Scan barcode
benleon97's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
characters are interesting but Writing feels confused. for half the book you think it’s about the neighbors brothel but then it shifts to a person attacking women. Kept on reading waiting for something good to happen and then the big “twist” is revealed. Payoff feels cheap because there’s no foreshadowing to let the reader speculate.
samstillreading's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Vintage Publishing for the eARC.
Parade is the kind of book my friends would say is stereotypical of my reading habits – ‘set in Japan, not much happens and then it gets all weird’. While I wouldn’t say that Parade is ‘all weird’, there are a few kooky and creepy revelations in a novel that is character driven, rather than by plot. I love this kind of book, especially when it’s set in Japan. I don’t know why, but a big Japanese city location with characters that are fighting their inner demons is the makings of a great story for me. I think Japanese novels (this book has been translated into English by Philip Gabriel) and their characters open themselves more completely to the reader, revealing both the positive and negative sides of a person. It’s refreshingly honest.
Parade is centred on four occupants of an apartment in Tokyo. All are young and all have problems of their own to face. The flatmates, two boys and two girls, hang out quite a lot in between work and study. They are quite different, but appear to get on well together. Each chapter is told from the third person perspective of one of the flatmates. First is Ryosuke, who is studying in Tokyo to try to make something of himself. He’s not really enthused about university, more about his increasing affection for his older friend’s girlfriend and whether he should make a play for her. Then there’s Kotomi, who left a good job in Sapporo after realising that she’s not happy. Now she sits on the couch in the flat waiting for her college sweetheart (an up and coming actor) to call, day in, day out. Mirai is an artist on the weekend, a store manager by day and heavy drinker at night. Unknown to her, it’s Mirai that brings Satoru home one drunken night. Satoru’s young and works by night in the park – but what does he do? Nobody really knows much about him (and Satoru tells them all different stories), but all the flatmates are eager to help him out. Finally, there’s Naoki, the eldest and original occupant of the flat. He’s got an on/off girlfriend, a great job and a secret. Eventually, this group will find out they do more than share an apartment…
I really liked the way we got to know each character in detail from ‘their’ chapter. Yoshida also gently introduces more about the next character to come, so by the time I got to Naoki’s chapter (the last one), I felt like I knew him. The characters are all quite dissimilar, but each has something you can identify with, such as Ryosuke’s determination to please his parents or Kotomi’s search for happiness. Due to their ages (late teens to late twenties), there are also plenty of activities that you can identify with (both good and bad): excessive drinking, lazing away, films and TV. Kotomi’s age and naivety also assist in establishing that there’s something weird going on in the apartment next door, where men enter and schoolgirls exit, crying. This subplot is both creepy and amusing, which gets the flatmates completely unsettled, missing the bigger picture.
You may be thinking that all the flatmates sound like cosy, good friends but it’s Satoru, the outsider who identifies that they’re not – more ‘playing at friends’. Dig deeper and you find that each person is hiding something from the others, trying to keep something hidden in a place where there’s very little privacy. Some of the flatmates do it better than others – but can they hide their true selves?
I can’t say that I saw the ending coming at all, but the reaction of the group was very interesting. Given their jumpiness over the apartment next door and its possible activities, their reaction to a crime was almost non-existent – passive and accepting. Is this a reflection on young people today not caring about society or self-absorption? Is it a comment on the changing face of Japan, a society that thinks of the group before the individual?
I found this book fascinating for what it revealed about these characters and about society in general. With that slight sense of uneasiness, it was a perfect read for me.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Parade is the kind of book my friends would say is stereotypical of my reading habits – ‘set in Japan, not much happens and then it gets all weird’. While I wouldn’t say that Parade is ‘all weird’, there are a few kooky and creepy revelations in a novel that is character driven, rather than by plot. I love this kind of book, especially when it’s set in Japan. I don’t know why, but a big Japanese city location with characters that are fighting their inner demons is the makings of a great story for me. I think Japanese novels (this book has been translated into English by Philip Gabriel) and their characters open themselves more completely to the reader, revealing both the positive and negative sides of a person. It’s refreshingly honest.
Parade is centred on four occupants of an apartment in Tokyo. All are young and all have problems of their own to face. The flatmates, two boys and two girls, hang out quite a lot in between work and study. They are quite different, but appear to get on well together. Each chapter is told from the third person perspective of one of the flatmates. First is Ryosuke, who is studying in Tokyo to try to make something of himself. He’s not really enthused about university, more about his increasing affection for his older friend’s girlfriend and whether he should make a play for her. Then there’s Kotomi, who left a good job in Sapporo after realising that she’s not happy. Now she sits on the couch in the flat waiting for her college sweetheart (an up and coming actor) to call, day in, day out. Mirai is an artist on the weekend, a store manager by day and heavy drinker at night. Unknown to her, it’s Mirai that brings Satoru home one drunken night. Satoru’s young and works by night in the park – but what does he do? Nobody really knows much about him (and Satoru tells them all different stories), but all the flatmates are eager to help him out. Finally, there’s Naoki, the eldest and original occupant of the flat. He’s got an on/off girlfriend, a great job and a secret. Eventually, this group will find out they do more than share an apartment…
I really liked the way we got to know each character in detail from ‘their’ chapter. Yoshida also gently introduces more about the next character to come, so by the time I got to Naoki’s chapter (the last one), I felt like I knew him. The characters are all quite dissimilar, but each has something you can identify with, such as Ryosuke’s determination to please his parents or Kotomi’s search for happiness. Due to their ages (late teens to late twenties), there are also plenty of activities that you can identify with (both good and bad): excessive drinking, lazing away, films and TV. Kotomi’s age and naivety also assist in establishing that there’s something weird going on in the apartment next door, where men enter and schoolgirls exit, crying. This subplot is both creepy and amusing, which gets the flatmates completely unsettled, missing the bigger picture.
You may be thinking that all the flatmates sound like cosy, good friends but it’s Satoru, the outsider who identifies that they’re not – more ‘playing at friends’. Dig deeper and you find that each person is hiding something from the others, trying to keep something hidden in a place where there’s very little privacy. Some of the flatmates do it better than others – but can they hide their true selves?
I can’t say that I saw the ending coming at all, but the reaction of the group was very interesting. Given their jumpiness over the apartment next door and its possible activities, their reaction to a crime was almost non-existent – passive and accepting. Is this a reflection on young people today not caring about society or self-absorption? Is it a comment on the changing face of Japan, a society that thinks of the group before the individual?
I found this book fascinating for what it revealed about these characters and about society in general. With that slight sense of uneasiness, it was a perfect read for me.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
wyleus's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wth did i just read??? *slowly adds this to my fav books of the year*
bibliorobi_'s review against another edition
4.0
A Tokyo, Ryosuke, Kotomi, Mirai e Naoki condividono, per ragioni quasi indipendenti dalla loro stessa volontà, l’appartamento 401. In ogni capitolo di questo breve romanzo, assumiamo il punto di vista di uno dei personaggi e riusciamo a vedere ciò che c’è oltre la facciata e soprattutto come ognuno di loro vede i suoi coinquilini. La vita prosegue, lenta e monotona, finché in casa non arriva Saturo, che tutti credono sia stato invitato da uno degli altri. Contemporaneamente, nel quartiere iniziano ad avvenire delle misteriose aggressioni.
Nonostante questo libro venga presentato come un noir o un thriller, credo che sia più appropriato definirlo un romanzo introspettivo/psicologico. L’intento non è tanto quello di scoprire il colpevole delle aggressioni – la cui identità, tra l’altro, è facile immaginare già a metà lettura – quanto addentrarsi nelle menti di questi cinque giovani, spenti in una Tokyo che dà loro poche prospettive di crescita.
Lo stile dell’autore è essenziale nella prosa e minuzioso nelle descrizioni, si tratta di un libro breve, di sole 250 pagine, che è facile divorare.
La fine della lettura ci lascia in preda alla confusione, ed è impossibile non chiedersi: conosciamo davvero le persone intorno a noi? Quanto siamo disposti ad accettare, per mantenere un quieto vivere?
Yoshida Shuici non ci dà delle risposte, lascia solo delle sensazioni, che restano addosso anche giorni dopo aver terminato la lettura. A me è bastato così.
Nonostante questo libro venga presentato come un noir o un thriller, credo che sia più appropriato definirlo un romanzo introspettivo/psicologico. L’intento non è tanto quello di scoprire il colpevole delle aggressioni – la cui identità, tra l’altro, è facile immaginare già a metà lettura – quanto addentrarsi nelle menti di questi cinque giovani, spenti in una Tokyo che dà loro poche prospettive di crescita.
Lo stile dell’autore è essenziale nella prosa e minuzioso nelle descrizioni, si tratta di un libro breve, di sole 250 pagine, che è facile divorare.
La fine della lettura ci lascia in preda alla confusione, ed è impossibile non chiedersi: conosciamo davvero le persone intorno a noi? Quanto siamo disposti ad accettare, per mantenere un quieto vivere?
Yoshida Shuici non ci dà delle risposte, lascia solo delle sensazioni, che restano addosso anche giorni dopo aver terminato la lettura. A me è bastato così.
crostata's review against another edition
3.0
Libro piacevole, ma che mi aspettavo completamente diverso: dalla trama in terza di copertina, infatti, pensavo che sarebbe stato un thriller. Invece, già la suddivisione del libro in 5 capitoli, ognuno dal punto di vista di uno dei protagonisti, mi ha fatto capire che non sarebbe stato così.
È un buon romanzo da leggere sotto l'ombrellone, leggero ma che cerca in alcuni punti di scavare più a fondo nella psiche dei personaggi. Scorre bene, si finisce in poco tempo.
È un buon romanzo da leggere sotto l'ombrellone, leggero ma che cerca in alcuni punti di scavare più a fondo nella psiche dei personaggi. Scorre bene, si finisce in poco tempo.
_carlibri_'s review
2.0
5 capitoli per 5 personaggi.
Un aggressore in circolazione.
Il misterioso appartamento accanto.
E poi?
Sì, è interessante l'idea pirandelliana della maschera che indossiamo, per cui nessuno ci conosce davvero né noi conosciamo gli altri.
Però qui poco sviluppata, come anche il resto degli elementi sopracitati.
Inoltre, mi aspettavo un po' di suspense, dato che questo testo è stato definito thriller.
E invece no.
Un aggressore in circolazione.
Il misterioso appartamento accanto.
E poi?
Sì, è interessante l'idea pirandelliana della maschera che indossiamo, per cui nessuno ci conosce davvero né noi conosciamo gli altri.
Però qui poco sviluppata, come anche il resto degli elementi sopracitati.
Inoltre, mi aspettavo un po' di suspense, dato che questo testo è stato definito thriller.
E invece no.
cookeebookee's review against another edition
2.0
I was super excited to read Parade since it was the first book I picked up at a new library in my neighborhood. I typically research stuff before I read, watch or listen to something because I'm easily disturbed due to anxiety. At first the novel started great in my opinion, a few weird parts but I was really getting into it. Then in the third chapter my excitement waned, especially after a little tidbit I learned about one of the female characters hobbies. But I looked past it. From then on, however, it got worse for me. I felt like some aspects of the novel were so perfect, and each character was fleshed out even though they weren't particularly enjoyable people. Yet at the end, I was left with a pit in my stomach. I guess that's the feeling should be expected but I was just like "wow." Well, if your taste is a book that has a shock at the end, that's not necessarily a huge one but one that basically is thrown together in the last 15 pages, then you'll love the novel and feel satisfied. But for me, it's just not my style, and unfortunately that's how much of the entertainment business is nowadays.
centannidiletture's review
4.0
Non so dire perché mi è piaciuto, ma mi è piaciuto. Chi lo ha letto può capirmi.
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
4.0
Reminiscent of Ryu
If you're looking for a unique and unpredictable read, Parade is the book for you.
Although the plot seems to jump around quite a bit, it adds to the overall excitement and mystery of the book.
While the themes can be somewhat nonsensical at times, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the writing style, which reminded me of the great [a:Ryū Murakami|8881|Ryū Murakami|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1200406808p2/8881.jpg] (one of my top 5 favorite authors).
In addition to the engaging writing, I also found the book to be surprisingly sexy and the themes to be very Ryu-inspired. This made for an intriguing and captivating read that I couldn't put down.
While it may not be for everyone, I highly recommend giving Parade a chance and exploring more of Yoshida's writing. I for one, look forward to reading more of his books.
4.0/5
If you're looking for a unique and unpredictable read, Parade is the book for you.
Although the plot seems to jump around quite a bit, it adds to the overall excitement and mystery of the book.
While the themes can be somewhat nonsensical at times, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the writing style, which reminded me of the great [a:Ryū Murakami|8881|Ryū Murakami|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1200406808p2/8881.jpg] (one of my top 5 favorite authors).
In addition to the engaging writing, I also found the book to be surprisingly sexy and the themes to be very Ryu-inspired. This made for an intriguing and captivating read that I couldn't put down.
While it may not be for everyone, I highly recommend giving Parade a chance and exploring more of Yoshida's writing. I for one, look forward to reading more of his books.
4.0/5