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dissential's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
mydogismybestfriend001's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
elithelibrarian's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nyankonii's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tw: romanticized predatory age gap
this was basically daddy issues: the novel.
this was basically daddy issues: the novel.
mc goes through stages of grief after the suicide of her father.
the writing felt stilted but that most likely is the fault of the translation.
she takes a liking to a regular at the bistro she works at bc he reminds her of her father. she then disturbingly develops a crush on her father’s friend. they both acknowledge it’s wrong since he knew her since she was a child, but they hook up anyways…yeah
the writing felt stilted but that most likely is the fault of the translation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Suicide, and Sexual content
Minor: Incest
megs_k's review against another edition
5.0
But I had no choice but to move forward into my new life. ~ Banana Yoshimoto
giada_fec's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
"I found it strange that I could walk down the street and appear normal, just like anyone else. That I could be in complete turmoil inside, and yet my reflection in a shop window could look the same as it ever had."
"Whenever I get excited, or have any fun, or start looking forward to something, I can sense another me observing myself from between cold, harsh waves, like the Japan Sea in winter.
"The moment I heard the news, there was a space in which I accepted it, which grew as time went on. That went for everything."
Yoshie loses her father to a forced suicide. A woman her father had an affair with commits suicide with him in her car in the forest, but it seems like he didn't want to be there. Yoshie moves into a small apartment in a new neighborhood and starts working at a beloved local restaurant. Her mother asks to stay with her for a while. A love letter to the qualities that make up a good neighborhood - uniqueness, beauty, places where you are known - and an interior type of novel about a character's feelings and thoughts as time passes.
moonsapphire's review against another edition
Didn’t like the writing style. I don’t know wether it’s the author or the translator.
bookguyinva2022's review against another edition
3.0
I should have realized I would be confused by this book. Japanese authors seem to have that effect on me. I feel a little betrayed by the synopsis, expecting a host story and getting a coming of age one instead. The lack of chapters was unique, although I missed them. This was my first exposure to Banana, like all things I can't pass judgement on a single experience, so at some point I will revisit her. But with a completely different mindset.