Reviews

Approximating The Distance Between Two People by Honobu Yonezawa

pasarmalam's review

4.0

Yonezawa Honobu-Sensei benar-benar nggak pernah mengecewakan. Yang paling saya nikmati dari buku kelima Kotenbu Series ini adalah pengemasan ceritanya yang mulus dan rapi kayak cara khas orang Jepang membungkus sekotak hadiah. Kok bisa, sih, kepikiran bikin Oreki memeras otak di tengah lari marathon? Apalagi kayak bertentangan banget sama prinsip hemat energinya dia, 'kan? Tapi, saudara-saudara, dia bilang jarak 20 kilometer itu terlalu jauh untuk sekadar berlari. Kita diajak menyelami ingatan-ingatan Oreki sepanjang dua bulan sebelumnya, transisi dalam alur yang nonlinier ini pengen saya garisbawahi alias mulus banget anjay. Udah kayak nonton film Little Women besutannya Greta Gerwig (misal buku ini ada lanjutan adaptasi animenya, saya berharap editingnya bakal sebagus itu). Untuk kasusnya sendiri, memang seolah nyaris nggak ada clue sama sekali, semua cuma bergantung sama ingatan Oreki dan omongan anggota Kotenbu lainnya. Membacanya harus lumayan teliti. Terakhir mungkin saya mau sungkem sama penerjemahnya, banyak bagian yang (pastinya) lumayan susah diterjemahkan dan adanya tambahan catatan kaki di sana-sini sangat membantu pembaca sekaligus ngasih wawasan baru. Keren, buku ini bagus banget! [sobs]

4.5/5 stars

strider23's review against another edition

4.0

This was the most complicated novel so far and the book had a unique structure. The main character is running (well,mostly walking) on a half-marathon while trying to solve the mystery. From the afterword we can see that its a nod to The long walk by Stephen King. I also had the opportunity to read about one of the most awkward birthday parties ever. Still, there is a really interesting and complex relationship between the characters. They feel real and its not an easy thing to do. My favorite mystery from the series is still the Hyouka incident, but probably this one was the best constructed so far. Only one volume left before the long wait for book 7.

yonea's review

3.0

Akhirnya kelar juga

springymayaka's review against another edition

mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

sicli's review

funny informative mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kusu00's review against another edition

2.0

4/10

subaita_tasnim's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

i_llumi's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

i swear oreki’s brain grows bigger and bigger with each book

oh man, what a joyful read to start off this year!! Kotenbu might be my new favorite book series <3

this instalment/arc was…. a curious one. oreki tries to solve the “why-did-our-new-and-only-kouhai-decide-to-leave-our-club and also why does she dislike chitanda” mystery all during a school marathon. it was super interesting to run (actually walk lol) alongside him while he pretty much made a psychological analysis of all of his 4 friends in order to solve the mystery. it was basically a back and forth of flashbacks (

the surprise birthday part shall now live inside my head rent free

) and him complaining + asking his friends random questions that would all make sense in the end. quem nunca ne 

this narrative format (?), introspective nature and the trademark mix of fluffy slice of life X mystery X heavier topics that make Kotenbu/Hyouka so unique all truly shine here! 

now that I’ve read 5/6 of this series…. maybe the 6th book will have to wait for a while…. because i’m too emotionally attached to these characters…. ooops

quote spam (spoilers in japanese!!!)

「警戒するべきは千反田先輩じゃなくて、折木先輩だったのかあ」

「……なあ。千反田はどうしてお前が退部したと思ってるか、想像がつくか？」 　もの言いたげな目をして、しかし答えは返らない。「あいつは、自分が携帯電話に勝手に触ったから、お前が怒って退部してしまったと思っている」
「信じられるか？ 　高校二年生にもなって、泣きそうになりながら、本気でそんなこと言っているんだぞ。

「仲のいいひと見てるのが一番幸せなんです。それは本当。だからね、先輩。……この二ヶ月、あたしけっこう、救われてたんだと思う」

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Toxic friendship

laurettalol's review against another edition

5.0

With this I have inadvertently reached the penultimate book in yet another unfinished series in hiatus...
It was so interesting that I couldn't put it down though, so I guess I have only myself to blame
There's only one more book from this series left to read, but I don't want to read because I don't want it to end... I believe that this is the first time I ever experienced this hahaha
I always heard people talking about this sentiment but since I just devour books in a series I like I never had enough time to stop and feel like "oh shit... there's only one book left - - - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
In my understanding, the trauma of having to wait so many years for the next Suzumiya Haruhi novel to come out (and not even knowing IF there will ever be another one Tanigawa Nagaru please have mercy on us, oh the suffering ) may be the cause.
Anyway, this was GREAT, the animated series covered the material from books 1-4, so this was completely new and uncharted territory for me.
I loved seeing the kids from the club "grow up" in a sense, character development was so nice
Also,

Spoiler

Okeri being embarrassed by the fact that Chitanda had visited his house when he was sick was so adorable aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...
What can I say I have a soft spot for romance

Now
To read
Or not to read the last novel
That is the question
I'm not ready

snowymiya's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

4.25