Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Die Tage in der Buchhandlung Morisaki by Satoshi Yagisawa

62 reviews

vaguelyredhead's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted reflective fast-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

2.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

carlyjoann's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This was such an interesting book. The characters were so well written and their stories were endearing. This was the first translated book I have read so some of the nuances of the writing are probably a little lost but I really enjoyed this quick read! I’m looking forward to reading the next one and getting more of this little world. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jhbandcats's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think I’m suffering from cultural dissonance - or maybe I just don’t get it. This Japanese book was so very Japanese that perhaps I was lost just because I found it unfamiliar. 

Okay, first of all, as petty as this is, I am *really* annoyed that there are cats on the cover of the book but none in the story. I love books about books and the people who love them, but a book about a bookshop that included cats would have been just fabulous IMO. 

Between the cover and a somewhat misleading description, I was expecting something else, and every time the book did what the author intended, I was left feeling bewildered. I’d thought the book was about a young woman, Takako, working in her uncle’s bookshop (with cats) but that was only the first half. The second half is about the reappearance of the uncle’s wife, missing these past five years. By then, though, Takako has moved out so the bookshop is no longer as much a part of the story. Then there’s some misdirection (in both the description and the plot) about Takako’s romantic life. Again I was left feeling bewildered. 

Overall I especially enjoyed that this story was a love letter to books, bookshops, and book lovers. It just wasn’t at all what I expected. I’m sure I’d have appreciated it much more had I not read the description and had there been no deceptive cats on the cover. False advertising!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lolelolelolotte's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

beatriks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Didn’t live up to the hype for me. 
Maybe I’m not made for Japanese literature? I obviously need to read more Japanese books. 

I listened to the audiobook and it didn’t catch my interest and attention at all. Especially part 2 was disappointing. 



Expand filter menu Content Warnings

idesofmarch's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-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

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

veliana's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

anna_in_the_spring's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Cozy and calm, but with the stakes being all about human connection, which is very important. Quick read. Great translation, you can still feel the Japanese behind it, which I enjoy. Nice look at the different pleasures reading can bring. Also a look on what family can be and on standing up for what you want 
Cons:
I hate the trope of the women who has an abortion early in life and then couldn't have children later and is suffe ing terribly for it. I can see why it is narratively attractive, but it perpetrates harmful stereotypes.
If not for that, it would have been 4 Stars. Nice book, but not life changing. Other nice books have entertained me more. But tthis book wasnot life changing for me (which is necessary for 5 stars). And minus one star for the hated trope. Ends up at three stars. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

beautifulminutiae's review against another edition

Go to review page

relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

196books's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings