lexi_naga's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bgg616's review against another edition
5.0
This is the kind of contemporary fiction that I love. Spare prose, deeply reflective, and about ordinary people leading ordinary lives. Tomoru is a 20-something year old man who has trained as a piano tuner. Coming from a poor village in the mountains of Hokkaido, the large island north of Japan's largest island, Honshu, where Tokyo is located. In the mountains, Tomoru led a solitary life with his parents and brother. The forest was his refuge. He was very fortunate to discover in his teenage years a career he would love. He saw a piano tuner at work in his school, and approached the man to ask to be his apprentice. He was advised to go to a school for piano tuners and when he completed his studies, he was taken on at the company where the piano tuner he admired, worked.
This simple story tells of Tomoru's work to master a craft and find a place for himself in this world. I do not play piano, nor do I listen to a lot of piano music. But Tomoru's observations and meditations on this world were captivating. I loved his comparisons of the sounds of the concert hall and the forest of his home. This young man, from a simple background, who grew up in isolation from the larger world, show profound depths in his meditations on work and life. It is a moving novel that I recommend highly.
This simple story tells of Tomoru's work to master a craft and find a place for himself in this world. I do not play piano, nor do I listen to a lot of piano music. But Tomoru's observations and meditations on this world were captivating. I loved his comparisons of the sounds of the concert hall and the forest of his home. This young man, from a simple background, who grew up in isolation from the larger world, show profound depths in his meditations on work and life. It is a moving novel that I recommend highly.
n_mai's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bookishdiya's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
antoniak's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a beautiful and heartwarming read! It is magical, the language paints so many pictures that celebrate and appreciate the simple beauties of life, nature and music.
ellierichards90's review against another edition
3.0
3.5*
This was a relaxing read. The descriptive writing and charming characters created a pleasant atmosphere. Although there is a story arc, each chapter reads almost like a short story, so this is an easy book to pick up and put down.
This was a relaxing read. The descriptive writing and charming characters created a pleasant atmosphere. Although there is a story arc, each chapter reads almost like a short story, so this is an easy book to pick up and put down.
slefebvre95's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hollygr's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
ladythursday's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
I guess I was expecting something more "moving"? It was a really nice story but I felt like there were too many repetitions of the same ideas and imagery.