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A review by cobwebshelves
Go by Kazuki Kaneshiro
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
"If I become a model person, more so than any Japanese, I still won't be treated like a proper human as long as I have Korean citizenship. The way a sumo wrestler can't become a stable master while he still has foreign citizenship. Assimilation or exclusion. There are only two choices in this country."
This is a conflicting one, properly leaning more towards a 2.5, and I wonder if it's just that Nieda's translations don't click for me. They work from a technical point but the language kind of feels stifled. While the summary speaks of the relationship between Sugihara and Sakurai as the focal point, it felt more like a B plot to the story and was certainly its biggest weakness. The conversations fell flat and the development of their relationship felt like a confetti gun - fired off in an instant and fizzled out just as quickly. It doesn't help that the dialog between these two in particular felt lifeless, including this gem:
"What kind of music do you listen to?" she asked.
"All different kinds. But I guess I don't listen to a lot of Japanese music."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I never really thought about it. What kind of music do you listen to?"
"I listen to all different kinds. But I guess I don't listen to a lot of Japanese music."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I never really thought about it."
"I guess that makes us the same."
"I guess it does."
This would be effective portrayal of awkward teenagers early in a relationship were it not for the fact that plenty of other dialog instances really shone, especially concerning discussions of ethnicity and xenophobia. That's really where "Go" shines - it's raw in its discussion of the social predisposition of Zainichi and how they're perceived by the Japanese society. Kaneshiro captures the sense of alienation, of belonging everywhere and nowhere, beautifully. It's only a shame that such scenes were little isles of gold in between what was otherwise a slog to get through.
Structurally, the novel felt a little disorganised, as time skips and flashbacks often occurred suddenly, with little warning, making the timeline muddled sometimes, though I will commend that all loose ends tied together. I don't mind the protagonist being an annoying violent teenage boy but some instances of violent bordered on the line of impossibility.
Though the strength of "Go" lies in its depiction of social struggle and little dips into philosophy, it falls short when it comes to convincing characterisation.
This is a conflicting one, properly leaning more towards a 2.5, and I wonder if it's just that Nieda's translations don't click for me. They work from a technical point but the language kind of feels stifled. While the summary speaks of the relationship between Sugihara and Sakurai as the focal point, it felt more like a B plot to the story and was certainly its biggest weakness. The conversations fell flat and the development of their relationship felt like a confetti gun - fired off in an instant and fizzled out just as quickly. It doesn't help that the dialog between these two in particular felt lifeless, including this gem:
"What kind of music do you listen to?" she asked.
"All different kinds. But I guess I don't listen to a lot of Japanese music."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I never really thought about it. What kind of music do you listen to?"
"I listen to all different kinds. But I guess I don't listen to a lot of Japanese music."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I never really thought about it."
"I guess that makes us the same."
"I guess it does."
This would be effective portrayal of awkward teenagers early in a relationship were it not for the fact that plenty of other dialog instances really shone, especially concerning discussions of ethnicity and xenophobia. That's really where "Go" shines - it's raw in its discussion of the social predisposition of Zainichi and how they're perceived by the Japanese society. Kaneshiro captures the sense of alienation, of belonging everywhere and nowhere, beautifully. It's only a shame that such scenes were little isles of gold in between what was otherwise a slog to get through.
Structurally, the novel felt a little disorganised, as time skips and flashbacks often occurred suddenly, with little warning, making the timeline muddled sometimes, though I will commend that all loose ends tied together. I don't mind the protagonist being an annoying violent teenage boy but some instances of violent bordered on the line of impossibility.
Though the strength of "Go" lies in its depiction of social struggle and little dips into philosophy, it falls short when it comes to convincing characterisation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicide