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A review by nincrony1
How Do You Live? by Genzaburō Yoshino
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I think with the context of what author Genzaburo Yoshino was trying to achieve (written during a time when free thinking was on a major crackdown in Japan) along with Neil Gaiman’s introduction, who compares the novel’s structure to Moby Dick, How Do You Live? is an extremely admirable book that has a lot of wise words and lessons for its younger target audience.
I can’t say I always enjoyed the process of reading it but I walked away having learned many things and enjoyed pondering its central conceit. I can see why filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki holds it in high regard and indeed how it influenced his films. I liked the slice of life antics of the boys (the section dealing with a poorer school friend was my favourite) but I sometimes found the characters to be ciphers for Yoshino’s philosophical pondering. Certainly the uncle. I don’t know what a modern young audience would make of this but I think it has a lot of good things to say.
I can’t say I always enjoyed the process of reading it but I walked away having learned many things and enjoyed pondering its central conceit. I can see why filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki holds it in high regard and indeed how it influenced his films. I liked the slice of life antics of the boys (the section dealing with a poorer school friend was my favourite) but I sometimes found the characters to be ciphers for Yoshino’s philosophical pondering. Certainly the uncle. I don’t know what a modern young audience would make of this but I think it has a lot of good things to say.