. For all couples in love, there comes a moment when a man gazes at a woman with the very same kind of realization. It is an infinite helix, the dance of two souls resonating, like the twist of DNA, like the vast universe.
Oddly, at that moment, she looked over at me and smiled. As if in response to what I'd been thinking, she said, "That was beautiful. I'll never forget it.”
All in all it was a quick and satisfying read. Pick it up if you get a chance. 3.5 stars
Review also on: http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com
This was the second book I read by Yoshimoto (my first was Kitchen which I loveeeed) and I really enjoyed it. That's saying a lot for me too because I don't usually enjoy short stories.
I'm not sure what exactly I can say that will properly imprint how the book left me feeling. Her writing is beautiful and exact. Short and to the point, and yet still capable of making me remind myself to breathe after a passage makes lose my breath. The stories in Lizard aren't exactly related to each other- rather they all are focused around the idea of hope. She gives us snap shots of someone despairing- either because a drab day or because of life in general - and then ends the story with a glimmer of hope that makes you smile. This whole book makes the attempt to show you that things will be okay.
For example the first story shows us a man on the train who is disappointed with his life. He doesn't want to go home to his wife. He's considering just riding the train until the end of the line. Getting off there and starting all over. A random person sits down next to him and starts asking him about his wife and reminding him of the reasons he fell in love with her in the first place. This whole book is like that. There is nothing extraordinary happening. No big revelations. Just snap shots of people going on and making the most of what they have.
Since I'm not sure if I am doing a good job explaining this book, I'll leave you with my favorite quote. When I read it, I flipped the page back and read it again. And then I called my best friend and read it to him. I probably would have read it to anyone walking past my porch at the time too.
“Your love is different from mine. What I mean is, when you close your eyes, for that moment, the center of the universe comes to reside within you. And you become a small figure within that vastness, which spreads without limit behind you, and continues to expand at tremendous speed, to engulf all of my past, even before I was born, and every word I've ever written, and each view I've seen, and all the constellations, and the darkness of outer space that surrounds the small blue ball that is earth. Then, when you open your eyes, all that disappears.
I anticipate the next time you are troubled and must close your eyes again.
The way we think may be completely different, but you and I are an ancient, archetypal couple, the original man and woman. We are the model for Adam and Eve. For all couples in love, there comes a moment when a man gazes at a woman with the very same kind of realization. It is an infinite helix, the dance of two souls resonating, like the twist of DNA, like the vast universe.
Oddly, at that moment, she looked over at me and smiled. As if in response to what I'd been thinking, she said, "That was beautiful. I'll never forget it.”
All in all it was a quick and satisfying read. Pick it up if you get a chance. 3.5 stars
Review also on: http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Banana's six short stories are filled with lovely details and explore spiritual awakening---specifically, the discovery of hope in the midst of crisis. Magical realism is used subtly in her stories. But it is less of a focal point when compared with someone like Murakami.
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ho ripreso in mano Lucertola perché negli ultimi mesi mi è capitato spesso di ritrovarmi in conversazioni riguardanti anche la Yoshimoto, ma la mi unica lettura dei suoi libri apparteneva al periodo della prima o seconda superiore.
Ho quindi approfittato della brevità di questi racconti, di un viaggio in treno e qualche ora buca intorno ai pasti.
Da un punto di vista generale, i sei racconti che compongono Lucertola sono godibili ed ottimi per passare il tempo.
Entrando più nello specifico, però, si sente che questo è uno tra i primi scritti dell'autrice. Lo stile è acerbo, anche in traduzione, non ho apprezzato la scelta di ripetere spesso le stesse parole e, tranne qualche rara eccezione, i dialoghi non mi hanno convinta.
Per quanto riguarda i personaggi, i racconti hanno tematiche simili tra loro (l'amore, il trasformarsi, il guarire e la spiritualità) e questi sembrano affrontarli quasi sempre secondo la stessa formula. Hanno periodi di "profonda depressione", durante i quali, però, hanno comportamenti che non vengono accostati alla depressione e dalla quale, tutti, ne escono da un minuto all'altro, come per magia (o a causa di una spiritualità improvvisa).
Nel complesso li ho trovati abbastanza superficiali, ma appunto, se si hanno un paio di ore buche da occupare, non sono così male.
Di certo non è un libro che consiglio assolutamente di comprare. Se vi capita sotto mano, magari in biblioteca o tra gli scaffali di un amico, ecco.
Ho quindi approfittato della brevità di questi racconti, di un viaggio in treno e qualche ora buca intorno ai pasti.
Da un punto di vista generale, i sei racconti che compongono Lucertola sono godibili ed ottimi per passare il tempo.
Entrando più nello specifico, però, si sente che questo è uno tra i primi scritti dell'autrice. Lo stile è acerbo, anche in traduzione, non ho apprezzato la scelta di ripetere spesso le stesse parole e, tranne qualche rara eccezione, i dialoghi non mi hanno convinta.
Per quanto riguarda i personaggi, i racconti hanno tematiche simili tra loro (l'amore, il trasformarsi, il guarire e la spiritualità) e questi sembrano affrontarli quasi sempre secondo la stessa formula. Hanno periodi di "profonda depressione", durante i quali, però, hanno comportamenti che non vengono accostati alla depressione e dalla quale, tutti, ne escono da un minuto all'altro, come per magia (o a causa di una spiritualità improvvisa).
Nel complesso li ho trovati abbastanza superficiali, ma appunto, se si hanno un paio di ore buche da occupare, non sono così male.
Di certo non è un libro che consiglio assolutamente di comprare. Se vi capita sotto mano, magari in biblioteca o tra gli scaffali di un amico, ecco.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A