linguaphile412's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Ableism, Racism, Violence, and Genocide
Moderate: Infidelity and War
Minor: Death of parent
caitlancole's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Genocide, and Injury/Injury detail
lindsayerin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Genocide, Infidelity, Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Sexual harassment
michelleka's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Violence and Genocide
Minor: Colonisation and Infidelity
eralbesu's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
All in all, it was a quick read that managed to feel light, despite moments of darker subject matter. Sometimes I need that in a book.
Graphic: Colonisation, Genocide, Hate crime, Violence, and Infidelity
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Grief, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Blood, and Cancer
literarysaara's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The story is told through the eyes of a half-Japanese, half-Caucasian woman who has recently moved to the Netherlands for interpretive/translation work for a local court. As she adjusts to this life in a new country, she begins to notice the small moments of intimacy that occur both within her work as an interpretor/translator, but also within her personal life as she adjusts to this new place, amongst new people. A prolific people-watcher, she has a strong desire to feel as if she belongs somewhere. And as the story progresses, we as the readers accompany her on this journey of self-discovery, and the tumultuous nature of interpersonal relationships and encounters.
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Genocide
hkburke2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Colonisation, Genocide, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Minor: Infidelity and Rape
vif's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Also really interesting how you start to see how an interpreter is just a tool and not a person contributing to anything. I felt this was used as an effective metaphor for how women are seen in society.
However I didn't like reading this book much. It's titled 'intimacies' and it explores many intimate relationships in its many forms but the main character's intimate relationships are all quite negative except with her mum. It makes for quite a depressing read.
Spoiler
I also didn't understand why she was so infatuated with Anton?? And why did she choose to go back to Adriaan despite how poorly he treated her??Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Infidelity
ukponge's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Genocide
Moderate: Infidelity
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
i also enjoyed how kitamura explored the titular theme of intimacies in different ways, esp through the paradoxical nature of interpretive work. however, the lack of quotations was confusing at times (although im aware that that might be precisely the point), and im not quite a fan of how the whole thing w/ adriaan turned out; he got off way too easy and i wouldve liked more clarity from his end.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent