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kadbee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide and Misogyny
Moderate: War
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
It’s slow and reflective, repetitive because of the narrators unreliable nature, but it’s for a reason. He presents his points of view as the utmost height of polite Japanese society, and cannot see how Japan is changing around him after the war.
Graphic: Racism and Misogyny
Moderate: War
Minor: Suicide
blau_elmo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The self-doubt, the conflation of one's conviction with authority (contradicted by his inability to stop the police from harassing his protege), and his strong desire to get Noriko, his daughter, married, as a way to make up for her previously failed negotiations, which he assumes to be caused by his past as a propaganda artist for Imperial Japan, when in reality his influence is not so wide-reaching, shows his character. He is untrustworthy, proud and ridden with guilt, which drives him to prevaricate and try to make amends with old students and mentors, all of which now no longer wish to associate with him.
It is a book about inter-generational conflict, but more importantly, a muddled sense of self. It is complex, and leaves so much for the reader to ponder about. Great read.
Moderate: War
pandemonicbaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: War, Death, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol and Suicide
risemini's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.75
Graphic: Death, Alcohol, Suicide, Grief, Misogyny, and War
sbnptwrn's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Colonisation, Misogyny, Sexism, and War
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Ableism, Death, and Death of parent
booksjessreads's review against another edition
- 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
2.5
I usually enjoy Ishiguro on audio, but I actually think in this instance, that didn't help. I just found it a really hard audiobook to engage with and also follow. Perhaps the print copy would have been better.
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, and Alcoholism
Moderate: War
Minor: Bullying and Homophobia
eve81's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Suicide, War, Chronic illness, Classism, and Ableism
slipni's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: War
ginnyb412's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Death and War