Reviews

Il figlio della fortuna by Yūko Tsushima

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ninsiminsi's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

lunacarmona's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.5

lblackburn04's review against another edition

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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 against another edition

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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.

fringedyke's review against another edition

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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.