flower_mail's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Dementia, Ableism, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Confinement and War
Minor: Child death
cactusmotif's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
2.5
★- mediocre, crude, incoherent
★½ - unrealized potential, underdeveloped, disappointing
★★- fine, coherent, technically proficient
★★½ - good, enjoyable, well-crafted
★★★½ - profound, inventive, original
★★★★ - exceptional, genius, thought-provoking
★★★★½ - masterpiece
★★★★★- unparalleled, revelatory, revolutionary
Graphic: Grief, Dementia, Forced institutionalization, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Child death, and War
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
knkoch's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
The second half felt quite different, and while I appreciated the deeper characterization and focus on Alice, it felt jarring to shift away from the pool and what Otsuka seemed to be building earlier in the book. I guess the best interpretation I could see for these two very different halves coming together is
Spoiler
that I could see how the routine of the pool community, and the anxiety over the crack and pool closure could be read as the sort of slow decline and degradation of Alice's mind and life as her dementia progressed. Her life, the pool and everything else, splinters and comes apart. But then I guess I'm left wondering, did the pool really close or is the story so set in Alice's mind that it just closed for her? Unexpectedly, without clear rational reasons, because that's how confusing and disorienting dementia may feel for those experiencing it? I suppose, but then the detailed reactions of everyone else in the community reacting to the pool closure doesn't make sense. Maybe they're reacting to her leaving?I did like that Otsuka had a strong sense of style in her writing, and that she went to unexpected places in the story. I liked the use of second person, and in general the shifting sense of both vague and character-specific narration. I think I would try another book by her, as I'm finding that more compelling these days than sheer plot.
Graphic: Forced institutionalization and Terminal illness
Terminal illness:Spoiler
non-Alzheimer's dementia.kers_tin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Dementia, Medical content, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Xenophobia and War
heatherjchin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Dementia, Grief, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Death of parent and Terminal illness
Minor: Medical content, Death, Child death, and Mental illness
tindin's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Dementia, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Mental illness, Child death, Confinement, Miscarriage, War, and Medical content
Minor: Abandonment, Racism, and Xenophobia
venetiana's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Dementia
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, and Terminal illness
Minor: Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Body shaming, Car accident, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Child death, Dysphoria, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, War, and Ableism
monalyisha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Death of parent, and Grief
ashleysbookthoughts's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Graphic: Dementia and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, and Death of parent
krys_kilz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
I liked the voice Otsuka wrote from - the first-person plural we and the second-person singular you. It blurs the distinction between the collective and the individual and complicates conceptions of the "self." Even with the sort of disembodied narration style, the story is still incredibly emotional and heartbreaking.
I loved the mirroring between the cracks forming in the pool and the fog descending on Alice's mind. It was a very clever parallel about being with the unknown, losing pieces of yourself, and the painfulness of a community coming to an end. It also really makes you reflect on how we treat elders in the so called united states - the isolation, abuse, and exile from community we put them and their families through.
tw: dementia, forced institutionalization, death of a parent, Japanese internment camps
Graphic: Dementia, Forced institutionalization, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Child death and Fatphobia