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yashandbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
I do like the writing style of Yoko ogawa.
stephibabes's review against another edition
5.0
I was utterly captivated by Revenge. The way in which Yōko Ogawa writes in such a rich yet slightly cold manner is so appealing. Stories that seem totally normal which then just turn into mundane absurdity. It is like reading a dream that turns ever so slightly sinister and you wake wondering if it was a nightmare.
I think I am a Yōko Ogawa fangirl and it will take effort to pace myself and not just binge her other novels.
I think I am a Yōko Ogawa fangirl and it will take effort to pace myself and not just binge her other novels.
erasmios's review against another edition
4.0
Revenge is a dark quick-read, a collection of grim short stories each told from a different character's (who's also the narrator) perspective. I had wanted to read Ogawa for a while so I definitely had some expectations for this novella. They were all met. Ogawa doesn't say much. Her elegant style is distant, a little cold, and she trusts the reader to understand the unspoken words. Sometimes she surprises the reader, slashing out with brutal honesty, and at times those slashes might stand out a little too much. The way the stories connect with each other kept me interested and I was eager to know how it all would wrap up.
I liked the translation too, however I wonder if Revenge is the best title for this book. The original name in Japanese is very different and much longer: Kamokuna shigai Midarana tomurai. "Quiet corpse(s), filthy funeral(s)". (The word shigai isn't used when talking about dead people so "carcass" might be a better translation.)
I liked the translation too, however I wonder if Revenge is the best title for this book. The original name in Japanese is very different and much longer: Kamokuna shigai Midarana tomurai. "Quiet corpse(s), filthy funeral(s)". (The word shigai isn't used when talking about dead people so "carcass" might be a better translation.)
kyljk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
poovii's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
emmal_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rhuntern's review against another edition
The stories focus more on the characters than the plots, but are so short that there's not really much room to care about their struggles at all. It's well written, but I found it ultimately boring because nothing really ever happens. It unfortunately falls into that literary hole where it wants to focus on the human element but fails to do so.