zeldaspellman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lauraeliza's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
supremecourt69's review against another edition
5.0
A little hard to follow at first so keep in mind there are three narrators. Really unnerving in a very good way. The ending was both weird and satisfying.
puzzleguzzler's review against another edition
3.0
Initially I thought this book was hard to read (because of the style of text, which I've been told is true of the Japanese text as well) and difficult to understand, but I had an opportunity to speak with the author personally (!!) and that made me appreciate the book so much more.
I read another short story by her, called "Careless" which features a gecko that sticks to the window of a newlyweds' window. The couple is equal parts troubled and untroubled, and the change in their relationship hinges on a change with the gecko. So I asked Ms Oyamada if she likes animals. She immediately, physically lit up. And when I asked why, she explained that animals are very mysterious, and they don't have a language we can understand. So she's super curious about animals and understanding people through them. She talked about was how, in the Factory, the birds keep multiplying and yet there are no young (so they are not reproducing themselves). This was an important point for her, in the context of the declining birthrate in Japan at the same time that people are increasingly overworked. (Oyamada worked at a car manufacturer)
Talking with her was really fun and she seems bursting with smart ideas so I'm looking forward to reading her next novel.
I read another short story by her, called "Careless" which features a gecko that sticks to the window of a newlyweds' window. The couple is equal parts troubled and untroubled, and the change in their relationship hinges on a change with the gecko. So I asked Ms Oyamada if she likes animals. She immediately, physically lit up. And when I asked why, she explained that animals are very mysterious, and they don't have a language we can understand. So she's super curious about animals and understanding people through them. She talked about was how, in the Factory, the birds keep multiplying and yet there are no young (so they are not reproducing themselves). This was an important point for her, in the context of the declining birthrate in Japan at the same time that people are increasingly overworked. (Oyamada worked at a car manufacturer)
Talking with her was really fun and she seems bursting with smart ideas so I'm looking forward to reading her next novel.
troxellis's review against another edition
mysterious
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
5.0
reubenlb's review against another edition
3.0
some really interesting prose but a little too disorientating for me to say that i enjoyed it
brittapoo's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
clareonearth's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0