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nikitaaaart's reviews
47 reviews
Scattered All Over the Earth by Yōko Tawada
funny
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I was quite caught up by the description of the book initially. A culmination of people brought together by their shared desire for longing and to explore the lost languages in a newfound dystopian world.
It's a story about a found-family of 6 strangers who travel to find people who are from Japan (named land of sushi in the book) which no longer exists. The story blends the themes of linguistics, environment and climate change, refugees, migrants and human rights all into one.
I really looked forward to reading this but it was a letdown for me. The story is a slow burn. In the last 50-100 pages, the pace is picked up only to be let down again by a disruptive ending. Turns out it is Part 1 of a trilogy so the story is left hanging. The other 2 books haven't been translated yet either. All in all it was an annoying experience, especially when you just started connecting with the story - it ends.
Would recommend reading it once all 3 parts are available altogether.
It's a story about a found-family of 6 strangers who travel to find people who are from Japan (named land of sushi in the book) which no longer exists. The story blends the themes of linguistics, environment and climate change, refugees, migrants and human rights all into one.
I really looked forward to reading this but it was a letdown for me. The story is a slow burn. In the last 50-100 pages, the pace is picked up only to be let down again by a disruptive ending. Turns out it is Part 1 of a trilogy so the story is left hanging. The other 2 books haven't been translated yet either. All in all it was an annoying experience, especially when you just started connecting with the story - it ends.
Would recommend reading it once all 3 parts are available altogether.
The Nonbinary Bunny by Maia Kobabe
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Heaven by Mieko Kawakami
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
*Trigger warning: These conversations and discourse need to happen. Not all triggers are bad for you. Some triggers are a way of introspecting one's own actions and thoughts to rectify them. Yes, they're discomforting but true change begins there. Yet I'm mentioning the following triggers for those who actually need it: mention of abuse, violence, bullying.*
Words ceased to exist in my head after I turned over the last page. How I'm even writing this is beyond me. But I'm making an attempt to make sense of the swirl of emotions this book left.
Heaven is not just a book, not just a mere story of bullying. Kawakami portrays the raw, the real side of bullying and abuse the survivor experiences. It is not easy to read the violence, the indifference shown towards the protagonist, "Eyes" and Kojima, two 14 year old adolescent classmates in Japan who bond over the shared experience of their lives being brought down to only one thing — their pain.
While "Eyes", whose name we do not know experiences his life in a depressive state of feeling nothingness, of being nothingness, wishing he never existed for all this to begin with. Finding out meaning from all this pain, the survival, the acceptance that this is her reality is what Kojima believes in. That is her innocence.
As you progress page by page the intensity, the heartbreak, the anger, the sadness, the empathy keep on increasing. It was honestly extremely disheartening to read the justification given by one of the characters for bullying. But that's reality. That is how they reason with themselves for a good night's sleep.
When we talk about the shared bond between the teens, with that also comes the trauma bonding between the two. Mieko has intricately described each and every crux of abuse, even the absence of parents or teachers from the whole scenario stands true to reality.
While people will never not say that they should have stood up for themselves, or to be brave, or have some courage; the truth is people should never have bullied. It is not only about the victim. Even the classmates are all bystanders and supporters because they know they could be next. What about their courage? Their bravery?
I'm shattered with the story yet in awe of how well Mieko Kawakami, Sam Bett & David Boyd (translators) have articulated every emotion, every pain, and the distinct individual experience of being victimized.
This goes beyond saying, you should read this to know the intricacies of abuse that exist in schools.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
The Cat Who Saved Books by Sōsuke Natsukawa
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Do you think Amir's actions have been redeemed by the end?
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I'm confused if I genuinely like the novel or not. There are parts which made me emotional but not enough to cover up for the cliched writing and predictable plot.
A lot of the coincidences felt forced and pretentious. I don't understand how this came to be such a highly acclaimed novel. Have times changed? Do readers expect more than before?
However, the class and community conflict depicted is very well relevant in today's era - in Afghanistan, in India and beyond.
It's a sad story, but one not for me. I couldn't connect emotionally throughout (legit read this with a straight face, unaffected).
-----
I'm confused if I genuinely like the novel or not. There are parts which made me emotional but not enough to cover up for the cliched writing and predictable plot.
A lot of the coincidences felt forced and pretentious. I don't understand how this came to be such a highly acclaimed novel. Have times changed? Do readers expect more than before?
However, the class and community conflict depicted is very well relevant in today's era - in Afghanistan, in India and beyond.
It's a sad story, but one not for me. I couldn't connect emotionally throughout (legit read this with a straight face, unaffected).
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The Waves by Virginia Woolf
emotional
reflective
slow-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
5.0
The Waves by Virginia Woolf // Fiction, Experimental
Virginia Woolf has a very picturesque and detailed writing style, using a stream of consciousness technique.
The book is about the journey of 6 friends - Bernard, Louis, Neville, Susan, Jinny & Rhoda - from their childhood to old age. The journey, you may ask, is inclined towards their psychological and philosophical changes that occur in the characters' lifespan.
What's unique about this is that there's no actual plot or even spoken dialogue between characters. Rather, they are in the form of internal dialogues reflecting each character's perspective, fears and anxieties, and experiences - their deepest thoughts in the given life scenario. However, conversation between the characters exists only within the subtext.
It took me the first 5-8 pages to figure out the structure. It takes a while to understand and get into the novel completely. Preferably around >20 pages, it gets interesting and the pace increases.
I feel this novel is mine. It's relatable. It's personal. You attach yourself to certain characters or even get pissed by the personalities of some.
The Waves is a culmination of different personalities trying to find their identity, to belong somewhere, and Woolf provides us with the opportunity to really get into each character's shoes. It represents continuity of life & connectivity to each other.
(This is widely known as one of the hardest reads with a slow paced flow of the book since it's entirely based on character development.)
💙 Music to listen to:
Ludovico Einaudi composed an album inspired by this novel, 'Le Onde' which means The Waves in Italian. (Read the CD description on Wikipedia of the album page after finishing the book)
Virginia Woolf has a very picturesque and detailed writing style, using a stream of consciousness technique.
The book is about the journey of 6 friends - Bernard, Louis, Neville, Susan, Jinny & Rhoda - from their childhood to old age. The journey, you may ask, is inclined towards their psychological and philosophical changes that occur in the characters' lifespan.
What's unique about this is that there's no actual plot or even spoken dialogue between characters. Rather, they are in the form of internal dialogues reflecting each character's perspective, fears and anxieties, and experiences - their deepest thoughts in the given life scenario. However, conversation between the characters exists only within the subtext.
It took me the first 5-8 pages to figure out the structure. It takes a while to understand and get into the novel completely. Preferably around >20 pages, it gets interesting and the pace increases.
I feel this novel is mine. It's relatable. It's personal. You attach yourself to certain characters or even get pissed by the personalities of some.
The Waves is a culmination of different personalities trying to find their identity, to belong somewhere, and Woolf provides us with the opportunity to really get into each character's shoes. It represents continuity of life & connectivity to each other.
(This is widely known as one of the hardest reads with a slow paced flow of the book since it's entirely based on character development.)
💙 Music to listen to:
Ludovico Einaudi composed an album inspired by this novel, 'Le Onde' which means The Waves in Italian. (Read the CD description on Wikipedia of the album page after finishing the book)