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theramblingreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The writing of this book itself is objectively great. However, the descriptions of violent bullying were so well written that they shook me. I couldn't finish this book for a while after one scene
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
tangerinejellies's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Not completely sure how to feel about this book, it was a very heavy read and some of the characters’ outlooks on the world were quite unsettling, though not impossible to understand. They’re kids who still have a lot of maturing to do, and don’t necessarily understand the world around them that well yet, so I can see how they’d think like that, which all the more adds to the sort of pain I felt reading this, witnessing the hardship of navigating the dark parts of the world and trauma and violence and things like that at such a young age. Rough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide
frankieclc's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide
_misha_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Vomit
carojust's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a triggering story. It's unrelenting in its descriptions of bullying. As with all her novels, Mieko Kawakami writes so beautifully about tragedy and loneliness, and our humanity that's so capable of both destruction and healing. This is her most depressing pair of characters yet, two brave outcasts, not yet high schoolers.
Our narrator is a young boy who has a lazy eye, the victim of intense bullying and physical violence from the popular students. His fellow student Kojima reaches out to him one day through a letter, and she is revealed to be a similar victim of bullying, and is described to be unkempt and unwashed. Their friendship grows through sweet and simple letters, and soon conversations outside of school. In contrast, we experience their helplessness, as they are shells of themselves at school, bracing for the beatings each day.
There is a conversation with one of the bullies, who proves to be a complete nihilist. He symbolizes the cold, emotionless, male antagonist who's all too familiar in our lives. It's every man for himself. Empathy is weakness. Kill or be killed.
I can't praise enough Mieko's artistry, and her way of pulling us through emotions, and the confusion her characters feel. She is THE master of female characters, as always. I especially loved Kojima and her strength, her frailty, her intelligence, her heart. I wanted to save her, though she was saving herself.
You'll appreciate this book if you like dark, intricate writing and characters, coming-of-age stories, and have been in an isolated period of your life.
Our narrator is a young boy who has a lazy eye, the victim of intense bullying and physical violence from the popular students. His fellow student Kojima reaches out to him one day through a letter, and she is revealed to be a similar victim of bullying, and is described to be unkempt and unwashed. Their friendship grows through sweet and simple letters, and soon conversations outside of school. In contrast, we experience their helplessness, as they are shells of themselves at school, bracing for the beatings each day.
There is a conversation with one of the bullies, who proves to be a complete nihilist. He symbolizes the cold, emotionless, male antagonist who's all too familiar in our lives. It's every man for himself. Empathy is weakness. Kill or be killed.
I can't praise enough Mieko's artistry, and her way of pulling us through emotions, and the confusion her characters feel. She is THE master of female characters, as always. I especially loved Kojima and her strength, her frailty, her intelligence, her heart. I wanted to save her, though she was saving herself.
You'll appreciate this book if you like dark, intricate writing and characters, coming-of-age stories, and have been in an isolated period of your life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
plumblossom_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, and Blood
nlh_tnr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Self harm, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
carinaisabelle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This was a painful read. The violence against our main character, a 14 year ols boy who we never learn the name of - he could be anyone. The bullies are too good at hiding their violence. The violence made me sick to my stomach. I was angry and I cried. Knowing that this is the reality of many people.
When we first meet the 14 year old boy, he is beeing beaten up and bullie for his lazy eye. And Kawakami, through her narrator let's us know that this is a normal occurrence for him.
In the novel we also meet Kojima, a girl in the same class as our main character who is also bein bullied. She reaches out to the MC, and at first it feels like our MC finally get a friend. One that truly understands him and supporst him. But alas, it was not meant to be.
When we first meet the 14 year old boy, he is beeing beaten up and bullie for his lazy eye. And Kawakami, through her narrator let's us know that this is a normal occurrence for him.
In the novel we also meet Kojima, a girl in the same class as our main character who is also bein bullied. She reaches out to the MC, and at first it feels like our MC finally get a friend. One that truly understands him and supporst him. But alas, it was not meant to be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder
yu_1hng's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
There's some pretty messed up shit in this book and there's no good guy wins and the bad guys get what they deserve. Its cuz its not that kind of a story.
The two protagonists try to cope their bullying with honestly dysfunctional mindset. I don't agree with Kojima's optimisim in maybe the bullying means sth so they must endure it. However I do like how two opposite takes on life and it's meaning is presented.
Additionally I think it highlights the severe bullying culture in school and how absent parents, shame culture and also the law allows t e increse in frequency and severity of such occurrences .
I'd say when delving into this book being aware of our pre conceived ideas on how such stories should be handled and how a character should be reacting.
The two protagonists try to cope their bullying with honestly dysfunctional mindset. I don't agree with Kojima's optimisim in maybe the bullying means sth so they must endure it. However I do like how two opposite takes on life and it's meaning is presented.
Additionally I think it highlights the severe bullying culture in school and how absent parents, shame culture and also the law allows t e increse in frequency and severity of such occurrences .
I'd say when delving into this book being aware of our pre conceived ideas on how such stories should be handled and how a character should be reacting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
ladysarahl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Suicide