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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Compelling story and also super interesting to learn more about recent Japanese history through each character’s context.
J’ai absolument adoré ce livre.
À travers l’histoire de trois femmes, l’autrice nous décrit les transformations de la société japonaise depuis la seconde guerre mondiale sans jamais tomber dans l’anachronisme évident (en tout cas de ce que j’en ai perçu). Elle mêle par ailleurs surnaturel et éléments historiques avec une facilité déconcertante. Sans que le paranormal ne devienne le sujet du livre, il m’a paru parfaitement naturel que la grand mère ait des visions, aussi normal que la description de l’industrialisation à marche forcée post-seconde guerre mondiale.
Enfin, j’ai beaucoup aimé la traduction: à la fois simple et peut-être un peu naïve ? Je ne parle pas un mot de japonais donc je ne sais pas à quel point cela retranscrit l’écriture originale.
Bref, je recommande!
À travers l’histoire de trois femmes, l’autrice nous décrit les transformations de la société japonaise depuis la seconde guerre mondiale sans jamais tomber dans l’anachronisme évident (en tout cas de ce que j’en ai perçu). Elle mêle par ailleurs surnaturel et éléments historiques avec une facilité déconcertante. Sans que le paranormal ne devienne le sujet du livre, il m’a paru parfaitement naturel que la grand mère ait des visions, aussi normal que la description de l’industrialisation à marche forcée post-seconde guerre mondiale.
Enfin, j’ai beaucoup aimé la traduction: à la fois simple et peut-être un peu naïve ? Je ne parle pas un mot de japonais donc je ne sais pas à quel point cela retranscrit l’écriture originale.
Bref, je recommande!
Nel paese immaginario di Benitomori, nella prefettura di Tottori, in Giappone, un’antica e ricca famiglia trascorre la propria vita in un’immensa dimora rossa appollaiata su un monte.
Da qui vediamo tre generazioni di donne come protagoniste: Man’yo la chiaroveggente, la figlia teppista Kemari e la nipote Tōko, che tra i veli dei periodi storici in cui hanno vissuto si sono plasmate diversamente l’une dalle altre.
Qui, in questo libro, il tempo che scorre inesorabile è un vero e proprio protagonista, segnato dalle varie mentalità e dai modi di vedere il mondo da tutti i personaggi presenti, a volte crudele a volte precipitoso. Viene rappresentato anche dal villaggio che muta e dal grande Altoforno della famiglia Akakuchiba dal suo grande fasto alla sua inesorabile chiusura e demolizione.
È un romanzo nostalgico, che in più di 400 pagine crea uno spaccato della società giapponese dal dopoguerra agli anni ‘90, tra tradizioni e cultura pop. Scritto da una mano delicata dai guizzi orrifici e una punta di mistero.
Da anni questo libro risiedeva nella mia libreria ed è stato un ritrovamento davvero piacevole, tanto da affezionarmi alla famiglia Akakuchiba con tutte le sue luci e ombre.
A three-part novel relating the stories of the women of the illustrious Akakuchiba family: Manyo, the clairvoyant, abandoned mountain girl adopted by a kind working family and later plucked from obscurity to become the next Akakuchiba matriarch; Kemari, the leader of a motorcycle girl gang who cedes her criminal throne to become a manga superstar, thus securing the Akakuchibas' fortune; and Toko, the afterthought daughter who memorializes her foremothers and is shocked by Manyo's deathbed confession that she once killed someone.
The third part is definitely the weakest, as Toko is too aimless to be compelling or sympathetic. It was only by constantly reminding myself that this inarticulate fraidy cat was the one who recorded parts one and two, that I was able to endure her story. Anyone would be cowed by the women who came before her, and perhaps it is easier to document a country's evolution than endure its present. The mystery component is very minor and easily solved, but its solution provides the final bittersweet touch to a very moving multigenerational tale.
The third part is definitely the weakest, as Toko is too aimless to be compelling or sympathetic. It was only by constantly reminding myself that this inarticulate fraidy cat was the one who recorded parts one and two, that I was able to endure her story. Anyone would be cowed by the women who came before her, and perhaps it is easier to document a country's evolution than endure its present. The mystery component is very minor and easily solved, but its solution provides the final bittersweet touch to a very moving multigenerational tale.
Bei diesem Buch hat mich vor allem das Thema (Japan) direkt angesprochen, die Idee des hellsehenden Familienoberhauptes klang aber auch sehr interessant. Vorab einmal, die Geschichte bindet gekonnt historische Begebenheiten in den Alltag der Figuren mit ein und bestimmt ihr Handeln, wodurch man nebenbei auch etwas über ein Land lernt das nicht gerade ausführlich im Geschichtsunterricht besprochen wird. Besonders gelungen fand ich tatsächlich die Hauptfiguren der Familie Akakuchiba, die alle auf irgendeine Weise außergewöhnliche und starke Persönlichkeiten mit ihren ganz eigenen "Macken" sind. Manche Stellen brachten mich auch zum schmunzeln, denn irgendwie verrückt ist die Geschichte schon. Denn genau das ist der Roman: er ist geschrieben als Geschichte, die unsere 3. Hauptfigur Toko von ihrer Großmutter Manyo erzählt bekommt. Dadurch schreitet die Handlung auch beim Lesen sehr schnell voran, denn eine erzählte Geschichte muss schließlich mitreißen ;) Insgesamt ein in meinen Augen doch etwas außergewöhnlicher Roman aus einem faszinierenden Land, der nicht nur für Japanfans lesenswert ist.
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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:
No
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes