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fluture's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book basically shows us that everyone–no matter from what background you came from–has the right to choose whether you will follow an advice or to do the opposite, to choose a new path or stay in your path, to let go or not to let go, and it's also your choice to regret or not to regret the decisions that you have made. Life is basically a table full of platters with various kind of dishes that are free for you to take, to taste, or to keep. We all have the chance to create a better future for ourselves, no matter how cruel the past was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Suicide, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Death, and Chronic illness
Minor: Infidelity, Child abuse, and Car accident
bexi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
It was really clever how the author weaved all of the storylines together. You definitely have to pay attention while reading this book. I think I would've enjoyed it more if I wasn't in the middle of a reading slump.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Suicide, Sexism, Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
Minor: Self harm, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Blood
isarza's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.0
I was expecting a little more. I like how everything seems to be connected and I usually enjoy magical realism but the last story was a little too long and I got bored. The end was a little underwhelming.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, and Suicide
kakigori's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
interesting plot and it's multi pov!
did not expect to learn some bits of econ knowledge lmao
did not expect to learn some bits of econ knowledge lmao
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Misogyny, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really liked the mystery surrounding the Namiya General Store, I think it is a very interesting premise. I was quite intrigued by this "magical" aspect of the story.
After the first introductory section, the book divides into separate vignettes, that are still skillfully inteconnected but are told from different point of views. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of short stories collections, in general I struggle to appreciate them as much as a novel. In this case, I also had a bit of an up-and-down reading experience, with certain sections that I liked more and other sections that dragged a bit for me and that I found less enjoyable. I still appreciated the ending, and I found it a good way of wrapping up the story.
Also I think that I started reading expecting a very lighthearted and magical story and while it was a magical and surreal story, it dealt with quite a lot of very heavy topics and I'm not so sure if all of them (and the characters involved) were handled equally well.
Lastly, I have to mention a brief passage that left a bad taste in my mouth. I do not know how the original Japanese sentence was or how the English translation adapted it, but in my translation there was a scene in which a man (maybe in his 20s?) is reflecting about a young girl and he thinks something along the lines of "There was a completely unusual sensuality for a little girl, and he would have liked to find a way to make her turn around towards him". All that I could think was why, why do you have to inlcude such a comment, was it really necessary? I really did not like it.
After the first introductory section, the book divides into separate vignettes, that are still skillfully inteconnected but are told from different point of views. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of short stories collections, in general I struggle to appreciate them as much as a novel. In this case, I also had a bit of an up-and-down reading experience, with certain sections that I liked more and other sections that dragged a bit for me and that I found less enjoyable. I still appreciated the ending, and I found it a good way of wrapping up the story.
Also I think that I started reading expecting a very lighthearted and magical story and while it was a magical and surreal story, it dealt with quite a lot of very heavy topics and I'm not so sure if all of them (and the characters involved) were handled equally well.
Lastly, I have to mention a brief passage that left a bad taste in my mouth. I do not know how the original Japanese sentence was or how the English translation adapted it, but in my translation there was a scene in which a man (maybe in his 20s?) is reflecting about a young girl and he thinks something along the lines of "There was a completely unusual sensuality for a little girl, and he would have liked to find a way to make her turn around towards him". All that I could think was why, why do you have to inlcude such a comment, was it really necessary? I really did not like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Car accident, Cancer, Self harm, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion, Infidelity, Fatphobia, War, Infertility, and Classism
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