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A review by moonbites
The Kingdom by Fuminori Nakamura
4.0
4.5 ⭐️
"Night makes people's desires take on physical form. Night forgives people for letting loose the desires they keep buried inside."
I just really love Nakamura's writing style. I love the depressing undertones and the way it tackles humanity & what it means to be alive. This was really great. I probably would have given it a five stars if it wasn't for chapter 16. That chapter skeeved me out, and I felt that it was unnecessary. I know it was trying to show a deeper darkness in Yurika, but it just didn't work for me. I also felt that the second to last chapter was a bit jumbled in terms of purpose.
Yurika is quite a complex character. She has a pessimistic outlook and also seems to be drifting along life, finding joy in what she does in moments of pain or humiliation. Yet, you see a tenderness about her and this unbending will to live and you feel almost connected to her in spirit. I enjoyed reading through her point of view even more than the POV from [b:The Boy in the Earth|31415690|The Boy in the Earth|Fuminori Nakamura|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490641505l/31415690._SY75_.jpg|52107917].
I also really loved the reoccurring theme of the night and the moon. It made me want to go and take a midnight walk in a park. It reminds me how thoughts come undone in the night before bed. It was very surreal and I could really connect to the writing itself, which isn't a usual occurrence for me.
I really enjoyed Kizaki, he was my second favorite character from this. I especially liked when he talked philosophically. Here is an example:
"Why me? People have been asking that since long ago. The one who enjoyed this world the most is God. That is, if God exists. God writhes, feasting on the chains of good and evil that each human life creates unendingly."
Though his monologues were often long winded, I was enraptured by them.
I am looking forward to checking out the companion, [b:The Thief|12296546|The Thief|Fuminori Nakamura|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1333581052l/12296546._SX50_.jpg|17273435]. With such a low average rating this book serves as proof to read a book regardless of the rating because you still might like it!
"Night makes people's desires take on physical form. Night forgives people for letting loose the desires they keep buried inside."
I just really love Nakamura's writing style. I love the depressing undertones and the way it tackles humanity & what it means to be alive. This was really great. I probably would have given it a five stars if it wasn't for chapter 16. That chapter skeeved me out, and I felt that it was unnecessary. I know it was trying to show a deeper darkness in Yurika, but it just didn't work for me. I also felt that the second to last chapter was a bit jumbled in terms of purpose.
Yurika is quite a complex character. She has a pessimistic outlook and also seems to be drifting along life, finding joy in what she does in moments of pain or humiliation. Yet, you see a tenderness about her and this unbending will to live and you feel almost connected to her in spirit. I enjoyed reading through her point of view even more than the POV from [b:The Boy in the Earth|31415690|The Boy in the Earth|Fuminori Nakamura|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490641505l/31415690._SY75_.jpg|52107917].
I also really loved the reoccurring theme of the night and the moon. It made me want to go and take a midnight walk in a park. It reminds me how thoughts come undone in the night before bed. It was very surreal and I could really connect to the writing itself, which isn't a usual occurrence for me.
I really enjoyed Kizaki, he was my second favorite character from this. I especially liked when he talked philosophically. Here is an example:
"Why me? People have been asking that since long ago. The one who enjoyed this world the most is God. That is, if God exists. God writhes, feasting on the chains of good and evil that each human life creates unendingly."
Though his monologues were often long winded, I was enraptured by them.
I am looking forward to checking out the companion, [b:The Thief|12296546|The Thief|Fuminori Nakamura|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1333581052l/12296546._SX50_.jpg|17273435]. With such a low average rating this book serves as proof to read a book regardless of the rating because you still might like it!