fazryzafatyn's reviews
12 reviews

Idol, Burning by 宇佐見りん, Rin Usami
Did not finish book. Stopped at 16%.

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

The story feels too dull, and I couldn't grasp the main point. While I understand it's about a girl who's a fan of an idol and how it impacts her life, I just don't find it engaging. I also think the translation is poor, which made it harder to enjoy. I had to stop reading because I don't think it will improve.

Please Look After Mother by Kyung-sook Shin

emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

As expected from Kyung-Sook Shin, the quality is excellent. I didn’t expect it to use a ‘you’ narrative as the first person, which is very unique and something I really like. However, at times, I get a bit confused about who the narrator is, as it tends to mix perspectives. I love how each family member has their own story with the mother and how they express their longing for her. Compared to I Went To See My Father, I find it less sad, and it doesn’t focus as much on the mother herself but rather on the people around her. I also love the similarities in the plot, which make me think it could be about the same family, though there are some differences as well.

Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

3.0

At first, I expected the story to be full of adventure as they searched for the key, but it turned out to be a more relaxing book where they just hung around the castle. The story also conveys the struggles of being a bullied student. The beginning felt slow and boring to me, but it became more interesting when they started to discover the similarities between them. I also had difficulty differentiating the timelines because the plot was a bit mixed up. There were a lot of brilliant plot twists, and many clues were subtly shown in the earlier chapters. 

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

funny relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.5

I think maybe I’m not a cat lover, which is why I find this book quite boring. I can’t relate to any of the emotions in it. At first, the cat’s narrative was fascinating, but I lost focus as the story didn’t have any parts that made me want to keep reading.

I Went to See My Father by Kyung-sook Shin

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

At first, I found it hard to read this book, maybe because this is the first time I’ve read a plot with so much narrative. The detailed narrative caused me to lose focus. After a while, I started to understand it better. In the earlier chapters, the plot starts with the father as a child and includes themes of farming and war. I couldn’t relate much to this part, so it was hard for me to stay interested. 
However, after chapter 3, it became interesting. I cried a lot and loved how each sibling treated the father. I also like in chapter 4, the narrative shifts to other characters, making it feel like they are telling their stories to the author.
There were some plot points that remained mysterious until the end, but I believe this was done on purpose. 
I think this book has high writing quality and is worth buying.

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

challenging emotional informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book brings me to tears for a long time. I love its message about listening to everything in order to stay positive and  the struggle of Hansen’s disease patients in the past until now. I initially thought it was just about a man making and selling sweet bean paste, but it's so much more than that. I feel so attached with the old woman story until i cried heavily. I also love the descriptions of cooking and making dorayaki with sweet bean paste; it's a fresh experience for me as a reader. However, I feel the ending is too rushed, leaving some questions and plot points unresolved.

More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

I love this story as the author writes in a witty style. There are so many funny parts that I think it’s better than the first book. I feel like the author really enjoyed writing this story. I like their friendship, but I wish there was more plot about Tomo and Takano. The last part is also so sad.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

The story moves at a slow and bland pace. It feels overly simple, with many unnecessary plot points that contribute to the sluggishness. However, I appreciate the underlying message that while we can’t change the future or the past, we can change people’s hearts. The final chapter is quite sad tho.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-joo

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

This book is too depressing for me, especially as a woman. I guess it is not my cup of tea. It feels like reading a biography. I like the message that, although some men are nice, they still can’t recognize the unfairness women face. 

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad fast-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

5.0

I loveeee every chapter of this book, which represents different people by age, gender, and background. Not everyone may have noticeable issues in their lives, but they might have unresolved issues in their hearts. I love how the simple book helps them realize what they need to do.

I also love when the librarian says, "It's not how the book moved them; it's how they interpreted the book."