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abbyyy03's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book was written well but not something I would typically go for. Very slow, not much action. There weren’t many huge plot points that kept me on the edge of my seat and I had to read the last page to keep me motivation read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Police brutality, Dementia, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Deportation
erikwmj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent
kyraalaya's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One word to start with, Wow.
I finished this just before bed and I regret that so much because now theres an emptiness in my heart thats eating me up. What this book reminds me of the most is how we are ‘alive’ because we put meaning to the word ‘living.’ How everything we ‘value’ are things we have attached ‘meaning’ too. How we name things to remind ourselves of their purpose and of their existence. So when that disappears, it’s only a matter of time when all life and activity and object ceases to mean anything at all.
I am honestly speechless after that ending, my copy left 5 blank pages at the end of the novel and the deeper symbolism behind that choice made me feel like air was being knocked out of my chest. I know the ending is probably predictable to some people, but just like the people of the Island- I too refused to think of the possibility of them (as people) completely disappearing- thinking we were gonna get a conquest to bring back things that have disappeared, or that she’d remember and survive it. I realise now I was just being optimistic. This book has left me with a million unanswered questions, and I wonder if all of those answers are inside me- or if they exist at all.
P.s, yes I’m writing all this to avoid crying and falling into a deep existential crisis at 1 am in the morning. I can feel my brain numbing out its thoughts so I can ATTEMPT to sleep after such a story. In conclusion, I really recommend this book, and will be reading more of Yoko Ogawa’s books.
I finished this just before bed and I regret that so much because now theres an emptiness in my heart thats eating me up. What this book reminds me of the most is how we are ‘alive’ because we put meaning to the word ‘living.’ How everything we ‘value’ are things we have attached ‘meaning’ too. How we name things to remind ourselves of their purpose and of their existence. So when that disappears, it’s only a matter of time when all life and activity and object ceases to mean anything at all.
I am honestly speechless after that ending, my copy left 5 blank pages at the end of the novel and the deeper symbolism behind that choice made me feel like air was being knocked out of my chest. I know the ending is probably predictable to some people, but just like the people of the Island- I too refused to think of the possibility of them (as people) completely disappearing- thinking we were gonna get a conquest to bring back things that have disappeared, or that she’d remember and survive it. I realise now I was just being optimistic. This book has left me with a million unanswered questions, and I wonder if all of those answers are inside me- or if they exist at all.
P.s, yes I’m writing all this to avoid crying and falling into a deep existential crisis at 1 am in the morning. I can feel my brain numbing out its thoughts so I can ATTEMPT to sleep after such a story. In conclusion, I really recommend this book, and will be reading more of Yoko Ogawa’s books.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
literary_liv's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Xenophobia, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
sadhbhprice's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
mads_jpg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A chilling story, but one that still has this warmth that made me so invested in these unnamed characters.
The disappearances reminded me of my fears from the climate crisis. We're constantly losing endangered species and seeing alarmist articles about how we might lose foods like coffee or chocolate. It feels like the earth is constantly running out of things. Like the Florence Welch lyric "and what if one day there is no such thing as snow".
But that's just one interpretation of many you could have with this book. Its themes of loss, control, agency, and more are very impactful, and I think I'll remember this book for a long time.
The disappearances reminded me of my fears from the climate crisis. We're constantly losing endangered species and seeing alarmist articles about how we might lose foods like coffee or chocolate. It feels like the earth is constantly running out of things. Like the Florence Welch lyric "and what if one day there is no such thing as snow".
But that's just one interpretation of many you could have with this book. Its themes of loss, control, agency, and more are very impactful, and I think I'll remember this book for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation
Minor: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Suicide
fkshg8465's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Admittedly, it’s a little too neatly written, but I loved every word of this book. The parallel stories, the ending, the reflection of our actual lives today, and the ever present Japanese them of ephemera. I’ll be thinking about this one a long time, which is a little ironic given its subject matter 😂 Would love to see this made into a movie. Since it seems a lot of these dystopian settings are on isolated islands, Hollywood cops probably reuse a set from a previous dystopian movie set on an island 🤣
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Infidelity, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
rosie_valadez's review against another edition
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
moxiereads's review against another edition
dark
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, and Grief
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
‘And no matter how wonderful the memory, it vanishes if you leave it alone, if no one pays attention to it. They leave no trace, no evidence that they ever existed.’
- R
Alright it would be a lie to say that either this book or the one I previously read didn't put me into a reading slump. Mainly 'cause both were slow-paced and I really can't stand slow-paced books unless I'm really really interested or investigated into the story and don't mind if it's more detailed and slower. But that rarely the case and this book didn't even have a plot, it had more vibes than anything as the characters were quite flat too.
The book was more based on meaning than anything else. So if you don't understand the meaning this book might be boring. I did understand it, but as I said the slow-pacing got on my nerves. Especially as I already understood the meaning before the story even ended in a way most would say brutal or traumatising. If you are a slow thinker or in general never was thinking a lot of existence and memory than a slow-pace might be actually good, but for me it was exhausting as I already understood the message after like 10 chapters especially as it had a reference I knew very well (even though I'm not sure if that was done on purpose, but it reminded me of it A LOT).
The reference or at least what the book reminds me of is actually national socialism. Why? First of all, we have a (police) force which tries at first in soft ways to get people to do what they want (just like the political party did) and got more and more brutal and extreme over time.
Here are a couple of examples from the book:
1. The people in the street watched tensely, some ducking into nearby alleys, and they all seemed to hope that the scene unfolding before them would be over before they themselves were pulled into it. (also acting like they saw nothing, too afraid the same happens to them)
2. “And no footsteps, or running water for the toilet.” (for those who don't know: When people hid they usually didn't ran the toilet water as it made sounds that would attract attention)
3. “But today was different somehow. They took four people at once from the center of town, in broad daylight. As far as I know, they’ve generally acted at night, on the edge of town, taking just one member of a family.” (getting more brutal over time)
4. “A safe house,”
5. The methods used by the Memory Police were becoming more and more brutal. No longer were there advance warnings of their visits. Everything happened by surprise, and they now carried heavy battering rams capable of breaking down any door. They invaded houses in search of any space where someone could be hidden—storage rooms, under beds, in the back of closets. If there was enough space for one human body, it was unlikely to escape their attention. They dragged out anyone they found, along with those who had hidden them, and loaded them all in the covered trucks.
There were lots of other things but I don't want to spoiler anything, but it remembers me a lot of national socialism and actually is the main reason I gave this book 3 stars (and not less), as I'm fascinated from fascism and national socialism. Truly sad and perhaps the reason why people say that this book is disturbing or traumatising. Since the whole police force and brutality is a major plot thing I would suggest anyone who doesn't like this or is triggered by this to not read this book.
Another reason I gave this book 3 stars even though I had a hard time reading sometimes (due to slow pace + being in a reading slump, but I think it's rather the previous book than this one that caused it); Is that I liked the message behind this book. If you didn't understand it fully or not at all I recommend to you (a lot actually) that you re-read the book someday as the message is very powerful. My quote above also helps to get the idea of what the book is trying to tell us (but not only that of course).
Very interesting message this book has and even though there is no plot or character based story the message is quite powerful and in my opinion I even think one can interpret it in many different ways and not just one which makes the message even more beautiful.
16. July 2024
- R
Alright it would be a lie to say that either this book or the one I previously read didn't put me into a reading slump. Mainly 'cause both were slow-paced and I really can't stand slow-paced books unless I'm really really interested or investigated into the story and don't mind if it's more detailed and slower. But that rarely the case and this book didn't even have a plot, it had more vibes than anything as the characters were quite flat too.
The book was more based on meaning than anything else. So if you don't understand the meaning this book might be boring. I did understand it, but as I said the slow-pacing got on my nerves. Especially as I already understood the meaning before the story even ended in a way most would say brutal or traumatising. If you are a slow thinker or in general never was thinking a lot of existence and memory than a slow-pace might be actually good, but for me it was exhausting as I already understood the message after like 10 chapters especially as it had a reference I knew very well (even though I'm not sure if that was done on purpose, but it reminded me of it A LOT).
The reference or at least what the book reminds me of is actually national socialism. Why? First of all, we have a (police) force which tries at first in soft ways to get people to do what they want (just like the political party did) and got more and more brutal and extreme over time.
Here are a couple of examples from the book:
1. The people in the street watched tensely, some ducking into nearby alleys, and they all seemed to hope that the scene unfolding before them would be over before they themselves were pulled into it. (also acting like they saw nothing, too afraid the same happens to them)
2. “And no footsteps, or running water for the toilet.” (for those who don't know: When people hid they usually didn't ran the toilet water as it made sounds that would attract attention)
3. “But today was different somehow. They took four people at once from the center of town, in broad daylight. As far as I know, they’ve generally acted at night, on the edge of town, taking just one member of a family.” (getting more brutal over time)
4. “A safe house,”
5. The methods used by the Memory Police were becoming more and more brutal. No longer were there advance warnings of their visits. Everything happened by surprise, and they now carried heavy battering rams capable of breaking down any door. They invaded houses in search of any space where someone could be hidden—storage rooms, under beds, in the back of closets. If there was enough space for one human body, it was unlikely to escape their attention. They dragged out anyone they found, along with those who had hidden them, and loaded them all in the covered trucks.
There were lots of other things but I don't want to spoiler anything, but it remembers me a lot of national socialism and actually is the main reason I gave this book 3 stars (and not less), as I'm fascinated from fascism and national socialism. Truly sad and perhaps the reason why people say that this book is disturbing or traumatising. Since the whole police force and brutality is a major plot thing I would suggest anyone who doesn't like this or is triggered by this to not read this book.
Another reason I gave this book 3 stars even though I had a hard time reading sometimes (due to slow pace + being in a reading slump, but I think it's rather the previous book than this one that caused it); Is that I liked the message behind this book. If you didn't understand it fully or not at all I recommend to you (a lot actually) that you re-read the book someday as the message is very powerful. My quote above also helps to get the idea of what the book is trying to tell us (but not only that of course).
Very interesting message this book has and even though there is no plot or character based story the message is quite powerful and in my opinion I even think one can interpret it in many different ways and not just one which makes the message even more beautiful.
16. July 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Police brutality, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, and Pregnancy