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rayereads 's review for:
Bullet Train
by Kōtarō Isaka
I found this book on a list of best Japanese novels in translation 2021, and I’m so glad I gave it a shot. A super fun, cinematic read, with characters interesting and distinct enough from one another to keep me flying from chapter to chapter as the POVs change.
I’m actually excited to see a movie adaptation, though honestly I think the book benefits from POC shifts and the movie trailer makes it look as though we’ll be following just Nanao’s storyline throughout.
Is this book high art? No. Are the characters deeply complex and artfully drawn? No. Is it a fun read that’s a great escape from the real world? Absolutely!
The book I’ve read most recently that reminded me the most of this is Red Noise by John P Murphy, another closed environment action movie in a book, but Bullet Train brings a feeling of joie de vivre that’s hard to match. Is it weird to say a book full of assassins, sociopaths, and brutal murders is joyous? Maybe it’s just that the book delivers a villain who’s truly villainous, and protagonists who are anything but heroes, all in a fast-paced package.
I’m actually excited to see a movie adaptation, though honestly I think the book benefits from POC shifts and the movie trailer makes it look as though we’ll be following just Nanao’s storyline throughout.
Is this book high art? No. Are the characters deeply complex and artfully drawn? No. Is it a fun read that’s a great escape from the real world? Absolutely!
The book I’ve read most recently that reminded me the most of this is Red Noise by John P Murphy, another closed environment action movie in a book, but Bullet Train brings a feeling of joie de vivre that’s hard to match. Is it weird to say a book full of assassins, sociopaths, and brutal murders is joyous? Maybe it’s just that the book delivers a villain who’s truly villainous, and protagonists who are anything but heroes, all in a fast-paced package.