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A review by portgasdkiki
Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Kiki don’t get too hung up on appearances, it’s your heart that’s important.”
Kiki was such an inspiration to me growing up and I’m so glad to have finally read her novel as an adult. And if I’m being honest, I think I love the book more. I loved being able to hear Kiki’s inner dialogue, and watching her experience how beautiful the little things in life are. Kiki makes you want to learn and grow as a person alongside her.
“She was impressed that a single ray of sun could make the world this beautiful.”
While there are big differences between the Miyazaki film and the novel by Eiko Kadono, the overall lesson is the same. Kiki finds a town where she must live for a year before she can return home, and she wants her parents to recognize how much she’s changed during that time. The book does this in the form of episodes, each chapter something different. We see how people in this world view witches, and how they’re quick to judge her. All the while, Kiki is struggling with self-doubt and frustration, and we witness how this negatively impacts her, but Kiki always manages to overcome these issues and keeps trying. Eiko Kadono has a way of writing scenes where you feel Kiki’s anxiety and sadness, but you also get to experience the joy and sense of accomplishment she feels as well.
“I’ve come to believe that everyone has some type of magic inside them. If a person can find their magic and lovingly cultivate it, they’ll truly feel alive every day.”
Though this is a coming-of-age story for young readers, I still found so much magic inside the pages even as an adult. Its charming characters and cozy world will welcome you in, and Kiki will always be there to deliver some whimsy to you.
And finally, one last quote that I feel is so important to remember:
“They might be different, but humans are so quick to decide that anything they don’t understand is evil.”
Kiki was such an inspiration to me growing up and I’m so glad to have finally read her novel as an adult. And if I’m being honest, I think I love the book more. I loved being able to hear Kiki’s inner dialogue, and watching her experience how beautiful the little things in life are. Kiki makes you want to learn and grow as a person alongside her.
“She was impressed that a single ray of sun could make the world this beautiful.”
While there are big differences between the Miyazaki film and the novel by Eiko Kadono, the overall lesson is the same. Kiki finds a town where she must live for a year before she can return home, and she wants her parents to recognize how much she’s changed during that time. The book does this in the form of episodes, each chapter something different. We see how people in this world view witches, and how they’re quick to judge her. All the while, Kiki is struggling with self-doubt and frustration, and we witness how this negatively impacts her, but Kiki always manages to overcome these issues and keeps trying. Eiko Kadono has a way of writing scenes where you feel Kiki’s anxiety and sadness, but you also get to experience the joy and sense of accomplishment she feels as well.
“I’ve come to believe that everyone has some type of magic inside them. If a person can find their magic and lovingly cultivate it, they’ll truly feel alive every day.”
Though this is a coming-of-age story for young readers, I still found so much magic inside the pages even as an adult. Its charming characters and cozy world will welcome you in, and Kiki will always be there to deliver some whimsy to you.
And finally, one last quote that I feel is so important to remember:
“They might be different, but humans are so quick to decide that anything they don’t understand is evil.”