A review by theothergrl
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami

reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

An interesting prose that's simple, though not bad. There are two scenes of surrealism in the second half that make this book worth the read, though at times it trudged along quite slowly. This is not the sort of love story you'd think about if someone said romance. The love between the characters is told like the love that grows between two lonely people who feel very content in each other's company. It's a very understated passion, a slow-burn passion that asks you to rethink what passion means to you. I think these are the sort of love stories that we miss out on - comfortable love that is full of imperfections, that at times feels boring and tired, that is between people you wouldn't think to match. Honestly, I appreciate this book now more than I did when I was reading it. If it were longer I'm not sure I would've stuck with it, but it's a short story with a beautiful, surreal ending and therefore im glad that I did. 
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