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ymziegler's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Death, Grief, and Hate crime
isabeldotml's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Transphobia and Murder
beautifulminutiae's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Deadnaming
sapphichaos's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Transphobia
Moderate: Murder
spookily's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Transphobia
Moderate: Blood, Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Hate crime, and Alcohol
Minor: Stalking, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, and Terminal illness
lowercase_ron's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Hate crime
carlytenille's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Death of parent
savvylit's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Kitchen is a delightful story focused on grief and chosen family. Protagonist Mikage has just lost the grandmother she was raised by. At the funeral, she meets an eccentric and sweet young man named Yuichi who had been friends with her grandmother. Soon after, Yuichi and his mother Eriko invite Mikage to live with them while she gets back on her feet. Their welcoming nature and cozy apartment becomes exactly what Mikage needed during her grieving process. Later, Yuichi faces his own struggles and Mikage is able to return the favor.
Moonlight Shadow, the second novella, is an even quicker look at grief and sudden loss. Satsuki is lost without her boyfriend of many years. But then she meets a strange and magical woman who helps her more than she could've imagined.
Of the two, Kitchen is the more fully-realized and compelling story. Something about Mikage's love of kitchens and food lent the whole thing a very cozy and heartwarming feeling. This made it a perfect read for a cold and rainy day. Moonlight Shadow was more fable-like. It seemed to serve merely as a fictional exploration of the need to come back to yourself while lost in the throes of grief.
Overall, this book is a cozy and quick read with likeable characters. However, Kitchen was first published in 1988 and features some outdated and transphobic language. There are a few trans folks in the first novella who are beloved by the rest of the characters BUT are written about in quite an ignorant way. Even viewed through the lens of a less-understanding past, the outdated descriptions can be quite grating.
Moonlight Shadow, the second novella, is an even quicker look at grief and sudden loss. Satsuki is lost without her boyfriend of many years. But then she meets a strange and magical woman who helps her more than she could've imagined.
Of the two, Kitchen is the more fully-realized and compelling story. Something about Mikage's love of kitchens and food lent the whole thing a very cozy and heartwarming feeling. This made it a perfect read for a cold and rainy day. Moonlight Shadow was more fable-like. It seemed to serve merely as a fictional exploration of the need to come back to yourself while lost in the throes of grief.
Overall, this book is a cozy and quick read with likeable characters. However, Kitchen was first published in 1988 and features some outdated and transphobic language. There are a few trans folks in the first novella who are beloved by the rest of the characters BUT are written about in quite an ignorant way. Even viewed through the lens of a less-understanding past, the outdated descriptions can be quite grating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Transphobia, and Car accident
catandherbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.5
Never thought I'd like a book that speaks of kitchens and cooking so much, but I lived how the act of cooking is described as an action that brought the character a sense of accomplishment and stability.
Most of all this is a book about grief and love, both of these are explores in the most beautiful and poignant way throughout said book.
If not for the transphobic remarks, which I don't think should have happened with characters in the age group as the ones who said them (even though this book was written a while ago) this would have been a perfect read.
Most of all this is a book about grief and love, both of these are explores in the most beautiful and poignant way throughout said book.
If not for the transphobic remarks, which I don't think should have happened with characters in the age group as the ones who said them (even though this book was written a while ago) this would have been a perfect read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death
Minor: Transphobia
threeyearsaway's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death