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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Yeah... not for me. This book felt very empty and flat despite an amazing plot idea, I thought it would be spooky but no, there is just gross elements like incest thrown in there for... idk? shock value maybe? But the writing style is so flat it just bored me, it's a very short book and it was still a struggle to get through because I was so bored.
One of those books that you just have to have a weird connection to to truly enjoy it, (which is something I find myself thinking about when it comes to most Japanese literature) which was definitely there for me. I found myself not trying to pick apart every possible metaphor or deeper meaning, instead, I felt it, perhaps because I oddly saw myself in the characters, especially Kazami. I don’t know what to say apart from the absolute beauty of every single description that Yoshimoto puts together. I was in awe at how I found myself longing for summer, the one season I never look forward to, or how I desired to love a woman as eccentric and erratic as Sui, or how I wished to be in Kazami’s shoes just to experience this spiritual, emotional and maybe even paranormal odd incestuous love triangle… Interesting, very interesting. I cried many times throughout my reading and most of the times I couldn’t even pinpoint why. It was just a very moving, confusing, saddening, yet calming read..
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I really struggled with how many stars to give this. There were points where I thought this was lyrically beautiful with the sort of sweeping passages and insightful truths I love. But there were other parts where the prose was so simple and childlike that I couldn't help being somewhat annoyed. I wondered, at points, if something was lost in translation. But, overall I did like it.
Japanese writer Sarao Takase commits suicide and leaves behind a collection of stories written in English. Everyone who attempts to translate the ninety-eighth story commits suicide as well. Including Kazami Kano's boyfriend, Shoji. Four years later a chance encounter with Takase's children leads to a strange summer that tests what Kazami thought she knew about the past, the power of the written word, and the bonds between human beings.
Now, this story is super weird. I expected a little bit of weirdness with the description on the back of the book. I expected there to be a bit of mysticism surrounding this ninety-eighth story. I didn't really expect the characters themselves to be quite so strange. Kazami herself is rather flippant in the face of the bizarre. Two of Takase's are unrepentantly getting it on, and everyone is slightly too comfortable with the idea of suicide. Yet somehow it all... works. The character of Sui is clearly the center of the story with her somewhat questionable existence. She's somewhat mystic, somewhat insane, and probably only exists to give other people a chance at happiness. It was a little bit beautiful and a little bit painful and I think that was the point.
Japanese writer Sarao Takase commits suicide and leaves behind a collection of stories written in English. Everyone who attempts to translate the ninety-eighth story commits suicide as well. Including Kazami Kano's boyfriend, Shoji. Four years later a chance encounter with Takase's children leads to a strange summer that tests what Kazami thought she knew about the past, the power of the written word, and the bonds between human beings.
Now, this story is super weird. I expected a little bit of weirdness with the description on the back of the book. I expected there to be a bit of mysticism surrounding this ninety-eighth story. I didn't really expect the characters themselves to be quite so strange. Kazami herself is rather flippant in the face of the bizarre. Two of Takase's are unrepentantly getting it on, and everyone is slightly too comfortable with the idea of suicide. Yet somehow it all... works. The character of Sui is clearly the center of the story with her somewhat questionable existence. She's somewhat mystic, somewhat insane, and probably only exists to give other people a chance at happiness. It was a little bit beautiful and a little bit painful and I think that was the point.
Yoshimoto’s novels always leave me feeling serene and fulnerable. Her protagonists are always very symphatetic to me and the characters they meet always extremely interesting.
‹Tutti inclusi voi e io, abbiamo intorno a noi "persone con problemi". Persone che camminano portando con sé qualcosa con cui è difficile vivere, che si tratti di un talento speciale o di un handicap. Ma poiché siamo tutti portati a dimenticarci facilmente che qualunque persona in questo mondo ha il diritto di vivere come crede e dove le pare senza dover avere paura di nessuno, ho voluto riaffermare questo diritto con tutte le mie forze, qui e adesso, in questo libro›
medium-paced
it was an odd book, slightly eerie but highly relatable.
banana yoshimoto just might be a new favourite for me.
banana yoshimoto just might be a new favourite for me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Wow wow wow I loved!! This is my second banana yoshimoto & I throughly enjoyed this. So hauntingly beautiful and nuanced
3.5 stars-
I feel many of Yoshimoto’s works are more about the experience than about the actual plot. I loved the experience of reading this. I get absolutely swept away in her writing.
However, I honestly barely knew what was going on, so I guess I’ll settle on 3.5 stars, though the enjoyment was a solid 4.5/5. I remember the experience of reading her books more than the books themselves (save except for Kitchen, at least so far)
I feel many of Yoshimoto’s works are more about the experience than about the actual plot. I loved the experience of reading this. I get absolutely swept away in her writing.
However, I honestly barely knew what was going on, so I guess I’ll settle on 3.5 stars, though the enjoyment was a solid 4.5/5. I remember the experience of reading her books more than the books themselves (save except for Kitchen, at least so far)