bcgg's review against another edition
4.0
A challenging book. Very well written. But, be forewarned: Suicide is a constant theme and discussion in this novel. Graphic and horrific violence. I found that very distressing but I read through to the end.
Really didn't like the patronizing husband.
Really didn't like the patronizing husband.
rmok's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
untitledlullaby's review against another edition
3.0
A pretty cover for a book that was super hard to read. So many long explanations and Naos story was way better than Ruth’s. Just didn’t enjoy it
payshens117's review against another edition
5.0
*4.5
absolutely intelligent, riveting, and impactful. nao is such a tender protagonist, she feels like a friend
absolutely intelligent, riveting, and impactful. nao is such a tender protagonist, she feels like a friend
aliencatl0rd's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the diary. The philosophical questions this young girl raises, the emotionality of it, and the path her life took were all spectacular. I highly recommend it.
Unfortunately, Ruth. Annoyed. The. Piss. Out. Of. Me.
She is clearly a highly educated and experienced person, but how Ozeki wrote herself in this novel blows my mind. Instead of a positive sense of being emotional, sensitive, and curious, I felt that she was naive and lacking self control. A lot of her problems throughout the book were of her own doing—such as frequently taking offense to her husband's factual way of communicating (can't she understand him after all this time?), and somehow believing that the diary was taking place in the present and freaking out when she realized it was probably ten years old. Sixteen-year-old Nao had a better sense of how to communicate and understand people, even after avoiding some serious conversations for a long time!
Although the closing of the book brings around a very interesting topic about reality and the remaining question of, "Who wrote who into existence?" I was so tired of Ruth being whiny that I really wished the book ended with the completion of the diary. I feel distraught because Nao's diary was incredibly powerful but Ruth squandered it with her attitude. I sincerely hope that if Ozeki ever writes her autobiography that she frequently mentioned Ruth struggling with in the novel, that she doesn't present herself like this. :/
Unfortunately, Ruth. Annoyed. The. Piss. Out. Of. Me.
She is clearly a highly educated and experienced person, but how Ozeki wrote herself in this novel blows my mind. Instead of a positive sense of being emotional, sensitive, and curious, I felt that she was naive and lacking self control. A lot of her problems throughout the book were of her own doing—such as frequently taking offense to her husband's factual way of communicating (can't she understand him after all this time?), and somehow believing that the diary was taking place in the present and freaking out when she realized it was probably ten years old. Sixteen-year-old Nao had a better sense of how to communicate and understand people, even after avoiding some serious conversations for a long time!
Although the closing of the book brings around a very interesting topic about reality and the remaining question of, "Who wrote who into existence?" I was so tired of Ruth being whiny that I really wished the book ended with the completion of the diary. I feel distraught because Nao's diary was incredibly powerful but Ruth squandered it with her attitude. I sincerely hope that if Ozeki ever writes her autobiography that she frequently mentioned Ruth struggling with in the novel, that she doesn't present herself like this. :/
duriangrey's review against another edition
4.0
Slow at the beginning but gets better and better as you go. It deals with heavy themes of suicide and abuse, so a warning on that, and can also get creepy when you're reading it at night. As trippy as it can be, at many moments it is very thoughtful, often poetic and soothing. The appendix was the first explanation of schrödinger's cat that has helped me to understand (at last) a bit of the experiment's significance. i loved the interplay of the characters' different cultural and educational backgrounds in a small town environment, and the crazy whirl of quantum physics, philosophy and zen ideas. I missed a lot of ideas folded into the references and writing, to be sure, so this is definitely on the to reread list to process again and pick up new layers of meaning.
rebbemcc's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed the alternating viewpoints and how the book made me think about the concept of time.