peachberrypie's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
strawberrymilky's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
readivine's review against another edition
5.0
Yuki, an aimless highschool graduate, was forced to work in the forestry training program in the remote village of Kamusari. You could say he was "spirited away" to the village against his will, but while he was persistent in escaping at first, he soon was surprised to find himself deeply rooted in the warmth and mystical air of the mountain.
Learning and participating in the esoteric traditions of the village folk, pushing himself to work with vigor despite fumbling at first, and discovering the unexpected joy of having a found family in the unlikeliest of places.
Reading this felt like I went to Kamusari myself, and found myself realigned on what is important to me right now. I couldn't have read this book at a better time! What with the slog of work and dictations of consumerism (thanks social media!), it was such a timely read to help me get out of default mode. Where my days felt sluggish with work, and chasing my next dopamine hit (blame the ADHD). You could say it brought me back to life (oh, the joy of reading).
It's like I drank cool spring water and got to quench the thirst that I didn't even know I was experiencing before. But mind you; this isn't philosophical or "deep". It definitely doesn't take itself seriously!
This made me laugh out loud with its silliness and how excruciatingly relatable it is. I believe that I see myself in Yuki's cowardice but also in his courage. It's contentment, wit, and ease of life, all neatly wrapped up like a simple and filling onigiri.
I wish I could experience this book for the first time all over again!
If you like the warmth found in Kore-eda's films, My Little Forest, or even the game Stardew Valley, I think you would find this book a treat! Definitely one of my favorite books this year.
Learning and participating in the esoteric traditions of the village folk, pushing himself to work with vigor despite fumbling at first, and discovering the unexpected joy of having a found family in the unlikeliest of places.
"It seems as if we do the same things over and over as the seasons change, but that's not really true.[...]The mountains are different every single day. Moment by moment, a tree grows or withers. The changes may be subtle, but if you miss those subtle signs, you can't grow healthy trees [...]. It gives me great pleasure to find small changes on the mountain.
Reading this felt like I went to Kamusari myself, and found myself realigned on what is important to me right now. I couldn't have read this book at a better time! What with the slog of work and dictations of consumerism (thanks social media!), it was such a timely read to help me get out of default mode. Where my days felt sluggish with work, and chasing my next dopamine hit (blame the ADHD). You could say it brought me back to life (oh, the joy of reading).
It's like I drank cool spring water and got to quench the thirst that I didn't even know I was experiencing before. But mind you; this isn't philosophical or "deep". It definitely doesn't take itself seriously!
This made me laugh out loud with its silliness and how excruciatingly relatable it is. I believe that I see myself in Yuki's cowardice but also in his courage. It's contentment, wit, and ease of life, all neatly wrapped up like a simple and filling onigiri.
I wish I could experience this book for the first time all over again!
If you like the warmth found in Kore-eda's films, My Little Forest, or even the game Stardew Valley, I think you would find this book a treat! Definitely one of my favorite books this year.
wardenred's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The wind in the leaves, the animal cries, and the sound of my own breathing were absorbed into the vast stretch of time that had shaped the forest, century upon century.
This book had a peculiar effect on me: I didn't feel particularly invested in it as I read, but I still literally couldn't put it down until I finished the entire thing in one big gulp. The sense of setting is really strong here. I felt fully present in the Japanese forest, watching the seasons change, and I felt immersed in all the cultural traditions of Kamusari. I enjoyed the sense of borderline magical realism here, with all the mentions of gods and spirits, and the nature itself providing an almost mystical presence.
At times, this felt more like non-fiction than a novel, and not because the story was presented as the notes the protagonist took during his time in Kamusari. Mostly because this is so much a story about forestry that it's barely a *story*. I learned a lot about Japanese forests, and how they change with the seasons, and how trees are felled, and how the woods can be protected from forest fires, and how nasty the ticks are. There was a smattering of colorful personalities involved in collections of scenes that felt more like personal anecdotes than anything forming an actual narrative. I felt detached from pretty much every character I met—it was like they were only there to illustrate various facets of the location that was the *real* protagonist. Even the MC/narrator is a blank slate: all we know about him is that he's freshly out of school, drifting, uncertain about his future, and is embarrassed of secretly writing poetry, which his mother uses to blackmail him into going taking a forestry job in the middle of nowhere for a year (weird, but okay).
I went in expecting a slice-of-life coming-of-age story; I got a nature documentary in book format. Surprised, but I'm not complaining!
mtvsubbalakshmi's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
3.0
leicadiz's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
neemzilla's review against another edition
4.0
This light novel draws the reader into the quaint wooded village of Kamusari. It’s an immersive experience, and the ease with which this unique world and lifestyle are shared with us, through the eyes of an outsider being welcomed to this exclusive community, is as refreshing as the clear river that runs between the Kamusari cedars. Through this novel, I became a guest in Kamusari, and an honored participant in the villager’s private rituals.
Written by a Miura and translated by Winters Carpenter, I was surprised that the male characters were much more dimensional than the women. A wise old granny, a nagging cuckolded though forgiving housewife, and a vaguely distant love interest: these women seemed only to exist to support the agendas of their male counterparts. Because of this, the romantic subplots felt underdeveloped, and the primary love interest, though charming, felt oddly obsessive and half-baked. That said, with few romantic prospects in this remote village, it’s easy to set aside these opinions when reading the book and to enjoy the the clunkiness of an awkward crush. The relationships between male friends, with the family dog, and with the village’s small child do still make for an intimate reading experience that is only expanded by the author’s superior talent for world-building.
I’m grateful that more of Shion Miura’s work is being translated, and that another volume in the Kamusari series is forthcoming. I loved The Great Passage, and having enjoyed a second book by the author, I want to extend many thanks to Julia Winters Carpenter for bringing Miura’s work to an English speaking audience.
Written by a Miura and translated by Winters Carpenter, I was surprised that the male characters were much more dimensional than the women. A wise old granny, a nagging cuckolded though forgiving housewife, and a vaguely distant love interest: these women seemed only to exist to support the agendas of their male counterparts. Because of this, the romantic subplots felt underdeveloped, and the primary love interest, though charming, felt oddly obsessive and half-baked. That said, with few romantic prospects in this remote village, it’s easy to set aside these opinions when reading the book and to enjoy the the clunkiness of an awkward crush. The relationships between male friends, with the family dog, and with the village’s small child do still make for an intimate reading experience that is only expanded by the author’s superior talent for world-building.
I’m grateful that more of Shion Miura’s work is being translated, and that another volume in the Kamusari series is forthcoming. I loved The Great Passage, and having enjoyed a second book by the author, I want to extend many thanks to Julia Winters Carpenter for bringing Miura’s work to an English speaking audience.
teapotmoon's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sgm820's review against another edition
4.75
Sometimes you need a book that isn’t just about the despair and isolation of modern society
sissykatzreads's review against another edition
4.0
A wholesome slice of life tale surrounding forestry
Shion Miura doesn’t disappoint in the wholesome story that is “The Easy Life in Kamusari. This was a heartfelt story about a boy just out of high school finding his way in the world in an unexpected place.
Right out of school Yuki Hirano finds himself the unwilling trainee to a foresting operation in a small mountain village. There, he is not only working to find his place within his work team but also the little village.
This is written in first person POV, and while this isn’t usually my favorite POV it worked really well for this story. It was very intimate, like Yuki was writing a letter or a journal, and it made for a very pleasurable experience.
Overall, I felt that this was a very comforting, very sweet story and I’d recommend this to anyone who is looking for a nice cozy read. I’m excited to read the sequel to this, and for anyone who hasn’t already, if you enjoyed this then you should go checkout Shion Miura’s other book that’s been translated to English, “The Great Passage.”
(Now I’m just hoping and praying that “Kaze ga tsuyoku fuite iru” aka “Run With the Wind” gets translated in English in the near future.”
Shion Miura doesn’t disappoint in the wholesome story that is “The Easy Life in Kamusari. This was a heartfelt story about a boy just out of high school finding his way in the world in an unexpected place.
Right out of school Yuki Hirano finds himself the unwilling trainee to a foresting operation in a small mountain village. There, he is not only working to find his place within his work team but also the little village.
This is written in first person POV, and while this isn’t usually my favorite POV it worked really well for this story. It was very intimate, like Yuki was writing a letter or a journal, and it made for a very pleasurable experience.
Overall, I felt that this was a very comforting, very sweet story and I’d recommend this to anyone who is looking for a nice cozy read. I’m excited to read the sequel to this, and for anyone who hasn’t already, if you enjoyed this then you should go checkout Shion Miura’s other book that’s been translated to English, “The Great Passage.”
(Now I’m just hoping and praying that “Kaze ga tsuyoku fuite iru” aka “Run With the Wind” gets translated in English in the near future.”