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A review by thewordsdevourer
Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.25
errrr...after reading it, i kinda get this book's overall ratings now. yu miri's tokyo ueno station does indeed crucially give voice to an often voiceless group esp in jpn society, but it's a brittle one that leaves me baffled by the overall middling effect.
certain novels have sparse writing that fits the tone and atmosphere of the story, but somehow the 'sparse' in this book imo doesnt fit its themes (that, or it's not effective enough), and unfortunately also applies to its surface-level scrutiny of many oft-overlooked social issues and inequalities in japan.
my feeling upon finishing this is "...ok..and??" bc while im aware that the main character kazu's sad, unfortunate life is supposed to encapsulate the plight of countless similar others, somehow i still dont feel anything; there's no emotional connection or weight here. i think this is bc the author barely spends time to mull over a scene (one thats of substance anyway), or let the reader get to know its characters. how am i supposed to care abt them when the main character spends most of his life working away from home and his loved ones? some developments are also too out-of-the-blue; im still befuddled by kazu's decision to abandon his own friggin home, for example.
in conclusion, this sparse novel rightly criticizes under-portrayed social inequalities, but is also one thats bereft of any emotional impact.
certain novels have sparse writing that fits the tone and atmosphere of the story, but somehow the 'sparse' in this book imo doesnt fit its themes (that, or it's not effective enough), and unfortunately also applies to its surface-level scrutiny of many oft-overlooked social issues and inequalities in japan.
my feeling upon finishing this is "...ok..and??" bc while im aware that the main character kazu's sad, unfortunate life is supposed to encapsulate the plight of countless similar others, somehow i still dont feel anything; there's no emotional connection or weight here. i think this is bc the author barely spends time to mull over a scene (one thats of substance anyway), or let the reader get to know its characters. how am i supposed to care abt them when the main character spends most of his life working away from home and his loved ones? some developments are also too out-of-the-blue; im still befuddled by kazu's decision to abandon his own friggin home, for example.
in conclusion, this sparse novel rightly criticizes under-portrayed social inequalities, but is also one thats bereft of any emotional impact.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Animal death, Murder, and Physical abuse