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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
3.5 - great vibes (other than the incest) just something felt like it was missing
Banana Yoshimoto is quickly becoming a favorite author. I've been slowly submerging myself into her body of work for the last two years. N.P is the first full novel of hers I've read, and it's her book that I have the most complicated feelings on.
This novel has some exceptional elements. It examines several difficult subjects (and, like, Game of Thrones levels of incest) and lets the reader make up their own mind. The narrator almost started to feel like an observer, not doing or thinking so much as witnessing. This would normally annoy me, but the narrator actually acknowledges it, and it becomes part of the story.
Banana Yoshimoto somehow sprinkles some life into every character, they all feel like real, complex people. I unexpectedly loved Sui a lot, and I loved the sapphic turn her relationship with the man character took. That rooftop scene, man.(little-women-jo-saying-women.gif).
My two major complaints:
- The translation felt a bit clunky at times compared to other books by Yoshimoto I've read, which were translated by other people.
- I wish Otohiko got a bit more time to shine. We see other characters talk about him a lot, but we don't actually see him on the page much. His limited development hurts the ending a bit.
Definitely pick this up if you're looking for something character driven, that sometimes may feel like a foggy, layered fever dream.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
I usually adore Yoshimoto's writing, but this was a little bit too crazy for me. N.P. does have the same feel as her other books, which I love, but there was so much talk about incest.. The topic was discussed in such a casual way because "love is love" or something like that. It just didn't sit right with me and made me really uncomfortable all the way through. I really hoped the whole incest part was some kind of symbolism, but after a long google search (and reading the afterword) I concluded there isn't. It's just gross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Suicide
This was a very an interesting read! It felt light and quick, but also had some great depth at times. The strongest parts were about the relationships between the characters, particularly between the women (mothers, friends, sisters). It has a dreamlike tone, with the main character feeling trapped inside a story and disassociated from her life. The fact that I was reading an English translation was an interesting meta layer, as the book deals with the topic of translation. There were some specific lines that took my breath away, but at other times it felt a little flat/literal in its translation.
dark
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s a long read to me despite the length of this book. Didn’t meet my expectations, intriguing plot but the writing gets draggy at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Incest, Mental illness, Toxic relationship
Minor: Pedophilia
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
