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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Melodrama for the sake of melodrama- it gets 3 stars because the writing is fantastic, the pace and characters are wonderful, it just took me out of the story when (spoiler!) friggin everyone dies the most random death. Like, it happens, plenty of the book is very real, and some people/families really do have that much bad luck- but it just feels forced in a fictional story when bad things just happen out of the blue. One or two things, sure, but I can think of at least 4 unforeseeable tragedies right away- and by the third and fourth I’m not into the story anymore, I’m thinking more of the writing process and the decision making by the author. The first half of the book is amazing, and the melancholy works brilliantly within the context of WW2- it just shouldn’t continue so much in the second half, or if it were to continue it’d seem better should the tragedies be a bit less “deus ex machina” or whatever. Still- if emotional turmoil is your thing then this book is for you, I just found some of the tragic turns a bit forced, personally.
If you ever asked me if I'd like to read a book that is partially about sumo wrestling, the answer who be a definite no. This book is a book club read for April and I thought it was such a good story. [a:Gail Tsukiyama|28719|Gail Tsukiyama|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1235246903p2/28719.jpg] writes a story that brings you into the world and she keeps everything moving. There was much sadness and tragedy in the story, but there was beauty, grace, honor, family traditions and the love of family. I'm very glad I read this book.
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A lot of backstory and character development. A little too slow at some points, it took me about half way through the book to be totally invested.
I really liked parts of it - learning about Japan before, during and after the war, learning about Noh theater and the masks and the lives of sumo wrestlers. But it was confusing switching between all the characters and dragged on a bit too long. I would give it a 3.5 if I could.
Well sadder than I expected which is say very sad. A lot of people die which would make sense for a world war 2 plot but at the same time not in the ways in which they died. Tragic right till the last page really.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I fell in love with this story and everything in it.
Wonderfully literate and full of Japanese culture and history. I'll be reading her other books.
if we could give half-stars here, i would say 3.5-stars right now. but i also feel like this is one of those novels that sits with you for a while and improves with distance. so i rounded up.
this is a melancholy story - early on i wasn't sure if i was really getting into the novel and whether what i was feeling was a bit of ennui at the fault of my own disposition or because of the writing. but as i kept going tsuyikama's writing made it worthwhile and i realized that her style was very purposeful and deliberate. the novel is a story about endurance and recovery but it is told so quietly. covering the time in japan from world war II through until the mid- to late-60s, this book is quite a saga of two families. i enjoyed very much the way traditional customs and story-telling were woven into the plot. my heart broke a couple of times and my eyes even welled up a bit, though they didn't spill over. (and i am not one who cries when it comes to reading, so on the very few occasions when a story causes this reaction, i am surprised.) a couple of things i would have loved, as complements to the story: a) a map; and b) family trees or a character chart. mostly because i am a sucker for these things when they do appear in historical fiction.
i think if you are a careful reader, one who doesn't mind giving focused time to a special story, you will like this novel.
this is a melancholy story - early on i wasn't sure if i was really getting into the novel and whether what i was feeling was a bit of ennui at the fault of my own disposition or because of the writing. but as i kept going tsuyikama's writing made it worthwhile and i realized that her style was very purposeful and deliberate. the novel is a story about endurance and recovery but it is told so quietly. covering the time in japan from world war II through until the mid- to late-60s, this book is quite a saga of two families. i enjoyed very much the way traditional customs and story-telling were woven into the plot. my heart broke a couple of times and my eyes even welled up a bit, though they didn't spill over. (and i am not one who cries when it comes to reading, so on the very few occasions when a story causes this reaction, i am surprised.) a couple of things i would have loved, as complements to the story: a) a map; and b) family trees or a character chart. mostly because i am a sucker for these things when they do appear in historical fiction.
i think if you are a careful reader, one who doesn't mind giving focused time to a special story, you will like this novel.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No