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A review by lostlenore_
The Forest of Wool and Steel by Natsu Miyashita
3.0
Another Japanese read for 2021 and this one was by Natsu Miyasita! "The Forest of Wool and Steel" is mostly about finding your calling when you're drowning in self-doubt. The debate of whether innate talent or hard work will get you where you want to go is heavily discussed. The prose is certainly beautiful and often poetical.
I really enjoy Japanese fiction mostly because the line between reality and fantasy is not heavily drawn. I like the way authors approach topics like the fears and desires of being human and I do feel that such books can keep you company long after the sun sets down. This one is no exception and it's a beautiful sample of contemporary Japanese writing and English translation.
However, the plot was uneventful and some plot points needed more work--the middle of the book often felt like a dragging chore and I lost my reading momentum. It was a refreshing read but it could have been a bit quicker and more intense at times.
I really enjoy Japanese fiction mostly because the line between reality and fantasy is not heavily drawn. I like the way authors approach topics like the fears and desires of being human and I do feel that such books can keep you company long after the sun sets down. This one is no exception and it's a beautiful sample of contemporary Japanese writing and English translation.
However, the plot was uneventful and some plot points needed more work--the middle of the book often felt like a dragging chore and I lost my reading momentum. It was a refreshing read but it could have been a bit quicker and more intense at times.