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readingpicnic's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a weird and creative little book with incredible wordplay, humor, and imaginings of the future of transness, the evolution of many different species in response to climate change, censorship by governments, and role reversal of commonly held assumptions about disability with youth and elders. I usually despise the dystopian genre as a whole, but the cover was so beautiful that I couldn't resist. Being transgender? Yeah, that's the norm in this book 😎🏳️⚧️
The way that climate change and pollution have run rampant and changed the environment irreversibly was such interesting world-building, like fully grown bamboo being the size of a pinky finger or animals in Japan seemingly only existing with a rent-a-dog service that Yoshiro uses. Disability and transness are incredibly prevalent in most, if not all children in this society, which was an interesting concept, and I really liked the execution. I'm not sure if I understood the ending other than it was a teen's t4t fantasy, which was pretty epic. There were a few parts where the story abruptly shifted to 1st person POV which threw me off a bit.
The way that climate change and pollution have run rampant and changed the environment irreversibly was such interesting world-building, like fully grown bamboo being the size of a pinky finger or animals in Japan seemingly only existing with a rent-a-dog service that Yoshiro uses. Disability and transness are incredibly prevalent in most, if not all children in this society, which was an interesting concept, and I really liked the execution. I'm not sure if I understood the ending other than it was a teen's t4t fantasy, which was pretty epic. There were a few parts where the story abruptly shifted to 1st person POV which threw me off a bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Addiction, Death of parent, and Abandonment
orlaelan's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, and Abandonment
i_write_on_occasion's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-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
2.0
This book presents interesting ideas, but these ideas are merely presented and are not expanded upon in any way. There was potential for there to be a really interesting commentary on these themes with an interesting concept, but unfortuantely, it falls flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Chronic illness
Moderate: Body horror and Death
sldccc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
reflective
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Colonisation
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Excrement, Vomit, and War
sea_sea's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
This book was really really good! It was immensely interesting and well written. It really puts the customs and ways of our society into perspective. It also raises awareness for global warming, by setting the story in a future dystopian world, where the earth has been poisoned by humans. The story mostly centers around Yoshiro and his great-grandson Mumei. I really enjoyed their relationship and how much Yoshiro learned from Mumei. I also really like the concept, that the elderly probably cannot die, while the young people are always sick and very likely won’t live for long. It was such a surreal and interesting read, not like anything I have read before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Chronic illness
ishouldreadthat's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
An incredibly quiet post-apocalyptic book about an elderly man caring for his fragile grandson. Lovely, but the lack of plot kept me from getting sucked in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Chronic illness
liltastypuff's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Death of parent
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical content
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Emissary is a slim little dystopian novel from Japan. It’s set in a world beset by climate change and the effects of some sort of disaster - possibly nuclear. National isolation has become the norm as countries attempt to deal with their own difficulties, while keeping those of other countries out. While the young are born fragile and become weaker with time, they are also wise. Meanwhile older people remain strong and healthy, but tend towards melancholy. The story follows Yoshiro and his great-grandson Mumei. As with all dystopian works it critiques recent social and political issues.
For me this book fell into the dreaded “it was fine” category (I’ve been having a lot of those recently and am wondering if it is some sort of reading slump) which means I don’t really have a lot to say. The relationship between Mumei and Yoshiro was sweet. The prose was sparse, as I have come to expect from Japanese novels. I might have preferred a slightly more expansive, less understated story. A good reminder not to mess up the world our children and grandchildren will inherit, and to seek joy and happiness where we can.
For me this book fell into the dreaded “it was fine” category (I’ve been having a lot of those recently and am wondering if it is some sort of reading slump) which means I don’t really have a lot to say. The relationship between Mumei and Yoshiro was sweet. The prose was sparse, as I have come to expect from Japanese novels. I might have preferred a slightly more expansive, less understated story. A good reminder not to mess up the world our children and grandchildren will inherit, and to seek joy and happiness where we can.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Chronic illness