You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-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
Not sure if Japanese YA exists in the same way American YA does, but this would be a fascinating entry if so. In letting it sit a few days, feels more and more like a built out Old Man and the Sea tale, not necessarily for the better.
More thoughts to come.
More thoughts to come.
3.5 ⭐s!
So if you know my taste in books you know that I don't really like modern romance books and historical settings. This was one of the first books that I have decided to read again after hating it for some reason when I first try to read it. back then I ended up reading the book halfway through thinking that even though there was nothing that can be called “toxic masculinity” during the story, something about the male characters threw me off, Including our lead character Sinji.
Nevertheless, for some odd reason this week I thought to myself that it would be a great time to give this book another chance and see how I feel about it. not going to lie I am glad that I did that because after reading fantasy over fantasy for so long (by so long I mean more than a few months) I wanted to change something. And again, I am glad that I had a chance to read this book because it was much more different from what I remembered it to be, and the story itself was incredibly well written it often reminded me of Yaşar Kemal or Orhan Pamuk. The style of writing was so addictive; it was so detailed, so thoughtful, and full of information that you wouldn't be able to learn if you are not reading a history book of this particular time, so it was very filling when it come to the writing and the style of the author. It was a short one, but it was a very nice story about two young people who end up falling in love not in a “modern” way that we are used to fall in love, but in a more traditional, more naive way. And it was very refreshing to see how people from our past used to feel and used to live; because again, the book was so well detailed about the daily life on the island, you actually feel like you are one of these people who are roaming around the island, diving for sponges or going out for fishing and watching these two people learn about themselves, grow in their own pace and feel something that they are not used to.
I can't really say that the book took my mind away, but it was a very heart-warming story and I read it fairly fast, so I hope to give some more tries to the author’s books; though I also read a review saying that this book is not written in his “usual style” so I'm excited to see how everything goes with this him.
If you like reading very well detailed and well-written books that are somehow informative about the time and the settings, but also if you want to read some kind of romance (which doesn't have to end well) I highly suggest reading this and Yaşar Kemal and Orhan Pamuk as well.
So if you know my taste in books you know that I don't really like modern romance books and historical settings. This was one of the first books that I have decided to read again after hating it for some reason when I first try to read it. back then I ended up reading the book halfway through thinking that even though there was nothing that can be called “toxic masculinity” during the story, something about the male characters threw me off, Including our lead character Sinji.
Nevertheless, for some odd reason this week I thought to myself that it would be a great time to give this book another chance and see how I feel about it. not going to lie I am glad that I did that because after reading fantasy over fantasy for so long (by so long I mean more than a few months) I wanted to change something. And again, I am glad that I had a chance to read this book because it was much more different from what I remembered it to be, and the story itself was incredibly well written it often reminded me of Yaşar Kemal or Orhan Pamuk. The style of writing was so addictive; it was so detailed, so thoughtful, and full of information that you wouldn't be able to learn if you are not reading a history book of this particular time, so it was very filling when it come to the writing and the style of the author. It was a short one, but it was a very nice story about two young people who end up falling in love not in a “modern” way that we are used to fall in love, but in a more traditional, more naive way. And it was very refreshing to see how people from our past used to feel and used to live; because again, the book was so well detailed about the daily life on the island, you actually feel like you are one of these people who are roaming around the island, diving for sponges or going out for fishing and watching these two people learn about themselves, grow in their own pace and feel something that they are not used to.
I can't really say that the book took my mind away, but it was a very heart-warming story and I read it fairly fast, so I hope to give some more tries to the author’s books; though I also read a review saying that this book is not written in his “usual style” so I'm excited to see how everything goes with this him.
If you like reading very well detailed and well-written books that are somehow informative about the time and the settings, but also if you want to read some kind of romance (which doesn't have to end well) I highly suggest reading this and Yaşar Kemal and Orhan Pamuk as well.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
Complicated
So cuteeee …was in the mood for something romantic and this was perfect :D
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Excellent writing from Mishima (as usual). Not dark like his other works. Somewhat surprising exploration of class distinctions and marriage. Shinji the young fisherman and the wealthy businessman’s daughter Hatsue fall in love...you know the rest. Easy and enjoyable read.
hopeful
relaxing
fast-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