dreechua's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
3.5
Lost my bearings a bit because I was captivated by the imagery. Very touched by how you find your calling and how talent is something you hone. Slow-paced isn't usually my thing, but I'm glad I tried something out of character.
caro1uk's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emma_leoni's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
flo926's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
hare21's review
2.0
it's alright if you are just looking for a easy to read kinda book. There's not too much depth to the story and the guy just keeps going around in circles, drawing lotsa analogies between the woods and the piano.
wafflelord1's review
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
4.0
sammiethehammie's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
lilalilli's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
octavia_cade's review
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
This was not at all what I expected! As a teenager, Tomura hears a piano tuner working on an instrument at his school, and the sound transports him to a forest landscape - metaphorically, not literally. The sound gives him a strong sense-memory of the mountain forests of his home, and I picked it up off the library shelf thinking that it sounded like it might be a magical realist exploration of landscape and music. It wasn't. That speculative, dreamy element isn't really there at all. Instead, Tomura becomes a piano tuner himself, and learns to see the beauty in all types of pianos, and all types of piano players.
It's a very gentle, kindhearted read, and apparently a bestseller in Japan, where it's set. I do find it a little slow, and perhaps a little too contemplative for my tastes, but it was still an enjoyable read. I just can't shake the feeling that I'd rather it was the book I thought, rather than the book that it is. Which is an absolute failing on my part, and one that's completely counter to the lovely message of the story as a whole. Tomura would no doubt shake his head at me, and he'd probably be right to.
It's a very gentle, kindhearted read, and apparently a bestseller in Japan, where it's set. I do find it a little slow, and perhaps a little too contemplative for my tastes, but it was still an enjoyable read. I just can't shake the feeling that I'd rather it was the book I thought, rather than the book that it is. Which is an absolute failing on my part, and one that's completely counter to the lovely message of the story as a whole. Tomura would no doubt shake his head at me, and he'd probably be right to.