Reviews

Hm idk. I expected more action/dystopia, I think. It‘s compared to 1984, but to me it belongs to a completely different genre (more magical realism imo).

I didn‘t like that no explanations were given (

why is this happening, how do tactile things disappear in the memories of people, why is there no resistance like people stand up lol

I also didn‘t like the ending, I get that it is probably super well thought out and I should be meditating about loss and memory and whatnot, but to me, it just felt bland. I think it‘s beautifully written and an interesting concept, but not my fave.

kimochiwarui's review against another edition

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4.0

I am really conflicted about what my final rating on this book should be. It was a really easy read and an incredibly interesting world. This doesn't happen often, but the death of the old man really got to me. I loved him as a character.

The ending? I have no idea what happened. But, have I ever read a Japanese novel where I understood the ending? I don't think so...

emilycrossett's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

4 ⭐️ Who are you without your memories? I thought this was going to be more action-packed/sci-fi/stick it to the dystopian government. But really it was about getting caught in the undertow of your entire world being unraveled against your will. I’ve dug my heels in, dreading the steady march of time as Alzheimer’s trods through generation after generation in my family until I have to face it. Ogawa does a beautiful job of taking raw reality and painting it as fantastical.

mrjv's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

sgtbuckaroo's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

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