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eimmi's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Murder
alexandralow's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Grief
readerette's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book contained quite a lot more reflection and conjecture than I expected. I didn't find that particularly appealing, nor was the exceedingly matter-of-fact tone really my preference.
I enjoyed the commentary on Japan, including their struggles with nationalism (which ring true for the present American experience as well). Kido is a pretty nuanced character, and we get some depth on others too.
Overall, it's not really a story that goes anywhere, and it was easy for me to get lost as Kido worked out the "mystery." This is the the translator's first full length translation (per the book jacket), so I wonder if some of the overly staid tone, slow pace, and confusing plot points were the result of the translation rather than the author's work.
I enjoyed the commentary on Japan, including their struggles with nationalism (which ring true for the present American experience as well). Kido is a pretty nuanced character, and we get some depth on others too.
Overall, it's not really a story that goes anywhere, and it was easy for me to get lost as Kido worked out the "mystery." This is the the translator's first full length translation (per the book jacket), so I wonder if some of the overly staid tone, slow pace, and confusing plot points were the result of the translation rather than the author's work.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Murder
tiemzahra's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Kido is a lawyer whose former client requested to investigate her dead husband, Daisuke. Upon the death of Daisuke, the wife, Rie, discovered that Daisuke was not who he claimed to be. His name, his life, his entire identity belonged to someone else.
What did I expect? Mystery. What did I get? The question of identity. This book was good. In finding out the real identity of Rie’s husband, Kido slowly realised he shared the same sentiment to live as someone else. Kido is a zainichi, the third generation Korean who has assimilated as Japanese. Kido believed that he’s a Japanese but he’s been treated as an outsider. He desired to be accepted, where he couldn’t be Japanese due to his ethnicity but at the same time couldn’t relate much to his root.
This book also hit close to home. Despite Daisuke’s identity fraud, he’s loved by his family. Their grief was palpable, that I cried reading their perspectives. Kido’s perspective could be wearisome, I couldn’t wait to reach Rie and her family. The story ended with theirs, and I was happy for their closure.In the end, both Rie and her son decided that they didn't care who Daisuke really was, because after all, he was a great husband and father to both of them.
What did I expect? Mystery. What did I get? The question of identity. This book was good. In finding out the real identity of Rie’s husband, Kido slowly realised he shared the same sentiment to live as someone else. Kido is a zainichi, the third generation Korean who has assimilated as Japanese. Kido believed that he’s a Japanese but he’s been treated as an outsider. He desired to be accepted, where he couldn’t be Japanese due to his ethnicity but at the same time couldn’t relate much to his root.
This book also hit close to home. Despite Daisuke’s identity fraud, he’s loved by his family. Their grief was palpable, that I cried reading their perspectives. Kido’s perspective could be wearisome, I couldn’t wait to reach Rie and her family. The story ended with theirs, and I was happy for their closure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Racism, and Death of parent
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, Self harm, Terminal illness, Xenophobia, and Suicide attempt
dimanabookmark's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Child death, Death, and Suicide attempt