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tigger89's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was lovely. I was concerned it might be too sappy/inspirational for my tastes, but it managed to come in just on the safe side. Perhaps it was the bittersweet nature of the narratives, in both content and conclusion.
With five narratives that cross over into each other, each time revealing more of the complex connections behind the story, there's a lot to keep track of. If you're someone who's bad at names, you might want to keep notes, eg: "Susako Hirano, ch 3, moon rabbit's older bro." Don't be me, lulled into a false sense of security early on, but flipping frantically through to check names by the end of chapter 4.
I do want to say that, contrary to tags, this book is not magical realism. Magical realism requires its magic to be unremarked upon; the magic just is, what else did you expect? But the magic of the general store, while almost ordinary in nature, is unusual for the setting, and is remarked upon by every character who learns of it. So, this isn't the magical realism book you're looking for.
With five narratives that cross over into each other, each time revealing more of the complex connections behind the story, there's a lot to keep track of. If you're someone who's bad at names, you might want to keep notes, eg: "Susako Hirano, ch 3, moon rabbit's older bro." Don't be me, lulled into a false sense of security early on, but flipping frantically through to check names by the end of chapter 4.
I do want to say that, contrary to tags, this book is not magical realism. Magical realism requires its magic to be unremarked upon; the magic just is, what else did you expect? But the magic of the general store, while almost ordinary in nature, is unusual for the setting, and is remarked upon by every character who learns of it. So, this isn't the magical realism book you're looking for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Cancer
Moderate: Self harm and Suicide
moonchildshine's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-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? N/A
5.0
Have you ever read a book so good you feel like your mind had been blown when you finished it? Like, you already know this book is good when you read the first quarter but then it's progressively getting better and better? I rarely read a book which has that kind of effect but I'm ecstatic to say that this is one of the book.
You know, I deadass thought it couldn't get any better when I read chapter 2---please, I cried alot (but in a full contentment, not in sadness, mind you)--but with every page-turn, it always prove me wrong. I was so mesmerized. How can Keigo Higashino wrote this kind of masterpiece??? Just, how???
Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 was my favorite, but chapter 5 (the last chapter) is so fucking bewitching, enthralling, spellbinding and *insert hundreds of other similar adjective here*
There are so many characters, plus, it has omniscient 3rd pov. Usually, when I find a book like this, my little dumb brain would be so lazy to keep up. But this book is extremely intriguing since the first page until the last. Never a dull moment. I'm sure, if I read this during weekend, I probably finish it in one sitting.
PS. God, I hope obliviate is a real charm so I can obliviate myself and read this for the first time in my life.
You know, I deadass thought it couldn't get any better when I read chapter 2---please, I cried alot (but in a full contentment, not in sadness, mind you)--but with every page-turn, it always prove me wrong. I was so mesmerized. How can Keigo Higashino wrote this kind of masterpiece??? Just, how???
Chapter 2 and Chapter 4 was my favorite, but chapter 5 (the last chapter) is so fucking bewitching, enthralling, spellbinding and *insert hundreds of other similar adjective here*
There are so many characters, plus, it has omniscient 3rd pov. Usually, when I find a book like this, my little dumb brain would be so lazy to keep up. But this book is extremely intriguing since the first page until the last. Never a dull moment. I'm sure, if I read this during weekend, I probably finish it in one sitting.
PS. God, I hope obliviate is a real charm so I can obliviate myself and read this for the first time in my life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Cancer
rieviolet's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
I really liked the mystery surrounding the Namiya General Store, I think it is a very interesting premise. I was quite intrigued by this "magical" aspect of the story.
After the first introductory section, the book divides into separate vignettes, that are still skillfully inteconnected but are told from different point of views. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of short stories collections, in general I struggle to appreciate them as much as a novel. In this case, I also had a bit of an up-and-down reading experience, with certain sections that I liked more and other sections that dragged a bit for me and that I found less enjoyable. I still appreciated the ending, and I found it a good way of wrapping up the story.
Also I think that I started reading expecting a very lighthearted and magical story and while it was a magical and surreal story, it dealt with quite a lot of very heavy topics and I'm not so sure if all of them (and the characters involved) were handled equally well.
Lastly, I have to mention a brief passage that left a bad taste in my mouth. I do not know how the original Japanese sentence was or how the English translation adapted it, but in my translation there was a scene in which a man (maybe in his 20s?) is reflecting about a young girl and he thinks something along the lines of "There was a completely unusual sensuality for a little girl, and he would have liked to find a way to make her turn around towards him". All that I could think was why, why do you have to inlcude such a comment, was it really necessary? I really did not like it.
After the first introductory section, the book divides into separate vignettes, that are still skillfully inteconnected but are told from different point of views. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of short stories collections, in general I struggle to appreciate them as much as a novel. In this case, I also had a bit of an up-and-down reading experience, with certain sections that I liked more and other sections that dragged a bit for me and that I found less enjoyable. I still appreciated the ending, and I found it a good way of wrapping up the story.
Also I think that I started reading expecting a very lighthearted and magical story and while it was a magical and surreal story, it dealt with quite a lot of very heavy topics and I'm not so sure if all of them (and the characters involved) were handled equally well.
Lastly, I have to mention a brief passage that left a bad taste in my mouth. I do not know how the original Japanese sentence was or how the English translation adapted it, but in my translation there was a scene in which a man (maybe in his 20s?) is reflecting about a young girl and he thinks something along the lines of "There was a completely unusual sensuality for a little girl, and he would have liked to find a way to make her turn around towards him". All that I could think was why, why do you have to inlcude such a comment, was it really necessary? I really did not like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Car accident, Cancer, Self harm, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism
Minor: Abortion, Infidelity, Fatphobia, War, Infertility, and Classism
absorbedinbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.75
“Harassment, pranks, it doesn’t matter to me. I treat every letter that comes in as a cry for help. These people are no different from the rest of us. They have a hole in their hearts, and something vital is bleeding out. [...] Even the one who sent me thirty letters of gibberish must have spent hours and hours writing. No one does that if they aren’t hoping for some kind of response. So I respond, and I give those responses everything I’ve got. You can’t ignore someone who speaks to you from the heart.”
This quote right here tells you everything you need to know about the gem that was Yuji Namiya, the owner of the Namiya General Store, “The General Store That Answers Your Woes”.
I want to type out every single feeling I have about this book, and trust me I have lots, but at the same time, I don’t want to spoil anything. In my opinion, this is a book where the less you know when you start it, the better.
But I will recommend this book to everyone. The Miracles of the Namiya General Store has this soothing quality that will instantly melt your heart, and maybe move you to tears. This book offers a rollercoaster of emotions, it’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you angry, it’ll make you feel helpless, it’ll make you want to grab some of these characters and hide them from the pain. And finally, it will make you believe in miracles. And in the power our words hold and how they can steer the course of someone’s entire life.
“People don’t drift apart for one specific reason. Well, you might be able to find a reason, but you could come up with one only after you made up your mind, a tired excuse tacked on after the fact. If their hearts were still in it and their bond was threatening to sever, you’d think one of them would step in and try to fix things. When no one does, you know the bond has already been broken.”
Read this book if you like:
➵ magical realism
➵ slice-of-life stories
➵ Studio Ghibli-esque stories
➵ slow paced books
➵ character driven stories
➵ multiple POVs
➵ emotional stories that will touch your heart in more ways than one
While this book will stay with me for a long long time, I did have some favourite moments. Out of the five chapters/stories, Chapter 2, Midnight Blues, and Chapter 3, Overnight in the Civic are my favourite.
“Your music will save lives. And the songs you create will absolutely live on.”
You cannot tell me this chapter did not make you feel all the feels.
And the ending. GOD that ending was everything I hoped for and more! The very last letter Mr. Namiya wrote in response to a certain somebody’s blank letter was such a perfect note to end the book on. I also loved how the future of our dear delinquents was left open ended.
And can we talk about this:
"It’s like someone in the sky is tugging on the strings.”
And this:
"I’ll pull some strings up there and make sure you’re taken care of."
BECAUSE OH MY GOD!
I need everyone to drop whatever they’re doing and read this book ASAP. Thank you very much
This quote right here tells you everything you need to know about the gem that was Yuji Namiya, the owner of the Namiya General Store, “The General Store That Answers Your Woes”.
I want to type out every single feeling I have about this book, and trust me I have lots, but at the same time, I don’t want to spoil anything. In my opinion, this is a book where the less you know when you start it, the better.
But I will recommend this book to everyone. The Miracles of the Namiya General Store has this soothing quality that will instantly melt your heart, and maybe move you to tears. This book offers a rollercoaster of emotions, it’ll make you laugh, it’ll make you cry, it’ll make you angry, it’ll make you feel helpless, it’ll make you want to grab some of these characters and hide them from the pain. And finally, it will make you believe in miracles. And in the power our words hold and how they can steer the course of someone’s entire life.
“People don’t drift apart for one specific reason. Well, you might be able to find a reason, but you could come up with one only after you made up your mind, a tired excuse tacked on after the fact. If their hearts were still in it and their bond was threatening to sever, you’d think one of them would step in and try to fix things. When no one does, you know the bond has already been broken.”
Read this book if you like:
➵ magical realism
➵ slice-of-life stories
➵ Studio Ghibli-esque stories
➵ slow paced books
➵ character driven stories
➵ multiple POVs
➵ emotional stories that will touch your heart in more ways than one
While this book will stay with me for a long long time, I did have some favourite moments. Out of the five chapters/stories, Chapter 2, Midnight Blues, and Chapter 3, Overnight in the Civic are my favourite.
“Your music will save lives. And the songs you create will absolutely live on.”
You cannot tell me this chapter did not make you feel all the feels.
And the ending. GOD that ending was everything I hoped for and more! The very last letter Mr. Namiya wrote in response to a certain somebody’s blank letter was such a perfect note to end the book on. I also loved how the future of our dear delinquents was left open ended.
"It’s like someone in the sky is tugging on the strings.”
And this:
"I’ll pull some strings up there and make sure you’re taken care of."
BECAUSE OH MY GOD!
I need everyone to drop whatever they’re doing and read this book ASAP. Thank you very much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
Moderate: Child abuse and Suicide
Minor: Car accident
bethanyann97's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Cancer
embers_pages's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book changed my life. I'm hesitant to recommend it for fear others won't feel the same but this book is beautiful. There aren't enough words to describe how it made me feel. I thought this would be a cute, fun, light hearted read, but instead it gave me the answers to how to live. Please do not treat this book lightly.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Child abuse and Suicide
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