autumnk3lly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Abortion, and Sexual assault
Minor: Dysphoria and Body shaming
tessjx's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Slight glorification of suicide aside, this is a fantastic book. Characters are so compelling and rich, and I really felt like I was learning and growing them. I would recommend it to anyone
TW: rape, suicide, bullying
TW: rape, suicide, bullying
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Deadnaming, Physical abuse, Bullying, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Rape, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Pregnancy
Minor: Transphobia, Cancer, and Adult/minor relationship
my_bibliotheca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
4.75
Hidup tak pernah seberat yg dialami Miwako Sumida. Jadi, ketika semua rahasianya ia ceritakan, hampir tak bisa dibayangkan betapa kuatnya Miwako menghadapi semua tanpa mengatakannya kepada siapapun sampai akhir hidupnya.
Dari penampilannya yg kaku dan sikapnya yg dingin, pembaca pasti sudah menebak-nebak ada yg keliru dg kehidupannya. Dan semua itu terjawab di akhir cerita, kenapa ia selalu berusaha menyembunyikan setiap luka dan takut membangun hubungan dg Ryusei.
Di prolog, kita sudah dipancing dg percapakan Ryusei dan Chie mengenai dugaan tenpat bunuh dirinya Miwako. Misteri buku ini dibangun dg rapi dan berhasil membuat pembaca penasaran. Potongan-potongan clue dikumpulkan dg menekuri kisah dr ketiga sudut pandang karakter yg dekat dg Miwako, yaitu Ryusei, Chie, dan Fumi. Tidak seperti di buku pertamanya (Rainbirds), Clarissa Goenawan menutup ending secara pasti dr pengakuan Miwako sendiri. Jadi, pertanyaan-pertanyaan dan segala sesuatu yg mengganjal sebelumnya terjawab sudah di sini. Tuntas!
Kejutan-kejutan di akhir cerita (POV Fumi) dan beberapa yg sudah dipaparkan sedikit melalui POV Ryusei dan Chie terasa sangat memuaskan rasa penasaran dan masuk akal mengingat sikap Miwako yg sebegitu dinginnya.
Selain menyoroti tentang kisah di balik sosok Miwako Sumida dan karakter lainnya, buku ini jg menyoroti bagaimana cara berdamai dg kematian orang yg disayangi. Cara yg ditempuh Ryusei dan Chie untuk mengikhlaskan kepergian Miwako hampir sama seperti di buku Rainbirds, yakni dg mengunjungi desa terakhir yg ditinggali oleh Miwako untuk menekuri kegiatan selama hidupnya. Sampai akhirnya Ryusei mampu menerima segala kenyataan yg ada dan berdamai dengannya.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Death of parent, and Suicide
Moderate: Rape
areen's review
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual assault, Bullying, Death of parent, and Rape
Minor: Abortion
lyd41's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed. I was apprehensive at first about the whole story supposedly centering around finding the 'Why' to Miwako's suicide. Once I started reading, though, I was relieved. This was nothing like thirteen reasons why, no romanticization. (It didn't even focus that much on finding out why.) It was more like a character study, a psychological analyzation of how we deal with trauma, and the baggage that we all carry. The story was told in three separate parts, from each protagonist's POV. I enjoyed seeing three different perspectives of relation to Miwako. The characters are what sold me on this book, they're all very well written. The writing is beautiful: relflective prose, with 2/3 parts being in third pov. My critiques are that the three parts attempted to connect an overarching storyline, creating much suspense and build up, but it failed toward the end. The ending rushed and left me wanting more closure and explanation.
Even though I would have enjoyed a traditional book where the story was told from Miwako's point of view, I think I prefer how this author layed it out, as it created much more curiosity and suspense.
Notes to keep in mind when looking to read this book:
This book is set in Japan and includes all traditional aspects of Japanese etiquette and culture. It may be confusing for some who don't know much of the social culture.
This book is angsty. Very Angsty. Top tier angst. Very possibly triggering things. Check content warnings.
Even though I would have enjoyed a traditional book where the story was told from Miwako's point of view, I think I prefer how this author layed it out, as it created much more curiosity and suspense.
Notes to keep in mind when looking to read this book:
This book is set in Japan and includes all traditional aspects of Japanese etiquette and culture. It may be confusing for some who don't know much of the social culture.
This book is angsty. Very Angsty. Top tier angst. Very possibly triggering things. Check content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Deadnaming, Abortion, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Cancer, Rape, Fatphobia, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Minor: Outing, Adult/minor relationship, Dysphoria, and Alcohol
slugaura's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Abortion, Grief, Rape, Physical abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, and Transphobia
tessdaisy's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautifully written, with expertly crafted characters. Threw me right into Miwako Sumida’s life in late 80s Tokyo. I connected to Ryusei, Chie, Miwako and most importantly, Fumi in a way that felt like they were real. I also appreciated how it was a book about a suicide, but it wasn’t at all graphic or triggering. A new favourite of mine for sure.
Spoiler
The last few pages are written so beautifully, and it can be interpreted that it’s Fumi feeling completely at peace as being a woman, ending her battle with her gender identity and passing the curse to the real firstborn som, and also the end of Ryusei’s battle with grief, finally appreciating one last visit from Miwako before she goes onto another life
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Suicide, and Death
Minor: Cancer, Pregnancy, Abortion, and Death of parent
The book is about a suicide and how it affects the people surrounding the deceased, but the way in which Miwako kills herself is never went into excruciating detail on.freddybingsu's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual assault, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent and Car accident
roza97's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I saw someone reading this along with A little life..and it seemed if I liked that then I'll like this too..so I picked it up thinking if i like the first page I'll continue..if not then nope.
I was surprised how easy to read this was!! Given the dark or sad topics the book deals with.. it's odd to find it easy to read in between finals. However it worked as a little break and a relaxing read at the end.
Apart from the characters..what caught me is the twists? I don't know how to feel about them..when the twists came it was like why didn't I see it coming for how obvious it was..but that was the point of it i reckon.
Certain aspects of this book reminded me of Norwegian Wood..to such extent that it was as if I was reading about Toru's yearning for Naoko all over again.
It felt good to see the ending being a hopeful one.
I was surprised how easy to read this was!! Given the dark or sad topics the book deals with.. it's odd to find it easy to read in between finals. However it worked as a little break and a relaxing read at the end.
Apart from the characters..what caught me is the twists? I don't know how to feel about them..when the twists came it was like why didn't I see it coming for how obvious it was..but that was the point of it i reckon.
Certain aspects of this book reminded me of Norwegian Wood..to such extent that it was as if I was reading about Toru's yearning for Naoko all over again.
It felt good to see the ending being a hopeful one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Suicide
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