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szuum's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
juliakobielska's review against another edition
3.0
Ciekawa pozycja, na pewno wymagająca skupienia, czasu i cierpliwości. Nie jest to jednak powieść, która zachwyca i zostawia z pewną przyjemną pustką.
akotulinska's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-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
5.0
curious_mind's review
5.0
A True Novel is a fascinating read. Despite its length, the multiple jumps in time and space and frequent switches in the person and point of view of the narrator, the novel never becomes burdensome or difficult to follow. Soon after I started reading, I'd become drawn into the world of post-war Japan, and was curious to find out about the life stories of the families and numerous characters featured. Mizumura can describe events and the thoughts and feelings of characters as if she'd been present in person at all times; in fact, reading the novel felt almost like watching a movie, vivid and colorful, with a unique spacing and flow.
damjur's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
seanhelvey's review
5.0
A masterpiece!
This story was beautifully unveiled layer after layer, first through the author's own experience, and then using other characters, almost like a Russian doll.
I savored every page of this book. It had my favorite elements of Japanese fiction (dreams, ghosts, death) juxtaposed with a classic American tale.
I struggle with books that jump back and forth in time, but this was so perfectly woven together that it didn't become overly confusing for me.
This story was beautifully unveiled layer after layer, first through the author's own experience, and then using other characters, almost like a Russian doll.
I savored every page of this book. It had my favorite elements of Japanese fiction (dreams, ghosts, death) juxtaposed with a classic American tale.
I struggle with books that jump back and forth in time, but this was so perfectly woven together that it didn't become overly confusing for me.
tripleheaven's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
charlotterie's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
5.0
A True Novel
First of all, the highest praise to Juliet Winters Carpenter and Ann Sherif, whose translation of “A True Novel” sets the bar higher for literature in translation. So often books translated from Japanese have a stiff, quaint feel, but their work on “A True Novel” is gorgeous; fluid, emotionally true. The characters spring off the page, completely realistic and believable whether they wear kimono or jeans.
“A True Novel” is being touted as a retelling of “Wuthering Heights,” which is only part of the story. Don’t get too into this or you’ll go nuts trying to figure out who is Mr. Lockwood or Nelly Dean or Mr. Earnshaw. Can this really be Cathy? The story flits back and forth in time, making harder to settle on a single candidate for the role. Is it the author, who cleverly places herself in the narrative? When you see who it will be (neatly revealed at the end of the first volume) you’ll be compelled to wonder how that’s going to work as you crack volume two.
Set in Japan and New York at the end of World War II, the story is beautifully reeled out to include characters from various classes and levels of education, from different regions and with varying degrees of Westernization. The two volumes give it that Victorian novel vibe.
But this book is not like anything else I’ve read. I felt as though I had entered a new world, where the emotions were universal but the setting was rare. I highly recommend “A True Novel” to anyone who loves fiction filled with nuance and truth. Minae Mizumura has written several other novels, and I hope translations are in the works.
First of all, the highest praise to Juliet Winters Carpenter and Ann Sherif, whose translation of “A True Novel” sets the bar higher for literature in translation. So often books translated from Japanese have a stiff, quaint feel, but their work on “A True Novel” is gorgeous; fluid, emotionally true. The characters spring off the page, completely realistic and believable whether they wear kimono or jeans.
“A True Novel” is being touted as a retelling of “Wuthering Heights,” which is only part of the story. Don’t get too into this or you’ll go nuts trying to figure out who is Mr. Lockwood or Nelly Dean or Mr. Earnshaw. Can this really be Cathy? The story flits back and forth in time, making harder to settle on a single candidate for the role. Is it the author, who cleverly places herself in the narrative? When you see who it will be (neatly revealed at the end of the first volume) you’ll be compelled to wonder how that’s going to work as you crack volume two.
Set in Japan and New York at the end of World War II, the story is beautifully reeled out to include characters from various classes and levels of education, from different regions and with varying degrees of Westernization. The two volumes give it that Victorian novel vibe.
But this book is not like anything else I’ve read. I felt as though I had entered a new world, where the emotions were universal but the setting was rare. I highly recommend “A True Novel” to anyone who loves fiction filled with nuance and truth. Minae Mizumura has written several other novels, and I hope translations are in the works.
notallbooks_mp's review
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0