Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Car accident'
The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino
7 reviews
youkirmv's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, and Terminal illness
fluture's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book basically shows us that everyone–no matter from what background you came from–has the right to choose whether you will follow an advice or to do the opposite, to choose a new path or stay in your path, to let go or not to let go, and it's also your choice to regret or not to regret the decisions that you have made. Life is basically a table full of platters with various kind of dishes that are free for you to take, to taste, or to keep. We all have the chance to create a better future for ourselves, no matter how cruel the past was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Death, and Chronic illness
Minor: Infidelity, Child abuse, and Car accident
tamara_joy's review
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Child abuse, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Pregnancy
mezzythedragon's review
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Definitely one of the most unique books I’ve read thus far. I’ve liked Keigo Higashino since “The Devotion of Suspect X,” though his other mysteries didn’t quite compare.
Yet, this book made me see again why he’s a great storyteller. I like how all the stories of the characters are tied together, the time traveling, and how everything comes full circle. That ending!
Yet, this book made me see again why he’s a great storyteller. I like how all the stories of the characters are tied together, the time traveling, and how everything comes full circle. That ending!
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Murder, Car accident, Ableism, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
serendipity421's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, Death, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Car accident and Grief
Minor: Alcohol
rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
I really liked the mystery surrounding the Namiya General Store, I think it is a very interesting premise. I was quite intrigued by this "magical" aspect of the story.
After the first introductory section, the book divides into separate vignettes, that are still skillfully inteconnected but are told from different point of views. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of short stories collections, in general I struggle to appreciate them as much as a novel. In this case, I also had a bit of an up-and-down reading experience, with certain sections that I liked more and other sections that dragged a bit for me and that I found less enjoyable. I still appreciated the ending, and I found it a good way of wrapping up the story.
Also I think that I started reading expecting a very lighthearted and magical story and while it was a magical and surreal story, it dealt with quite a lot of very heavy topics and I'm not so sure if all of them (and the characters involved) were handled equally well.
Lastly, I have to mention a brief passage that left a bad taste in my mouth. I do not know how the original Japanese sentence was or how the English translation adapted it, but in my translation there was a scene in which a man (maybe in his 20s?) is reflecting about a young girl and he thinks something along the lines of "There was a completely unusual sensuality for a little girl, and he would have liked to find a way to make her turn around towards him". All that I could think was why, why do you have to inlcude such a comment, was it really necessary? I really did not like it.
After the first introductory section, the book divides into separate vignettes, that are still skillfully inteconnected but are told from different point of views. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of short stories collections, in general I struggle to appreciate them as much as a novel. In this case, I also had a bit of an up-and-down reading experience, with certain sections that I liked more and other sections that dragged a bit for me and that I found less enjoyable. I still appreciated the ending, and I found it a good way of wrapping up the story.
Also I think that I started reading expecting a very lighthearted and magical story and while it was a magical and surreal story, it dealt with quite a lot of very heavy topics and I'm not so sure if all of them (and the characters involved) were handled equally well.
Lastly, I have to mention a brief passage that left a bad taste in my mouth. I do not know how the original Japanese sentence was or how the English translation adapted it, but in my translation there was a scene in which a man (maybe in his 20s?) is reflecting about a young girl and he thinks something along the lines of "There was a completely unusual sensuality for a little girl, and he would have liked to find a way to make her turn around towards him". All that I could think was why, why do you have to inlcude such a comment, was it really necessary? I really did not like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Car accident, Cancer, Self harm, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion, Infidelity, Fatphobia, War, Infertility, and Classism
absorbedinbooks's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“Harassment, pranks, it doesn’t matter to me. I treat every letter that comes in as a cry for help. These people are no different from the rest of us. They have a hole in their hearts, and something vital is bleeding out. [...] Even the one who sent me thirty letters of gibberish must have spent hours and hours writing. No one does that if they aren’t hoping for some kind of response. So I respond, and I give those responses everything I’ve got. You can’t ignore someone who speaks to you from the heart.”
This quote right here tells you everything you need to know about the gem that was Yuji Namiya, the owner of the Namiya General Store, “The General Store That Answers Your Woes”.
I want to type out every single feeling I have about this book, and trust me I have lots, but at the same time, I don’t want to spoil anything. In my opinion, this is a book where the less you know when you start it, the better.
But I will recommend this book to everyone. The Miracles of the Namiya General Store has this soothing quality that will instantly melt your heart, and maybe move you to tears. This book offers a rollercoaster of emotions, it’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you angry, it’ll make you feel helpless, it’ll make you want to grab some of these characters and hide them from the pain. And finally, it will make you believe in miracles. And in the power our words hold and how they can steer the course of someone’s entire life.
“People don’t drift apart for one specific reason. Well, you might be able to find a reason, but you could come up with one only after you made up your mind, a tired excuse tacked on after the fact. If their hearts were still in it and their bond was threatening to sever, you’d think one of them would step in and try to fix things. When no one does, you know the bond has already been broken.”
Read this book if you like:
➵ magical realism
➵ slice-of-life stories
➵ Studio Ghibli-esque stories
➵ slow paced books
➵ character driven stories
➵ multiple POVs
➵ emotional stories that will touch your heart in more ways than one
While this book will stay with me for a long long time, I did have some favourite moments. Out of the five chapters/stories, Chapter 2, Midnight Blues, and Chapter 3, Overnight in the Civic are my favourite.
“Your music will save lives. And the songs you create will absolutely live on.”
You cannot tell me this chapter did not make you feel all the feels.
And the ending. GOD that ending was everything I hoped for and more! The very last letter Mr. Namiya wrote in response to a certain somebody’s blank letter was such a perfect note to end the book on. I also loved how the future of our dear delinquents was left open ended.
And can we talk about this:
"It’s like someone in the sky is tugging on the strings.”
And this:
"I’ll pull some strings up there and make sure you’re taken care of."
BECAUSE OH MY GOD!
I need everyone to drop whatever they’re doing and read this book ASAP. Thank you very much
This quote right here tells you everything you need to know about the gem that was Yuji Namiya, the owner of the Namiya General Store, “The General Store That Answers Your Woes”.
I want to type out every single feeling I have about this book, and trust me I have lots, but at the same time, I don’t want to spoil anything. In my opinion, this is a book where the less you know when you start it, the better.
But I will recommend this book to everyone. The Miracles of the Namiya General Store has this soothing quality that will instantly melt your heart, and maybe move you to tears. This book offers a rollercoaster of emotions, it’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you angry, it’ll make you feel helpless, it’ll make you want to grab some of these characters and hide them from the pain. And finally, it will make you believe in miracles. And in the power our words hold and how they can steer the course of someone’s entire life.
“People don’t drift apart for one specific reason. Well, you might be able to find a reason, but you could come up with one only after you made up your mind, a tired excuse tacked on after the fact. If their hearts were still in it and their bond was threatening to sever, you’d think one of them would step in and try to fix things. When no one does, you know the bond has already been broken.”
Read this book if you like:
➵ magical realism
➵ slice-of-life stories
➵ Studio Ghibli-esque stories
➵ slow paced books
➵ character driven stories
➵ multiple POVs
➵ emotional stories that will touch your heart in more ways than one
While this book will stay with me for a long long time, I did have some favourite moments. Out of the five chapters/stories, Chapter 2, Midnight Blues, and Chapter 3, Overnight in the Civic are my favourite.
“Your music will save lives. And the songs you create will absolutely live on.”
You cannot tell me this chapter did not make you feel all the feels.
And the ending. GOD that ending was everything I hoped for and more! The very last letter Mr. Namiya wrote in response to a certain somebody’s blank letter was such a perfect note to end the book on. I also loved how the future of our dear delinquents was left open ended.
"It’s like someone in the sky is tugging on the strings.”
And this:
"I’ll pull some strings up there and make sure you’re taken care of."
BECAUSE OH MY GOD!
I need everyone to drop whatever they’re doing and read this book ASAP. Thank you very much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Child abuse and Suicide
Minor: Car accident
More...