You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
I kind of expected more.... like maybe it could’ve explored more about the items in the shop and their stories or something? I was expecting something magical or more whimsical with this book... but sadly until the end it was just about the shop employees? I’ve decided to give it a neutral rating... neither a good nor bad book. Twas just a way to pass the time. I feel like this book had a lot of potential, and more could have been done. Oh well...
Having read a lot of Murakami and hearing people compare this author to him.... no. It’s just a no for me. Murakami writes really good lines that make you think and ponder about life. I always put in a lot of tabs in his books. This book? Nothing of note.
I guess that’s not really a fair comparison considering that Murakami is a legend... but people shouldn’t even be mentioning him in the first place.
Having read a lot of Murakami and hearing people compare this author to him.... no. It’s just a no for me. Murakami writes really good lines that make you think and ponder about life. I always put in a lot of tabs in his books. This book? Nothing of note.
I guess that’s not really a fair comparison considering that Murakami is a legend... but people shouldn’t even be mentioning him in the first place.
3.5 Stars. This started as a quaint everyday story about a second-hand shop and its staff. I really enjoyed the pace and style of this book, but was disappointed with the romantic developments. Well-translated and a good example of how Japanese people communicate with each other- so much is left unsaid, a lot of indirect conversation and silence. The book made me think of my time in Japan and how many cultural faux pas I might have made in my quest to get to know people!
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Super Japanese. Very accurate and illuminating insight into the culture, which was cool, but—man—is Japan ever weird. Despite the weird (to this Western reader, at least) social dynamics, the book is actually really mundane and very little happens. Mostly it's Japanese people being super awkward with each other; if you ever wondered why the birth rate in Japan is plummeting, this book gives you a pretty good sense of why that is.
funny
lighthearted
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
An interesting read that has a unique setting that allows for a study of the characters and their relationships with each other. It was an easy read and pretty lighthearted but didn’t have anything in particular that grabbed my attention and pushed me to keep reading
I was so bored it was a chore to read this short book. The dialogue alternates from quotations to no quotations which I couldn't figure out a reason for. It didn't have any depth or empathy for characters.
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
Yes
4☆ I love Hiromi Kawakami's writing style, even when things happening seem completely absurd. This one was stranger than Strange Weather in Tokyo, oddly enough, but still elegantly simple and enjoyable.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A