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zoesbookshelf_'s review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Odd & meandering story. Stream of consciousness style that’s not for everyone. Amusing & thought-provoking ideas on language — but disappointingly transphobic. Strongly mixed feelings — I want to love it but perhaps falls short of its potential.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Deportation
sisforsony's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Transphobia, and Colonisation
acatastrophe's review against another edition
(from my personal reading journal, Dec. 25, 2023)
A fantastical view of the world where dead nations vanish from memory. Comes highly recommended, and yet is SO offensive. There's a horrible pastiche of a trans woman and a Greenlandic Inuit who's always called "eskimo"--this is an in-character choice, but I can't help but think Tawada can't make that call. Besides that, it's a plodding, pointless affair. Good riddance.
A fantastical view of the world where dead nations vanish from memory. Comes highly recommended, and yet is SO offensive. There's a horrible pastiche of a trans woman and a Greenlandic Inuit who's always called "eskimo"--this is an in-character choice, but I can't help but think Tawada can't make that call. Besides that, it's a plodding, pointless affair. Good riddance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
evehowell's review against another edition
although i really loved the concept of this book, i found it near impossible to engage with the plot or get into the flow of reading it. i also found the choice to have a trans character but misgender them almost all the time kind of bizarre, or perhaps just a mistranslation of intentions. maybe one day ill give it another chance!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
jessmccole's review against another edition
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Transphobia
hevlav's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Interesting concept, not sure if it felt like a complete story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Transphobia
windyyy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
melvalan's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Gaslighting
serendipitous_mess's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
strange, but in an interesting way. some parts were written profoundly well, and i loved how the author wrote as if they had never interacted with society in any way. but some parts were frustratingly clunky, and felt unfinished. i got the symbolism of things like Knut pushing his mother away and avoiding her, but he also had such weak arguments for it.
the misgendering of the trans character brought the book from a 4-star to a 3.5
the misgendering of the trans character brought the book from a 4-star to a 3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Transphobia
lexiiie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Transphobia