emmanuel's review against another edition
3.0
La quatrième de couverture ne me disait vraiment rien, mais ce que j'ai déjà lu de Miyuki Miyabe m'ayant intéressé, j'ai lu ce livre. Le cocktail est assez étrange entre une enquête policière très classique, une société secrète et des pouvoirs surnaturels. J'ai ressenti un léger surdosage des superpouvoirs (c'est difficile de lesw contrôler, n'est-ce pas ?), mais sans que cela ne nuise à l'ambiance générale. Bref, pas mal mais j'ai préfèré le réalisme d'[b:Une carte pour l'enfer|553663|Une carte pour l'enfer|Miyuki Miyabe|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175741795s/553663.jpg|1080207].
kingfan30's review against another edition
3.0
This is a new author to me, picked up as its on the 1001 list. It was an entertaining read with some interesting storylines to give you something to think about, the main one being that if you had this power how would you use it and are you the right person to make these decisions. It moved along fairly quickly although I felt the middle lost its way slightly, but it was just the right thing to be reading while the world feels little mad.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
4.0
Traduction du japonais en français par Gérard Siary.
djasson's review against another edition
2.0
An okay read. I liked her novel Shadow Family but didn't like another of hers called All She Was Worth. I've had this book on my shelf for awhile and turned to it in hopes of inspiring my own writing. Japanese fiction really put a spark under me for what I wanted to write, especially Natsuo Kirino and Kenzo Kitakata. So, I picked Crossfire up and read it.
It's a little sci-fi, a little mystery and a little police procedural. The plot was a little too neatly wrapped up, with characters conveniently intersecting each other at opportune times. I gave it two stars since that rating means it was "ok." It wasn't anything special for me and it wouldn't be the book I'd recommend of hers if someone asked.
Two things that I didn't like were the supernatural/sci-fi component of the story and the vigilante justice motif that ran through the story. I can't do anything about the first since that's the story she wrote. My problem, not anyone else's. As for the latter, I think she could have put more words to problematizing the vigilante theme. She provides support for it and not enough to oppose it. I fall into the opposition side and think that her bad people were cardboard cutouts and the victims were too perfectly drawn.
It's a little sci-fi, a little mystery and a little police procedural. The plot was a little too neatly wrapped up, with characters conveniently intersecting each other at opportune times. I gave it two stars since that rating means it was "ok." It wasn't anything special for me and it wouldn't be the book I'd recommend of hers if someone asked.
Two things that I didn't like were the supernatural/sci-fi component of the story and the vigilante justice motif that ran through the story. I can't do anything about the first since that's the story she wrote. My problem, not anyone else's. As for the latter, I think she could have put more words to problematizing the vigilante theme. She provides support for it and not enough to oppose it. I fall into the opposition side and think that her bad people were cardboard cutouts and the victims were too perfectly drawn.
asma_aj's review against another edition
3.0
Ever since she was a child, Junko knew she had the power to start fires at will. Now as an adult, she has to take the utmost precaution not to accidentally incinerate her surroundings. But by chance, she happens upon a violent kidnapping, and Junko unleashes a trail of burned bodies in the wake of her mission: save a victim, and cleanse the world of evil. Her actions spark the interest of a secret vigilante group, and the Metropolitan Police, who are puzzled over the murders, but as detective Ishizu Chikako investigates, she realizes what's happening around them is beyond the control of the police department.
I always have mixed reactions when I read Japanese literature. It can range from being too dry to being very well written, and then the stories are not the formula I'm used to. But I have to say that Miyabe's book was the second I've enjoyed in terms of plot and characters, despite my mixed feelings about it. The book is micro-descriptive. There are A LOT of small details, and it did feel like it bogged down the pace. I don't know how many of it was the writer and how many of it was the translator (I noticed there are some explanations sort of tacked in, I'm guessing that's for the international readers' sake).
The good things about detailed writings though is that it builds up towards the climax. The first half of this book was the build up, the second half had the ball rolling. There was more character engagement, and I loved that. In fact, this is the first time I've come across such normal character emotions in Japanese literature. As for the conclusion, well, I definitely didn't see it coming.
The only problem I had is the pacing. It didn't get fast or urgent towards the end. It was gripping, but.. I don't know. Maybe I'm influenced by Western thrillers. Still, this was a great read.
I always have mixed reactions when I read Japanese literature. It can range from being too dry to being very well written, and then the stories are not the formula I'm used to. But I have to say that Miyabe's book was the second I've enjoyed in terms of plot and characters, despite my mixed feelings about it. The book is micro-descriptive. There are A LOT of small details, and it did feel like it bogged down the pace. I don't know how many of it was the writer and how many of it was the translator (I noticed there are some explanations sort of tacked in, I'm guessing that's for the international readers' sake).
The good things about detailed writings though is that it builds up towards the climax. The first half of this book was the build up, the second half had the ball rolling. There was more character engagement, and I loved that. In fact, this is the first time I've come across such normal character emotions in Japanese literature. As for the conclusion, well, I definitely didn't see it coming.
The only problem I had is the pacing. It didn't get fast or urgent towards the end. It was gripping, but.. I don't know. Maybe I'm influenced by Western thrillers. Still, this was a great read.
paseando_entre_paginas's review against another edition
3.0
Una novela que combina poderes sobrenaturales con el realismo y el misterio de una manera genial. Además, la novela cuenta con una buenos personajes que evolucionan un poco a cada página y te ofrece la posibilidad de conocer más de cerca otra cultura. La trama flojea mucho, no tiene demasiado ritmo y en ocasiones se hace algo lenta, pero en general es entretenida, sin conseguir atraparte.
Reseña completa: http://paseandoentrepaginas.blogspot.com.es/2016/12/fuego-cruzado-de-miyuki-miyabe.html
Reseña completa: http://paseandoentrepaginas.blogspot.com.es/2016/12/fuego-cruzado-de-miyuki-miyabe.html
readingpanda's review against another edition
3.0
Crossfire is a Japanese novel that I read because it is on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. I was a bit skeptical about why it would be on the list, since it looked like just a run-of-the-mill mystery novel. Usually the mysteries that make it onto the list, though, are there because they provide a certain kind of insight into a culture or a time period, so I had that in mind while I read.
Junko is our main character, and we find out early on that she has a supernatural power: pyrokinesis. Once that fact is established, the novel concerns itself with the role or responsibilities of a person with powers like that, Junko's self-image as a result of her power, and the experience of being "other" in society. It also covers the major bases of a suspense novel. The Tokyo of this book isn't really the one I tend to visualize, full of modern skyscrapers, clean but crowded streets, bright neon signs. The parts of Tokyo Miyabe presents us with are remote, sparsely inhabited at night, decidedly middle-to-lower class.
I think that this view of Tokyo is part of the reason the book is on the list. Other than providing a look at the underside of Japan's public face, I'm not sure what new ground is really covered here. The writing is serviceable, but not striking (though I'm reading in translation, of course). The emotional part of the story doesn't have many twists and turns, and the mysteries that are not revealed to the reader right away comprise a pretty small piece of the overall puzzle. It was a decent read, but not a page-turner.
Recommended for: believers in vigilante justice, people interested in seeing another view of Japanese society
Quote: They were all raised to think of themselves as special, as better than others, and they needed to find something to prove it to themselves, to justify their sense of entitlement. But what if they never found that "something"? All they were left with was their enormous conceit. They were like flower bulbs raised in water, floating in a transparent, colorless pool of nihilism. Surrounding the bulb was nothing - nothing that could give them a true sense of themselves.
Junko is our main character, and we find out early on that she has a supernatural power: pyrokinesis. Once that fact is established, the novel concerns itself with the role or responsibilities of a person with powers like that, Junko's self-image as a result of her power, and the experience of being "other" in society. It also covers the major bases of a suspense novel. The Tokyo of this book isn't really the one I tend to visualize, full of modern skyscrapers, clean but crowded streets, bright neon signs. The parts of Tokyo Miyabe presents us with are remote, sparsely inhabited at night, decidedly middle-to-lower class.
I think that this view of Tokyo is part of the reason the book is on the list. Other than providing a look at the underside of Japan's public face, I'm not sure what new ground is really covered here. The writing is serviceable, but not striking (though I'm reading in translation, of course). The emotional part of the story doesn't have many twists and turns, and the mysteries that are not revealed to the reader right away comprise a pretty small piece of the overall puzzle. It was a decent read, but not a page-turner.
Recommended for: believers in vigilante justice, people interested in seeing another view of Japanese society
Quote: They were all raised to think of themselves as special, as better than others, and they needed to find something to prove it to themselves, to justify their sense of entitlement. But what if they never found that "something"? All they were left with was their enormous conceit. They were like flower bulbs raised in water, floating in a transparent, colorless pool of nihilism. Surrounding the bulb was nothing - nothing that could give them a true sense of themselves.
ksparks's review against another edition
4.0
This is another fantastic suspenseful novel by Miyabe involving the paranormal and vigilante justice. It has interesting, likeable characters and a plot that builds with perfect timing. It is suspenseful, and yet still thoughtful. This is a book that shows a lot about Japanese culture and social problems, and that raises a lot of questions about crime and punishment. This author is very popular in Japan and I think should be a lot more popular in America.
thebobsphere's review against another edition
5.0
Before reading Crossfire, I had a dim view on mysteries. I was forced to read them as a children and that made em dislike the genre. Now that I'm in my mid thirties, this is a rather silly reason to not to read mysteries.
Personally I think a sign of a great book is one that manages to change people’s ideas about a certain genre and thankfully Crossfire does this. Not only do have I changed my view on mystery books (In fact one of the best books I read in this challenge was a whodunnit – In Search of Klingsor). but my perception of horror has changed.
Junk Aoki has the power to set things on fire. One night while practising in a factory she comes across a group of teenagers, who try to kill a half dead man. Junko ends up burning all but one of the gang and she finds out that the man has a girlfriend kept hostage. Junko then aims to find the girlfriend and ‘punish’ the gang in the process. This not the first time she has killed in order for good to reign.
In the meantime Police Dectective Chikako discovers the burnt gang and remembers the other burnings. Thus she sets up an investigation, which results in her chasing Junko and discovering more about the supernatural world she lives in.
To add another twist in the novel Junko comes across an organisation called the guardians.- A group of vigilantes who also kill for the good of mankind. She does become embroiled with them and it leads to a spectacular conclusion.
The clever thing about the novel is that we readers already know the aims of both Junko and Chikako and yet the fact we don’t know how the events turn out makes Crossfire an engrossing read. Although well structured Miyabe chucks in a lot of plot twists which change your impression of both characters and by the end of the novel the idea of good and evil are totally confused.
Maybe this review is a bit on the scant side but to go into more detail will simply ruin the book. All I can say is that if you are wary do check this out – you’ll be surprised!
Personally I think a sign of a great book is one that manages to change people’s ideas about a certain genre and thankfully Crossfire does this. Not only do have I changed my view on mystery books (In fact one of the best books I read in this challenge was a whodunnit – In Search of Klingsor). but my perception of horror has changed.
Junk Aoki has the power to set things on fire. One night while practising in a factory she comes across a group of teenagers, who try to kill a half dead man. Junko ends up burning all but one of the gang and she finds out that the man has a girlfriend kept hostage. Junko then aims to find the girlfriend and ‘punish’ the gang in the process. This not the first time she has killed in order for good to reign.
In the meantime Police Dectective Chikako discovers the burnt gang and remembers the other burnings. Thus she sets up an investigation, which results in her chasing Junko and discovering more about the supernatural world she lives in.
To add another twist in the novel Junko comes across an organisation called the guardians.- A group of vigilantes who also kill for the good of mankind. She does become embroiled with them and it leads to a spectacular conclusion.
The clever thing about the novel is that we readers already know the aims of both Junko and Chikako and yet the fact we don’t know how the events turn out makes Crossfire an engrossing read. Although well structured Miyabe chucks in a lot of plot twists which change your impression of both characters and by the end of the novel the idea of good and evil are totally confused.
Maybe this review is a bit on the scant side but to go into more detail will simply ruin the book. All I can say is that if you are wary do check this out – you’ll be surprised!
jameseckman's review against another edition
3.0
A fun take on King's Firestarter idea (mentioned in book) that's a fast-paced adventure with multiple bizarre twists.
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