clammyheart's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
My favorite was the last one, Dormitory, although the ending seemed abrupt. I liked the middle story as well. The first one was okay - could have done without the weird child sexualization and abuse, but I do like Ogawa’s writing on more taboo topics and depth of human strangeness. She writes about those times when you do something fucked up and don’t even know why.
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Blood, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Minor: Car accident
vanyasingh's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Child abuse
nadir's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Eating disorder and Child abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Mental illness
natalienicholas's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Deeply dark. I almost put it down after the first short story, but I'm so glad I didn't. Yoko writes about the topics we feel should never even cross our minds. and She does it with prolific prose. I found a new favorite author.
Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Blood, Body horror, and Gore
angela_iseli's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Pregnancy and Child abuse
anneshamitha's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Patron saints of freaks <3
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Child abuse
awiuff's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse
lokesh_04's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Pregnancy, and Torture
sunnybopeep's review against another edition
4.5
At first, I didn’t think I was going to like these stories. I haven’t really been into Japanese literature recently, so the style and content felt unfamiliar. There was something off-putting about the writing, but it ended up pairing nicely with the themes of the stories and helped to set the tone. By the end of the first novella, I was shocked and amazed by how far Ogawa was willing to go. These stories delve into the darkest recesses of the human mind, touching on things that no one wants to acknowledge. The scary part is that the reader might have experienced some of the same thoughts before.
Graphic: Child abuse
goommi's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
Given how weird some of the tones are in this book, it is oddly forgettable only a year after reading it.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content