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lblackburn04's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For the age of the novel it does not feel dated, which is really something. The entire thing has this dreamlike quality which I personally really enjoyed.
wldiv's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
3.5
tsushima writes of a woman, koko. koko is strong, but she’s timid. koko defies all expectations, and she is predictable. koko is the most deeply complex woman i have followed in literature to date.
this novel took me months to read, and not even because i don’t like the style— tsushima’s stream of consciousness and ability to effortlessly jump from dream to reality, from past to present is god damn remarkable. it took me obnoxiously long to read this because it is so horribly depressing i literally could not bring myself to read more of it at times.
i see you, koko, you are valid.
this novel took me months to read, and not even because i don’t like the style— tsushima’s stream of consciousness and ability to effortlessly jump from dream to reality, from past to present is god damn remarkable. it took me obnoxiously long to read this because it is so horribly depressing i literally could not bring myself to read more of it at times.
i see you, koko, you are valid.
fringedyke's review
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The book explores the memories and inner world of a divorced mother in (presumably late 60s-early 70s?) Japanese society. It touches on themes of divorce, abortion, infidelity, mental illness, disability and female sexuality. Being very introspective and reflective, the text has some slow and rambling passages. It was also a frustrating read due to the character’s limitations - both real and imagined - and her repeated mistakes. But in that way, it seemed to me like Fleabag or The Bell Jar in that a somewhat unlikeable but self-aware female protagonist is railing against an oppressive family and society. It deserves its place as a modern classic.
bluepillcandy's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
acceberlok's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
writerstears's review
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
quirinius's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kxiong5's review
5.0
extraordinary. I liked this one even more than Territory of Light. It was one of those books that doesn’t have answers, is very happy to present a mystery to you and let you struggle with it as needed...and every thing in her world feels so real, like you’re in there with her, feeling the world press in from around you, everyone telling you what you have to want, flattening you into their understanding, caging you inside a self you will never be free from, if they’re with you...and for all of this, Koko *isn’t* a good person, isn’t pretending to be, isn’t pretending to know a damn thing. and for all the selfishness and confusion, she’s the realest narrator I’ve read in a long, long time.
I would learn Japanese just to read this book again in its original form. But the Harcourt translation—also brilliant. Capturing Yuko Tsushima’s writing itself—full of light and strangeness.
I would learn Japanese just to read this book again in its original form. But the Harcourt translation—also brilliant. Capturing Yuko Tsushima’s writing itself—full of light and strangeness.