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lostcupofstars's review
4.0
This book is disturbing af. The writing is compelling and the commentary here around feminism, sadomasochism, motherhood, marriage - the list goes on and honestly there’s so much to unpack here. This is the perfect type of book to discuss with others.
There were a few stories that dragged for me and some I didn’t really get but overall this is a collection that makes its point known.
Snow was the standout for me and I will likely remember that story forever.
There were a few stories that dragged for me and some I didn’t really get but overall this is a collection that makes its point known.
Snow was the standout for me and I will likely remember that story forever.
caicel's review against another edition
Extremely hard and tedious start. Might attempt again at some point.
victoriathuyvi's review against another edition
5.0
Not for the delicate of mind, but it would be such a shame to pass this book because there are some truly stunning stories. The central theme is motherhood or rather the aversion to motherhood. And although each woman grapples with the same distaste for children, each feels like her own person. Plus, some of the plots are just damn creative. I hope Kono Taeko continues to become more well-known in the English speaking world.
turinthurin's review
2.0
Snow was quite enjoyable but the rest of the stories in this collection were either boring or just not for me.
wordsmithreads's review against another edition
3.0
All ratings out of 5 stars
Average of 3.42 stars
Night Journey - 2.5
- orgy? swingers where is the couple?
Full Tide - 3/5
- interesting "twist" about the suicide
Toddler Hunting - 3.5
- interesting but very disturbing. why are all the women turned on by pain. multiple women in this collection are like this woman: like painful sex, don't like children, and man is not really present/loving
Snow- 3.5
- #mommyissues
Theater - 4.5
- loved this one. grooming their unicorn
Crabs - 4.7
- love this one also. what is she keeping from him? the crabs represent her illness?
Ants Swarm - 2
- uncomfy to read. vicious way to treat a child
Final Moments - 5
- my favorite one. her stupid little tasks she chooses, all for a husband who isn't even that great. was she actually going to die? or just anxious about it?
Conjurer - 3.5
- weird. why are all the men in these stories so shitty
Bone Meat - 2
- did not like any of this. bizarre
"You know," she said, "I often think about all of your futures. Of course, I can't say for sure what kind of husbands you and your sister will marry, or what sort of lives you'll lead, but don't think you're always going to be this happy, dear. We're almost too happy. Life isn't always like this." [Full Tide] {essentially foreshadowing for the relationships in the story}
She had once been told that in order to prevent a nightmare [her mother dying] from coming true, you have to tell someone about it, but she had been terrified that saying anything about this dream might have the opposite effect, so she's resisted her first impulse to wake Kisaki up. [Snow] {interesting thought, that you have to share}
pg 107 description of the theater in [Theater] is very on brand and accurate
pg 173 abortion in the States [Ants Swarm]
Average of 3.42 stars
Spoiler
Night Journey - 2.5
- orgy? swingers where is the couple?
Full Tide - 3/5
- interesting "twist" about the suicide
Toddler Hunting - 3.5
- interesting but very disturbing. why are all the women turned on by pain. multiple women in this collection are like this woman: like painful sex, don't like children, and man is not really present/loving
Snow- 3.5
- #mommyissues
Theater - 4.5
- loved this one. grooming their unicorn
Crabs - 4.7
- love this one also. what is she keeping from him? the crabs represent her illness?
Ants Swarm - 2
- uncomfy to read. vicious way to treat a child
Final Moments - 5
- my favorite one. her stupid little tasks she chooses, all for a husband who isn't even that great. was she actually going to die? or just anxious about it?
Conjurer - 3.5
- weird. why are all the men in these stories so shitty
Bone Meat - 2
- did not like any of this. bizarre
"You know," she said, "I often think about all of your futures. Of course, I can't say for sure what kind of husbands you and your sister will marry, or what sort of lives you'll lead, but don't think you're always going to be this happy, dear. We're almost too happy. Life isn't always like this." [Full Tide] {essentially foreshadowing for the relationships in the story}
She had once been told that in order to prevent a nightmare [her mother dying] from coming true, you have to tell someone about it, but she had been terrified that saying anything about this dream might have the opposite effect, so she's resisted her first impulse to wake Kisaki up. [Snow] {interesting thought, that you have to share}
pg 107 description of the theater in [Theater] is very on brand and accurate
pg 173 abortion in the States [Ants Swarm]
zellm's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful and uncomfortable, I love Kono's style and descriptions. These were sometimes unsettling but always really enjoyable.
tianabanana's review against another edition
3.0
as a scholar of japanese fiction (as per my degree), i have read my fair share of works that were difficult to get through, whether it be due to the "disturbing" nature of the book or just simply because it was boring. this collection of stories has a few shining moments ("snow" in particular) that bring me back to the days of studying early modern japanese literature. there is a particular quality to japanese literature that, once you get used to it, it is not troublesome. characters seem flat and detached (i assure you they are not) and scenes seem empty (because everything has a purpose, there is no need for pointless detail (take some notes please donna tartt)). i see from a few reviews that some had trouble getting there. (and that's fair.)
a surface reading of this book will certainly make you question kono's sanity (and i almost fell into this trap, but kept reminding myself that this author had been praised as one of the best feminist writers of japan by no other than kenzaburo oe) but, once you consider the backdrop of kono's life (an adolescence lived through the war and occupation of japan), the themes become a lot clearer. while i don't doubt that kono was deeply interested in sadomasochism itself, i find it incredibly shortsighted not to consider the depths of her metaphors and themes.
the most striking story, in my opinion, is "bone meat." the imagery of neglected (whether it be her own preference or not) woman losing her mind after the disappearance of her borderline abusive partner (husband?) was written so incredibly well. think the yellow wallpaper but with a little more spice. there is a lot going on there and i'm not currently in a position to properly dissect it all.
overall, i'm really glad i pushed through parts that i thought were less than exciting to experience the nuggets of gold.
a surface reading of this book will certainly make you question kono's sanity (and i almost fell into this trap, but kept reminding myself that this author had been praised as one of the best feminist writers of japan by no other than kenzaburo oe) but, once you consider the backdrop of kono's life (an adolescence lived through the war and occupation of japan), the themes become a lot clearer. while i don't doubt that kono was deeply interested in sadomasochism itself, i find it incredibly shortsighted not to consider the depths of her metaphors and themes.
the most striking story, in my opinion, is "bone meat." the imagery of neglected (whether it be her own preference or not) woman losing her mind after the disappearance of her borderline abusive partner (husband?) was written so incredibly well. think the yellow wallpaper but with a little more spice. there is a lot going on there and i'm not currently in a position to properly dissect it all.
overall, i'm really glad i pushed through parts that i thought were less than exciting to experience the nuggets of gold.
natasha29singh's review against another edition
3.0
Well, I can’t complain that I never read any perverse stories by women authors anymore. This book is incredibly transgressive, particularly considering when the stories were written and published. And I do appreciate her take on the inner (sex) lives of Japanese women, I do! Ditto with the descriptive prose and flawless translation. It just got a bit tiresome to read about masochism and pedophilia after a while (trust me when I say what this book suggests is way more sinister than what it describes - Crabs is going to haunt me forever.) I didn’t love this, but I do understand its significance.
wollibs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25