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A review by whatsshwereading
Touring the Land of the Dead (and Ninety-Nine Kisses) by Maki Kashimada
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A Japanese translation with the title Touring the Land of the Dead was too much for me to resist. Without really reading the blurb or anything much about either the book or the author, I bought it. Imagine my surprise when it turned out that the titular story was but a novella! Plus, an accompanying novella - Ninety Nine Kisses, was included ( perhaps to justify the steep cost of the book?)
So here goes:
Touring the Land of the Dead
This is a story that deals with familial (emotional and mental) abuse and repressed trauma through memories. The story is dismal, raw, and almost painful to read. In the hindsight, I would have probably avoided the book had I known how brutally abuse is explored ( considering I wasn't in the right headspace for reading something like this ) Is there redemption towards the end, I am not certain. It at least seemed like the protagonist was taking a step in the right direction but, I am not sure.
Ninety Nine Kisses
Okay, holy effing hell, what was this? Just, what? This story was supposed to be inspired by The Makioka Sisters, which I haven't read and now, I don't want to. It's a story about 4 sisters living with their Mum - so far, so good. And then it got real weird, real fast. This story, seemed to me, a sort of modern, edgy, incestuous and downright creepy subversion of Little Women ( and not in a good way, mind you ) I truly didn't care for the overtly graphic sexual tones and couldn't wait for the book to end.
Europa Editions' TtLotD ought to have come with TWs. I am most upset that it didn't. I am also a little peeved about a little typo - in the blurb for Ninety Nine Kisses, it says ".......captivating tail of siblings". For a paperback that's as pricey as this, I think they could've afforded to be a bit more careful?
So here goes:
Touring the Land of the Dead
This is a story that deals with familial (emotional and mental) abuse and repressed trauma through memories. The story is dismal, raw, and almost painful to read. In the hindsight, I would have probably avoided the book had I known how brutally abuse is explored ( considering I wasn't in the right headspace for reading something like this ) Is there redemption towards the end, I am not certain. It at least seemed like the protagonist was taking a step in the right direction but, I am not sure.
Ninety Nine Kisses
Okay, holy effing hell, what was this? Just, what? This story was supposed to be inspired by The Makioka Sisters, which I haven't read and now, I don't want to. It's a story about 4 sisters living with their Mum - so far, so good. And then it got real weird, real fast. This story, seemed to me, a sort of modern, edgy, incestuous and downright creepy subversion of Little Women ( and not in a good way, mind you ) I truly didn't care for the overtly graphic sexual tones and couldn't wait for the book to end.
Europa Editions' TtLotD ought to have come with TWs. I am most upset that it didn't. I am also a little peeved about a little typo - in the blurb for Ninety Nine Kisses, it says ".......captivating tail of siblings". For a paperback that's as pricey as this, I think they could've afforded to be a bit more careful?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment