Reviews

Doce Tóquio by Durian Sukegawa

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shellc86's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

5.0

sorcerors's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

fionacashell's review against another edition

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4.0

I was unsure how I would rate this book, but the ending message sealed the deal for me. I went into the book with very little information about it, and appreciated the information it shared about

Spoiler

Hansen’s disease and its stigma in Japan.

The translation at times felt a bit clunky, which very well may have been a byproduct of preserving the formality of the conversations between characters. I personally didn’t see the thesis regarding

Spoiler

the value of life

coming until the author spelled it out, and it pushed the story preceding it into a different light for me.

sweetbeegarden's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

oh wow, this story took me by surprise. About a week ago, on a particularly rainy day, I felt the urge to read something sweet and warm. I looked up a random list on trusty goodreads and this was one of the first books listed.

I have recently started reading more japanese literature and am finding that I really enjoy the reflective and at times bittersweet notes in a lot of the stories. This book came highly reviewed and oh man what a heartwarming story it was! The message is one we’ve all read before but should never get tired of reading: friendship! love! hope!

No spoilers here, but the unlikely friendship between Sentaro and Tokue is a lovely reminder to think beyond ourselves, listen to the world around us, and always find joy in our lives despite whatever jumbled crises we’re in :)

I will leave my review at this and share what I thought was some terrific food for thought in the author’s note:

“Twenty years ago I was a […] late-night radio personality. […] I often asked my listeners: ‘What is life all about?’

I wasn’t looking for an answer; I simply wanted them to think about it. Their replies, however, were always much the same: I was born to be a useful member of society. If I can’t be that, life has no meaning.

This admirable sentiment is much approved of in Japan, but I could never bring myself to give it a nod.

[…] Some lives are all too brief, while others are a continual struggle. I couldn’t help thinking that it was a brutal assessment of people’s lives to employ usefulness to society as a yardstick by which to measure their value. […] There has to be a reason for being born, irrespective of individual circumstance.

[…] Over the aeons the universe has nurtured life forms whose very awareness makes them involved in its continued existence. Hence we are all alike in having materialized on this Earth because that was what the universe so desired. The ill, the bed-ridden, and the children whose lives are over before they’ve barely begun; all are equal in their relationship to the universe. Anyone is capable of making a positive contribution to the world through simple observation, irrespective of circumstance.”

afterttherain's review against another edition

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4.0

“It’s my belief that everything in this world has its own language. We have the ability to open up our ears and minds to anything and everything. That could be someone walking down the street, or it could be the sunshine or the wind.”

nerv_atz's review against another edition

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4.0

now i want to cry

cynthiareads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

A sweet story about loneliness, friendship, second chances, and making dorayaki. CW for mentions of suicide ideation and attempts.

Content Warnings

vishwesh's review against another edition

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3.0

Short and sweet. A typical classic Japanese novel with an emotional tale.

Talks about taboos around illnesses, and friendships beyond expectations.
Loved it!

221bpinkst's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

kylave's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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