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dbeck88's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
afternoonlight's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
despite the misogyny, I think I fell in love with Abe’s style of writing :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Misogyny
Moderate: Rape
nlhill's review
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bruinuclafan's review against another edition
4.0
This book is terrifying. My skin itched everything I read about the sand. That damn sand!
The book is about a Japanese teacher who travels to the countryside for a quick getaway to indulge in his hobby: trying to discovery new species of bugs. He's soon captured by the local villagers and forced to live in one of the houses dug into the sand dunes. The only way out is via a rope ladder, which the villagers removed.
The book is about his coping, or attempting to deal with, this predicament, and his interactions with the house's owners, a recently widowed woman. After the first chapter, I felt like I was reading some version of The Stranger--only to later learn that Kobo was influenced by Camus. Yay me.
But really the book is about the sand, and its unyielding presence in every aspect of life in the dunes. Terrifying. Riveting. Freaky. Give it a read.
The book is about a Japanese teacher who travels to the countryside for a quick getaway to indulge in his hobby: trying to discovery new species of bugs. He's soon captured by the local villagers and forced to live in one of the houses dug into the sand dunes. The only way out is via a rope ladder, which the villagers removed.
The book is about his coping, or attempting to deal with, this predicament, and his interactions with the house's owners, a recently widowed woman. After the first chapter, I felt like I was reading some version of The Stranger--only to later learn that Kobo was influenced by Camus. Yay me.
But really the book is about the sand, and its unyielding presence in every aspect of life in the dunes. Terrifying. Riveting. Freaky. Give it a read.
svetlanam's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25