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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Tens of thousands of lives were lost in the tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. This left many survivors reeling with grief over those who were lost. Many found solace by speaking to their lost loved ones via a remote disconnected phone booth. This "wind phone" became a place people made pilgrimages to in order to deal with their grief.
In this novel, Laura Imai Messina, brings to life several characters dealing with grief after the tsunami. Yui lost her mother and daughter in the tsunami. Her sorrow overtakes her life. Yui learns about the phone booth from someone who calls into her radio show. She journeys to the wind phone but can't make herself speak into it. There she meets Takeshi, who lost his wife in the tsunami. His young daughter hasn't spoken since her mother died. Yui and Takeshi bond over their losses and work through their grief together.
The story was sad yet heartwarming. The narrative was broken up into short chapters and vignettes. Some of these are recollections or lists, such as the playlist of songs Yui played on her radio broadcast on a certain day. These short chapters are like brief glimpses into Yui's sorrow and how she is dealing with it. I loved her interactions with Takeshi's daughter. The book shows how those impacted by a similar experience can help each other through it. Overall, the writing was peaceful, introspective, and poignant.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
In this novel, Laura Imai Messina, brings to life several characters dealing with grief after the tsunami. Yui lost her mother and daughter in the tsunami. Her sorrow overtakes her life. Yui learns about the phone booth from someone who calls into her radio show. She journeys to the wind phone but can't make herself speak into it. There she meets Takeshi, who lost his wife in the tsunami. His young daughter hasn't spoken since her mother died. Yui and Takeshi bond over their losses and work through their grief together.
The story was sad yet heartwarming. The narrative was broken up into short chapters and vignettes. Some of these are recollections or lists, such as the playlist of songs Yui played on her radio broadcast on a certain day. These short chapters are like brief glimpses into Yui's sorrow and how she is dealing with it. I loved her interactions with Takeshi's daughter. The book shows how those impacted by a similar experience can help each other through it. Overall, the writing was peaceful, introspective, and poignant.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
rainbowthani's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
4.75
hzcyr's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kristinaandonovska's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
yunagirlamy's review
5.0
All I feel the need to say is this: this is, without a doubt, the most beautiful book I have ever read.
sarahthereadingaddict's review
5.0
This is such a beautiful story, to feel like you are able to speak to lost loved ones. There is a real sense of peace about the phone box and I think it's less about the phone box itself but where it is placed, it's peaceful and gives people time to think about the people they've lost.
Please travel far and wide to visit the phone box and the reasons are because they've lost someone but theres a feeling of joy I got from reading this book. It's beautifully written and as I listened to it on audiobook it's also narrated brilliantly. Yuriri's voice is so soothing and easy to listen to it makes it even more of a beautiful book.
Please travel far and wide to visit the phone box and the reasons are because they've lost someone but theres a feeling of joy I got from reading this book. It's beautifully written and as I listened to it on audiobook it's also narrated brilliantly. Yuriri's voice is so soothing and easy to listen to it makes it even more of a beautiful book.
aunesofia1993's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
olivartk21's review against another edition
5.0
The book is beautifully written and steadily paced for me to experience a person grieving when losing a loved one. Along the way, we make room for friendship, and love, and learning to let go to start healing.
adamerez's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0