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grlmomo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
this was so hard to get through :( I had higher expectations but everyone in this book was actually very annoying and weird. I don’t really understand the point of this book but maybe i’m just not the right target audience for this type of book.
ronjaliest2004's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bakaburg's review
Terrible.
Why this?: I'm not sure if I can blame the translation on how much I hated this one. While this edition had some odd issues (some words seemed to be replaced with others, and there were odd spacing/formatting issues,) the work itself just wasn't good. As in, there wasn't anything of value being said.
A lot of the time there were huge blocks of text that made me feel like the narrator was just meandering around instead of telling an actual story. None of the characters seemed to have much depth to them. Tsugumi, is the most unlikeable character in the world. The dialogue is probably worse than something a 12 year old on Neopets roleplay may think up; it felt incredibly dated with no personality to it. Honestly I forgot they weren't in their fifties or something sometimes.
Tsugumi was also infamously mean but no one called her on it despite this? Which was frustrating, I know her life sucked but there wasn't anything likable about her. The only dynamic I enjoyed was Maria and her parents. I think there is actually a very interesting story that could have happened there that revolved around them adjusting to being a full family finally instead of just...the mistress and her daughter.
Anyway, maybe there was something lost in translation but I think I'm over attempting Banana Yoshimoto books unless someone suggests them to me, lol, clearly she just isn't someone whose work translates well. That or I'll wait for a publisher/translator I'm familiar with to revisit her work.
Why this?: I'm not sure if I can blame the translation on how much I hated this one. While this edition had some odd issues (some words seemed to be replaced with others, and there were odd spacing/formatting issues,) the work itself just wasn't good. As in, there wasn't anything of value being said.
A lot of the time there were huge blocks of text that made me feel like the narrator was just meandering around instead of telling an actual story. None of the characters seemed to have much depth to them. Tsugumi, is the most unlikeable character in the world. The dialogue is probably worse than something a 12 year old on Neopets roleplay may think up; it felt incredibly dated with no personality to it. Honestly I forgot they weren't in their fifties or something sometimes.
Tsugumi was also infamously mean but no one called her on it despite this? Which was frustrating, I know her life sucked but there wasn't anything likable about her. The only dynamic I enjoyed was Maria and her parents. I think there is actually a very interesting story that could have happened there that revolved around them adjusting to being a full family finally instead of just...the mistress and her daughter.
Anyway, maybe there was something lost in translation but I think I'm over attempting Banana Yoshimoto books unless someone suggests them to me, lol, clearly she just isn't someone whose work translates well. That or I'll wait for a publisher/translator I'm familiar with to revisit her work.
pasarmalam's review against another edition
3.0
The melancholic tones in this one is soooo heavy. For some reasons make me hate the fact that i've never been to see the ocean myselfㅠㅠ Tsugumi, is, in fact a really interesting character. I just (sometimes) don't like the translation of her dialogues, feels like the translator tried too hard and it turned out as unnatural and a bit unsettling. I'll make sure to re-read this book in Japanese when i have the chance! Other than that, the story moves so slowly it could bore you at some point. I think this book is pretty weak compared to other works of Banana Yoshimoto. Although still an enjoyable read to kill your free time.
aoiicore's review
4.0
"This world of ours is piled high with farewells and goodbyes of so many different kinds, like the evening sky renewing itself again and again from one instant to the next—and I didn't want to forget a single one."
A melancholy nostalgia read.
A melancholy nostalgia read.
hana_ko's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
myordinaries's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.75
hallncandenza's review
4.0
Comme dans le recueil de nouvelles Kitchen, Yoshimoto fait preuve d'une très grande sensibilité lorsque l'on parle des émotions humaines, du temps qui passe, de ce que l'on perd au fil de la vie et de la valeur de celle-ci.
kayalilyhayes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5