Reviews

Hit Parade of Tears by Izumi Suzuki

theciz's review

medium-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

3.0

Another collection of sci-fi short stories. The stories start out weird and fun enough, but once they start getting interconnected, they get nonsensical and repetitive. I think the turning point is the one about time travel laced with endless incomprehensible references to Japanese bands in the 1970s, like a weird American Psycho parody. Despite different settings, a lot of the characters start to feel the same as well - depressed and disaffected young women, sometimes alone, sometimes with shitty male partners, struggling with the meaning and lack of love and connection in their lives. Also, for some reason, psyonic aliens. This was fine, but not as varied as Terminal Boredom.

lardytatoes's review

reflective medium-paced

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

2.5

Really enjoyed ‘The Covenant’ and ‘Memory of Water’. ‘Trial Witch’ was okay and the rest I found forgettable. From what I’ve read online ‘Terminal Boredom’ is a much better example of Suzuki’s strengths so if I do return to her writing or were to recommend an introduction to her writing I’d say skip this collection of stories and read ‘Terminal Boredom’ instead.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror

librarycowboy's review

challenging emotional reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.0

Reading Izumi Suzuki's stories, you can tell that she was troubled. The stories shift time and place with little notice, characters are apathetic unless they are experiencing too much. The entire thing feels like a drug trip (not bad, just confusing. As if the story were happening at you and not alongside you). 

Unfortunately, a number of the music and pop culture references went over my head; if you have better knowledge than I on that front, and can appreciate a cut-and-paste storytelling style, her works might just be right for you. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia

Moderate: Suicide, Drug abuse, and War

delaneylp's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense

2.5

not my favorite story collection I've ever read, but this definitely had its moments

kidsquid's review

dark emotional funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Some of these stories are better than in Terminal Boredom, but others I found dragging on, especially the back third. The way Izumi does world building works great as a very natural way to incorporate a science fiction/fantasy concept, until it comes to longer stories. It ends up developing too slowly, and in some cases, is not big enough to warrant the build up.

I still love the writing, and characters, I really love most of this collection, and will definitely check out anything new translations. 

fictionalfrank's review

mysterious

3.5

bevein's review

Not feeling it at the moment might come back

michael_taylor's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

2.75

ohwretchedme's review

funny reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

blvntbaby's review

DNF'd less than half way through i just couldnt get into it and i really tried , might try again at some point but probably not.. will still try Terminal Boredom