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alexmaskill's review against another edition
4.0
A banger, as many Abe books are.
A translation note for the E Dale Saunders version though - at roughly the halfway point, there is a repeated phrase from the beginning. In the translation the second passage is phrased slightly differently to at the beginning. This is an inconsistency that is unique to the translation, and might seem to be conspicuously different but is, I'd dare to say, a translation error. In the original Japanese the two passages are identical. If you notice and think there's something to the paraphrase, know that it's just that the same words in Japanese were translated two different ways.
A translation note for the E Dale Saunders version though - at roughly the halfway point, there is a repeated phrase from the beginning. In the translation the second passage is phrased slightly differently to at the beginning. This is an inconsistency that is unique to the translation, and might seem to be conspicuously different but is, I'd dare to say, a translation error. In the original Japanese the two passages are identical. If you notice and think there's something to the paraphrase, know that it's just that the same words in Japanese were translated two different ways.
nadir's review against another edition
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
4.25
i haven't been this confused by a book since i tried to read YA in russian in 4th grade? kafka would be kinder on the brain. fascinating/disturbing/disorienting/funny/gross/constrictive/freeing/need to reread this in 3-5 business years
some highlights:
some highlights:
in seeing there is love, in being seen there is abhorrence. one grins, trying to bear the pain of being seen. but not just anyone can be someone who only looks. if the one who is looked at looks back, then the person who was looking becomes the one who is looked at. (73);
the entire rumination on news (pp 66-68);
instead of leaving the box, i shall enclose the world within it. (153)
[coincidentally the perfect follow-up to natsume soseki's the miner]
adamg108's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
akilaasad's review against another edition
0.5
Maybe I am too dumb to understand this book. Or maybe this book was just utter nonsense xx
radiogaze's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
annavdv's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0