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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
patihato's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
mankalita's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kayaque's review against another edition
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
dominika_zimny's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
ambi_dexter_writes's review
5.0
Oh how I absolutely loved this book from start to finish! It's a pity it took me 4 whole months to get through the book because school got in the way. If I could I would have spent just 2 whole weeks pouring myself through the book like crazy.
I found the storytelling technique to be very interesting and something rather unique. Mizumura cleverly develops Yutsuke as a whole catalyst for the story to flow. He then becomes directly linked to Fumiko, who is the absolute perfect character to be telling the story of Taro, the Three Witches (hehe I loved this nickname) and her own life. Taro would probably have never retold his story; I suppose he would have been so bound by the pain and the desire to cut all ties with Japan and his past life that he would never have opened up to Yutsuke the way Fumiko did. The Three Witches would probably have lamented about Yuko's episodes and their loss of the property. Interestingly, Mizumura cleverly has Fuyue come in as a counterpoint to help us question the credibility of Fumiko as a person and as a narrator.
The story itself really is a gem. It gave so much insight into the development of Japan since post war, and made me fall in love with Karuizawa. Tbh, Karuizawa reminds me of Ipoh; even the way the families live there and have their parties and all remind me of my family. In some ways, I see various aspects of the characters in my own family members, which is quite the surprise.
All in all, this was a good read. An orgasmic one, even.
I found the storytelling technique to be very interesting and something rather unique. Mizumura cleverly develops Yutsuke as a whole catalyst for the story to flow. He then becomes directly linked to Fumiko, who is the absolute perfect character to be telling the story of Taro, the Three Witches (hehe I loved this nickname) and her own life. Taro would probably have never retold his story; I suppose he would have been so bound by the pain and the desire to cut all ties with Japan and his past life that he would never have opened up to Yutsuke the way Fumiko did. The Three Witches would probably have lamented about Yuko's episodes and their loss of the property. Interestingly, Mizumura cleverly has Fuyue come in as a counterpoint to help us question the credibility of Fumiko as a person and as a narrator.
The story itself really is a gem. It gave so much insight into the development of Japan since post war, and made me fall in love with Karuizawa. Tbh, Karuizawa reminds me of Ipoh; even the way the families live there and have their parties and all remind me of my family. In some ways, I see various aspects of the characters in my own family members, which is quite the surprise.
All in all, this was a good read. An orgasmic one, even.
natasha29singh's review against another edition
4.0
It’s not fair to call this just a ‘story inside a story’ – this is the Russian-nesting-doll of stories. I generally enjoy “plotless” stories where the journey of a person or household is traced over the years (think [b:The Waiting Years|177404|The Waiting Years|Fumiko Enchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348939847l/177404._SX50_.jpg|535360] or [b:The Makioka Sisters|34449|The Makioka Sisters|Jun'ichirō Tanizaki|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1637632255l/34449._SY75_.jpg|841208]) so I didn’t mind the accounts of the characters’ lives so much, but I think the part for which there was so much build up – the life of Taro “Heathcliff” Azuma, a man as toxic as he is sexy – kind of failed to deliver. The entire arc with him simping and the other one happily getting cucked (over Yoko?? of all people? please be serious) just seems implausible. I did enjoy the ten-odd pages in the middle of the book which got unbelievably meta, and the [b:Wuthering Heights|6185|Wuthering Heights|Emily Brontë|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388212715l/6185._SY75_.jpg|1565818] essence makes it a compelling read (you will never catch me disrespecting [a:Emily Brontë|4191|Emily Brontë|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1529578586p2/4191.jpg].) And the author added a little bonus twist at the end! Fantastic for such a long read, and an awesome job on the translation by [a:Juliet Winters Carpenter|666511|Juliet Winters Carpenter|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].
categal's review
4.0
I got absolutely lost in this story, I mean in the best way. This is a story within a story within a story within .... well, it's complicated. It begins in New York, where the Mizumura family has relocated so that Mr. Mizumura can pursue work opportunities. We see things through young Minae's eyes, and she is NOT happy to be in America. Her father befriends Taro, an immigrant working as a chauffeur for an American business executive, and through the family's contact with Taro, we are drawn deeper and deeper into the story, all the way back to post-war Japan.
What about the title? What the heck is a "true novel"? According to Mizumura, a true novel differs from an "I novel" in that it is pure fiction, and modeled after great 19th century novels like Wuthering Heights. Can a novel be pure fiction if the author has written herself into the story? Her explanation of the title came on toward the end of the prologue, and that stopped me in my tracks. I realized that it had been over (gulp) 30 years since I had read Wuthering Heights, and maybe if I had a better grip on that story, I would follow this one on a deeper level. So off I went and read Wuthering - what a great ride! I returned to this novel, and quickly got lost in the story, completely wrapped up in the Saegusa and Shigemitsu families, Taro, Japan, the countryside, the classes, the history - what a great ride! Not necessary to have read Wuthering Heights - I see what Mizumura did with the plot and how she structured her novel, but it is her own, and just fantastic.
What about the title? What the heck is a "true novel"? According to Mizumura, a true novel differs from an "I novel" in that it is pure fiction, and modeled after great 19th century novels like Wuthering Heights. Can a novel be pure fiction if the author has written herself into the story? Her explanation of the title came on toward the end of the prologue, and that stopped me in my tracks. I realized that it had been over (gulp) 30 years since I had read Wuthering Heights, and maybe if I had a better grip on that story, I would follow this one on a deeper level. So off I went and read Wuthering - what a great ride! I returned to this novel, and quickly got lost in the story, completely wrapped up in the Saegusa and Shigemitsu families, Taro, Japan, the countryside, the classes, the history - what a great ride! Not necessary to have read Wuthering Heights - I see what Mizumura did with the plot and how she structured her novel, but it is her own, and just fantastic.
annawiktoria's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
kumipaul's review
3.0
I keep hearing about what a wonderful writer Mizumura is, and deep into the novel I had a good sense of this. However, I did not like the translation which I did not think captured the nuance that was necessary in the story. I felt that the translator treated her reader as culturally naive by often defining Japanese terms simplistically and trying to spin a truly Japanese story into one that a typical American reader could easily grasp. In that sense, I felt patronized, and I felt that she did the author a disservice. Example:
"she put butterbur sprouts with miso on a long, narrow wooden board and roasted them lightly. Uncle Genji scooped up some with his chopsticks and took a taste. 'Now that's finger-lickin' good!' he said with obvious satisfaction, letting loose with a country accent..."
Come on, "finger-lickin' good" in a Japanese novel? This is not KFC.
As for the story beyond my annoyance with the translation, I was aware that it had elements of Wuthering Heights in a Japanese setting, and the parallels were definitely there. Most of the book was centered on telling a story of families through the years, and this was interesting (though not in a Wuthering Heights sort of way). Really, only the last 1/3 contained those Bronte elements, which worked well and drew me in with an increased intensity, and the final two chapters contained surprises that left me wondering if the author was toying with me (in a good way). In the end, I enjoyed the read, with reservations.
"she put butterbur sprouts with miso on a long, narrow wooden board and roasted them lightly. Uncle Genji scooped up some with his chopsticks and took a taste. 'Now that's finger-lickin' good!' he said with obvious satisfaction, letting loose with a country accent..."
Come on, "finger-lickin' good" in a Japanese novel? This is not KFC.
As for the story beyond my annoyance with the translation, I was aware that it had elements of Wuthering Heights in a Japanese setting, and the parallels were definitely there. Most of the book was centered on telling a story of families through the years, and this was interesting (though not in a Wuthering Heights sort of way). Really, only the last 1/3 contained those Bronte elements, which worked well and drew me in with an increased intensity, and the final two chapters contained surprises that left me wondering if the author was toying with me (in a good way). In the end, I enjoyed the read, with reservations.