leilaghanbar's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't put this down, and I am sure it was much deeper than I had comprehended. The descriptions were so nice that I could feel him. I was him! And the fun part, the main character who is telling the story, we never learn his name. That is, I think, because he can be anyone! His emotions were so real that I could feel being him so easily. The details were spontaneous and fantastic!
jeefburger's review against another edition
4.0
good book but at times it can be confusing but I dont really mind. it's really cool but I realised at the end the guy doesnt have a name. I love the way he narrates it reminds me of charlie tpobaw idk if it's really the same. I'm pretty sure there r many times that show him dissosiating the way he narrates it is very good. but yeah short read and very heartbreaking yeah.
jordanstokes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mainlyokay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
neon_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mmmmmm's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tore my damn heart out so i had to stop for a while. think this would benefit from being read physically bc the big ideas were hard to digest in audio. still beaut nonetheless
elusorius's review against another edition
1.0
I haven't hated a book this much since The Scarlet Letter, and that says something. Did I read a different book than everyone else? With 0% 1 star reviews, hating this book so much almost feels like an achievement. I wanted to stop reading so badly, but somehow forced myself through the entire thing.
The writing was bad. Just really bad, from weird and boring scenery descriptions to unnatural dialogue, especially for so called fourteen-year-olds. The graphic and emotionally intense scenes were written in an extremely detached, observing manner. As if listing items on a to-do list instead of describing traumatic events. Because of this, none of the events held any weight. The characters, especially the main character, had zero personality. None of the dialogues and monologues and internal thoughts were properly thought out. And they were repeated, over and over, especially at the end of the book. The bullies had the most personality in the entire book, and their only trait was being mean. The bullies monologue felt like it was being said by someone who read a single psychology book and now considered himself to be the next Nietzsche, and it was very odd coming from a middle school child. Perhaps Kawakami's true wish was to write a philosophy book. The story never really went anywhere, we sort of saw a friendship develop but it was shallow and barely a friendship at all. If this book has a plot, I can't find it. It got slightly better nearing the end, but not enough to deserve a second star.
Overall, I was excited for this book but it has been nothing except a let down.
The writing was bad. Just really bad, from weird and boring scenery descriptions to unnatural dialogue, especially for so called fourteen-year-olds. The graphic and emotionally intense scenes were written in an extremely detached, observing manner. As if listing items on a to-do list instead of describing traumatic events. Because of this, none of the events held any weight. The characters, especially the main character, had zero personality. None of the dialogues and monologues and internal thoughts were properly thought out. And they were repeated, over and over, especially at the end of the book. The bullies had the most personality in the entire book, and their only trait was being mean. The bullies monologue felt like it was being said by someone who read a single psychology book and now considered himself to be the next Nietzsche, and it was very odd coming from a middle school child. Perhaps Kawakami's true wish was to write a philosophy book. The story never really went anywhere, we sort of saw a friendship develop but it was shallow and barely a friendship at all. If this book has a plot, I can't find it. It got slightly better nearing the end, but not enough to deserve a second star.
Overall, I was excited for this book but it has been nothing except a let down.
danutahamsteruta's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0