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rionstorm's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A really nice, gentle little book. Really captures the feeling of being a child who doesn't quite fit in and who has very big feelings about the world around them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Bullying, Body shaming, and Death
placeholder13's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming and Death of parent
caroisreading's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm reading all translated Mieko Kawakami books, and this was the one I was most apprehensive about. I haven't read from the POV of a child before (with adult context), and have only known Mieko as an author of adult women's perspectives. Of course, that theme still came up, and I was happily surprised by this gentle, short and sweet story.
Our narrator is a fourth-grade boy who is fascinated by the woman who sells sandwiches at the grocery, described mostly by her electric blue eyelids. From his perspective, she is beautiful, silent, and perfect in how she packages sandwiches. This portrait shatters as he hears, unwillingly, the opinions of others about her looks, how monstrous she is. But in his innocence, he holds tightly to his fascination with her, drawing her obsessively.
It was heartbreaking thinking of how our loveliness as women, our beauty and Identity, becomes so twisted by society. I took this young boy's awe as a reminder to us that someone still sees us, and holds us in that light.
You'll enjoy this is you love themes about women, childhood, Japanese fiction, and want a quick but substantial read.
Our narrator is a fourth-grade boy who is fascinated by the woman who sells sandwiches at the grocery, described mostly by her electric blue eyelids. From his perspective, she is beautiful, silent, and perfect in how she packages sandwiches. This portrait shatters as he hears, unwillingly, the opinions of others about her looks, how monstrous she is. But in his innocence, he holds tightly to his fascination with her, drawing her obsessively.
It was heartbreaking thinking of how our loveliness as women, our beauty and Identity, becomes so twisted by society. I took this young boy's awe as a reminder to us that someone still sees us, and holds us in that light.
You'll enjoy this is you love themes about women, childhood, Japanese fiction, and want a quick but substantial read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Death of parent, and Death
linearev's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Its a really interesting book about a young boys obsession with this sandwich booth girl. It is really interesting how the book explores the main characters changing perspective on ms ice sandwich, and how other peoples perspectives changes the point of view we are given.
It didn’t really move me but I got through the short book fast and think of it as an enjoyable read.
It didn’t really move me but I got through the short book fast and think of it as an enjoyable read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Alcoholism, Sexism, and Stalking
axel_p's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, and Grief
linguaphile412's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Misogyny, Bullying, and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Gun violence
wellfedpages's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
Beauty lies...
in the eyes of the beholder?
or a clinical ratio?
This was a sweet story about childhood love / crush, heartbreak, friendship & familial bonds that also challenges the notion of who / what is beautiful.
What is it that draws someone to another person?
Is it just surface beauty or is it something more?
Is there really something wrong with #MsIceSandwich ?
Or is it something that people made up because she was too different, too confident, didn't give a f*ck about people's opinions?
Is she beautiful?
Or is she just beautiful to him?
Through the eyes of a neurodivergent unnamed little boy, Kawakami explores these themes and also highlights the transience of life
Everything is fleeting
Everyone will be gone one day
Sometimes when you least expect it
So instead of keeping one's feelings bottled up or waiting to spend time with someone, say what you have to say & give them your time while you still can
That seems to be the moral of this tiny novella
It also unearths the many ways parents love their children, breaking the stereotypes, while giving us a glimpse into the complexity & joy of being a single parent.
But the most beautiful relationship in the book for me was the one between the little boy and his grandmother. It reminded me how little time we have with our grandparents
Or with anyone we care about
Love is about being there
Even if they can barely speak, barely hear, or even no longer recognize you, your presence is what matters.
And finally, swaddled in all the sweetness was the boy's magical dream full of double entendres. A hidden sexually laden excerpt in an otherwise innocent book
Perhaps it was intentional, a hint at a young boy's fantasies
Or maybe it was written such so that younger readers can still read this book at the surface level, while others can glean more
This was my first #MiekoKawakami book, but definitely not the last
Hope to read Breast And Eggs & Heaven soon
in the eyes of the beholder?
or a clinical ratio?
This was a sweet story about childhood love / crush, heartbreak, friendship & familial bonds that also challenges the notion of who / what is beautiful.
What is it that draws someone to another person?
Is it just surface beauty or is it something more?
Is there really something wrong with #MsIceSandwich ?
Or is it something that people made up because she was too different, too confident, didn't give a f*ck about people's opinions?
Is she beautiful?
Or is she just beautiful to him?
Through the eyes of a neurodivergent unnamed little boy, Kawakami explores these themes and also highlights the transience of life
Everything is fleeting
Everyone will be gone one day
Sometimes when you least expect it
So instead of keeping one's feelings bottled up or waiting to spend time with someone, say what you have to say & give them your time while you still can
That seems to be the moral of this tiny novella
It also unearths the many ways parents love their children, breaking the stereotypes, while giving us a glimpse into the complexity & joy of being a single parent.
But the most beautiful relationship in the book for me was the one between the little boy and his grandmother. It reminded me how little time we have with our grandparents
Or with anyone we care about
Love is about being there
Even if they can barely speak, barely hear, or even no longer recognize you, your presence is what matters.
And finally, swaddled in all the sweetness was the boy's magical dream full of double entendres. A hidden sexually laden excerpt in an otherwise innocent book
Perhaps it was intentional, a hint at a young boy's fantasies
Or maybe it was written such so that younger readers can still read this book at the surface level, while others can glean more
This was my first #MiekoKawakami book, but definitely not the last
Hope to read Breast And Eggs & Heaven soon
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Death, and Body shaming
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
a short novella centering around growing up and loss. tbh i dont think it's very memorable, but there are standout moments, like those of ms. ice sandwich and the wisdom dropped by tutti. the narrator is a good boi, naive and eventually transformed thru losses. i like the simple setting of a jpn town too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Minor: Death of parent and Death
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