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jenimahalesva's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
4.0
maddie_reads_stuff's review against another edition
1.0
About a clueless but well-meant foreigner in Japan, from the point of view of his Japanese hosts. So rated because I really do not like allegories...
hem's review against another edition
3.0
Hm... okay... We got this approved for school, so I was reading it as a possibility for the Asian lit unit, but I'm not sure because it's pretty slow. I like the ending a lot, and there are some powerful moments -- cleaner and more substantial than When I Whistle, but still not as moving as Silence.
salbulga's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
doku_sho_ka's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
qofdnz's review against another edition
4.0
This was a short but lovely little read. Really enjoy Endo's style.
kenziekuma's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readorables's review
4.0
Honestly, this book gives me a quite major confusion as the author basically "charts his misadventures with irony, satire and humanity" so to give a review like how I usually do is quite challenging and even now I can't explicitly point out the ironic and the 'satire' part of the book.... The book nevertheless intrigued me so much that I often find myself unable to stop flicking the page. It's about a simplistic guy who I assumed was extremely naïve about the world and too innocent, could change the other character's perception on life. A lot of significant character development shown especially towards the two of the main characters of this book, Takamori and Tomoe whom struggle on finding their aspirations in life and love; too caught up in career and materialism. This naïve guy—the wonderful fool, Gaston Bonaparte went through journey of befriending prostitutes, street children, stray dogs, to gangsters that had no fear on murdering him. Regardless of his (sometimes i think) stupidity, he still gave me a moment of reflection on how his kindness, love and most of all sincerity can dim fear and hatred in the world no matter what. It does take time, but it works and it always win. The book is majorly about humanity and I would recommend you to read it if you lose hope in humanity.
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