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theothergrl's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An interesting prose that's simple, though not bad. There are two scenes of surrealism in the second half that make this book worth the read, though at times it trudged along quite slowly. This is not the sort of love story you'd think about if someone said romance. The love between the characters is told like the love that grows between two lonely people who feel very content in each other's company. It's a very understated passion, a slow-burn passion that asks you to rethink what passion means to you. I think these are the sort of love stories that we miss out on - comfortable love that is full of imperfections, that at times feels boring and tired, that is between people you wouldn't think to match. Honestly, I appreciate this book now more than I did when I was reading it. If it were longer I'm not sure I would've stuck with it, but it's a short story with a beautiful, surreal ending and therefore im glad that I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment, Infidelity, and Death
cordeliamartin's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Death, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Death of parent, and Car accident
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
a sparse, slice-of-life novel in the vein of banana yoshimoto, strange weather in tokyo depicts urban life and an age-difference love, w/ moments of greatness yet still never quite reaching its full potential.
i particularly enjoy the book's nature scenes - aplenty in being a feast for both the senses and stomach - as well as the bar scenes w/ all the food + behavior and interactions that reveal the characters' personalities.
however, i never quite feel the connection between tsukiko and sensei; wish some things were resolved more clearly (whatever happened to kojima?); and find the stillness of the story a bit dull. the book's indeed elevated by the bittersweetness of the last chapter, only to take a dive again bc of the last paragraph.
i particularly enjoy the book's nature scenes - aplenty in being a feast for both the senses and stomach - as well as the bar scenes w/ all the food + behavior and interactions that reveal the characters' personalities.
however, i never quite feel the connection between tsukiko and sensei; wish some things were resolved more clearly (whatever happened to kojima?); and find the stillness of the story a bit dull. the book's indeed elevated by the bittersweetness of the last chapter, only to take a dive again bc of the last paragraph.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Death
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