dsclemmett 's review for:

Strangers by Taichi Yamada

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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So, like a lot of people I’d seen the film before I read the book and had no idea the book even existed when I watched it! I adored the film, adored it!

I’ve seen a lot of people talk about how they preferred the film but it’s a loose adaptation and so whilst I can appreciate the inspiration it took from this book but they’re not the same! They are however equally heavy and moving and I’m not ashamed to say both made me cry!

I must also say I was pleasantly surprised that the books focus wasn’t on a same sex relationship which came as a nice break from my usual reading interests of gay characters and their trauma. Now I get to focus on straight people and their trauma, I’m branching out guys! ; )

I made notes on this book throughout in a journal and below are a few things I wrote-

The loneliness and the tension throughout this book is palpable, it almost feels like another character to the storey! So easy to read a total page turner! 

It’s really Interesting how the protagonist uses pros referring to the theatre or an act when talking about Kai the neighbour-

Kissing being a prelude to making love

Kai putting on an act to disguise her loneliness (protagonist works in tv)

I also love how he imagines his dead parents like actors on tv set he’s been working on, the minute he steps away from the job the lights go out. The cast go home and everything is black, empty, still!

The minute he steps away from his parents and back home to reality his parents cease moving and simply back to the void. “Cut”

Physically deteriorating everytime he visits his dead parents! Not seeing what’s in front of him whilst he dithers in the make believe! Not looking after his self whilst confronting his grief or avoiding the confrontation of his grief? And then the plot twist comes regarding Kai. That’s all I’ll say!

It’s not a typical ghost storey. I think it presents the idea that it’s not people that come back and haunt us, it’s grief. But grief doesn’t come back it’s just suppressed by some us, it’s always there unless we tackle it! Such a beautiful storey. 

200 pages, read within 24 hours I couldn’t put it down I loved the characters and his parents BROKE me. Loved it! Easiest 5 star ever!