Scan barcode
madi_oasis's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
3.5
Suspenseful and tense throughout, the world-building of this small, sleepy town in Japan was second to the sickening downward spiral of the MC as he grapples with grandiose ideas of masculinity and aggression. However, the level of gore and cruelty hits you like a freight train and felt way too gratuitous to find palatable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
kyoe983's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I need to get around to re-read this because it's just one of those books that stuck with me regardless of what I was going through. It has a presence like it silently stares at me in the back of my head. A world-view-changing Novella, but that only if you relate to the situation and ideology that Noboru or Ryuji present.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, and Death
mt_everett's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Gore
nabila99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
i'm normally someone who loves lots of descriptions and setting detailed scenes - but this book had way, way too much of it. cut out the (very repetitive) descriptions of the sea, sky and ships and 1/3 of the book would be gone. also, i know the central theme is sailing / the sea / ships, but a totally excessive amount of nautical jargon is used, to the point that it's very frustrating and impossible to research every single one.
otherwise, it has some beautiful prose and a dark, intriguing story, but the above issues made it difficult to stay engaged and a bit of a slog at times. the character of fusako was also underdeveloped and underutilised.
otherwise, it has some beautiful prose and a dark, intriguing story, but the above issues made it difficult to stay engaged and a bit of a slog at times. the character of fusako was also underdeveloped and underutilised.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Murder, Sexual content, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Death
Minor: Suicide attempt
sarahthenerd's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
What a disturbing book. First of all, I kind of understand that Noboru is curious about sex and human body since he's 13 y/o boy. But as I read further, I don't think him watching his mother pleasuring herself and her and her love interest have sex, is not just abt being curious. IMO, he watches it bcs of his friend group. This lead to my second point.
I believe Noboru wouldn't be a disturbing child if it was not bcs of his choice in friends. The chief gives this kind of idea that a man should be tough and never settle down. In other words, toxic masculinity and I'm not sure what's the word for degrading someone that share the same gender as them. I also read an article that Noboru and his friends is like a cult which now I can see it bcs of that one particular part in this book. As I said before, I don't think Noboru wouldn't be a disturbing child if he hadn't met the chief and the other numbers. I think deep down, Noboru still believes that what the chief said is bullshit. For example, he got overreacted when he heard one of the numbers' dad hit him. IMO, bcs of the chief, the others became toxic. The real villain in this story is the chief. And if it weren't for the chief, Norobu would be happy to have Ryuji as his father. Even though he's not a sailor anymore, I'm pretty sure he'd still love him.
Lastly, Ryuji is such a sweetheart. When he confronted Norobu after him and Fusako found out what Norobu did, my heart melt.
I believe Noboru wouldn't be a disturbing child if it was not bcs of his choice in friends. The chief gives this kind of idea that a man should be tough and never settle down. In other words, toxic masculinity and I'm not sure what's the word for degrading someone that share the same gender as them. I also read an article that Noboru and his friends is like a cult which now I can see it bcs of that one particular part in this book. As I said before, I don't think Noboru wouldn't be a disturbing child if he hadn't met the chief and the other numbers. I think deep down, Noboru still believes that what the chief said is bullshit. For example, he got overreacted when he heard one of the numbers' dad hit him. IMO, bcs of the chief, the others became toxic. The real villain in this story is the chief. And if it weren't for the chief, Norobu would be happy to have Ryuji as his father. Even though he's not a sailor anymore, I'm pretty sure he'd still love him.
Lastly, Ryuji is such a sweetheart. When he confronted Norobu after him and Fusako found out what Norobu did, my heart melt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape and Domestic abuse
maelisperlman's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Gore
Minor: Sexual content
epellicci's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Animal cruelty, Death, Murder, Animal death, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Sexism
l4r4777's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
There is a lot of substance in this book, and a lot of interesting points, but it wasn't really for me. Maybe I don't have the brain capacity to understand a lot of what this book is trying to say, or I just got bored. I can see how someone may love this book though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Self harm, Blood, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Self harm
halceeeeeeeee's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Gore
Moderate: Death and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
givemesomerope's review
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A story about a pretentious pre-pubescent boy and his fellow pretentious pre-pubescent friends. They read “Beyond Good and Evil” once and now believe they are the ultimate moral arbiters.
In all seriousness, this was an interesting book that covered multiple perspectives and offered great character insight into a nihilistic and angsty 13 year old boy, a grieving and newly fell in love widow, and a dispassionate sailor and their stories intertwist and build off of one another. I found it hard to get into the book at first, as barely anything was happening. After 30 pages, however, I began to enjoy the blend of incredible metaphors that fill up every page along with dialogue and followed with plot development. I mention again Mishima’s metaphors— they are everywhere and they are beautiful. He writes his descriptions in such intricate and raw detail, I could perfectly visualize the entire novel and it was all just jaw-dropping.
Overall, a thought provoking piece and I look forward to reading more of Yukio Mishima. This is my second book I’ve read by him and so far he hasn’t dissapointed
In all seriousness, this was an interesting book that covered multiple perspectives and offered great character insight into a nihilistic and angsty 13 year old boy, a grieving and newly fell in love widow, and a dispassionate sailor and their stories intertwist and build off of one another. I found it hard to get into the book at first, as barely anything was happening. After 30 pages, however, I began to enjoy the blend of incredible metaphors that fill up every page along with dialogue and followed with plot development. I mention again Mishima’s metaphors— they are everywhere and they are beautiful. He writes his descriptions in such intricate and raw detail, I could perfectly visualize the entire novel and it was all just jaw-dropping.
Overall, a thought provoking piece and I look forward to reading more of Yukio Mishima. This is my second book I’ve read by him and so far he hasn’t dissapointed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, and Murder