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ladygodivas's review against another edition
5.0
absolutely mediocre. which is perfectly fine. this book greatly emphasizes that living a mediocre life is alright. i rate this a five star because i know so many people who live constant days doing the same exact things. even i can relate to the main character, perfectly content with the job i have and the money i earn and the things i do.
i'm fine with where i am and i feel seen after reading this book.
(second time reading)
i'm not gonna change my rating. i still very much love this book. as someone who's also living a meaningless, empty, dead-end life, this book helped me appreciate the simplicity of just 'living'. life doesn't have to be full of fireworks, parties, trips, promotions. sometimes it's just breathing, waking up, eating, going to work, and then sleeping. and that's alright. that's perfectly fine.
this is a great book if you want something you can re-read every year.
i'm fine with where i am and i feel seen after reading this book.
(second time reading)
i'm not gonna change my rating. i still very much love this book. as someone who's also living a meaningless, empty, dead-end life, this book helped me appreciate the simplicity of just 'living'. life doesn't have to be full of fireworks, parties, trips, promotions. sometimes it's just breathing, waking up, eating, going to work, and then sleeping. and that's alright. that's perfectly fine.
this is a great book if you want something you can re-read every year.
teagwood's review against another edition
dark
funny
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
4.25
mikeydp's review against another edition
3.0
What I learned from this book: don’t change your life just to fit in with society. Your own happiness stands before anything else. People will have shit to say about you no matter what you do, so learn to live for yourself instead of for others.
afterttherain's review against another edition
4.0
“The normal world has no room for exceptions and always quietly eliminates foreign objects. Anyone who is lacking is disposed of."
I don't understand how this book was marketed as funny and quirky when it's such an intricately beautiful book about the sad reality of society. Keiko is what the society calls an outlier - and she lives in a world where outliers are not left alone nor tolerated - and it saddens me more than anything to see the way she is treated in this book because of the things that makes her happy. It's heartbreaking, to see the world we're living in, for the people who don't "fit in". But this book captures it in such a beautifully real way, and it was a very short read but it just makes you think of just how you're treating the people around you and what you say about other people.
I don't understand how this book was marketed as funny and quirky when it's such an intricately beautiful book about the sad reality of society. Keiko is what the society calls an outlier - and she lives in a world where outliers are not left alone nor tolerated - and it saddens me more than anything to see the way she is treated in this book because of the things that makes her happy. It's heartbreaking, to see the world we're living in, for the people who don't "fit in". But this book captures it in such a beautifully real way, and it was a very short read but it just makes you think of just how you're treating the people around you and what you say about other people.
br00klynbrokemyskinandb0nes's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.5
isaskrukrud's review against another edition
3.0
“After all, I absorb the world around me, and that’s changing all the time. Just as the water that’s was in my body last time we met has now been replaced with new water, the things that make up me have changed too.”
I would give it 3.5 stars if I could!!
This book definitely brought me out of my comfort zone in what I was used to reading but I’m glad I read it. The prose is engaging and the character of Keiko is endearing, and her experience with ASD (though not specifically stated to be ASD, it is heavily implied) is compelling. Even if you don’t have ASD, you can find yourself relating to feelings of alienation that keiko has or frustration with societal expectations she experiences.
The reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 is a problem I have with a character, my dislike of 1st person narration in general, and my overall enjoyment not being as high as i would have liked.
Overall this book is well written, comedic and heartwarming, and low stakes. I’d recommend it to anyone is a reading slump wanting to get back into the hobby as well as anyone what has ever worked in fast food or retail, I definitely found myself empathising with feeling in tune with your work environment.
I would give it 3.5 stars if I could!!
This book definitely brought me out of my comfort zone in what I was used to reading but I’m glad I read it. The prose is engaging and the character of Keiko is endearing, and her experience with ASD (though not specifically stated to be ASD, it is heavily implied) is compelling. Even if you don’t have ASD, you can find yourself relating to feelings of alienation that keiko has or frustration with societal expectations she experiences.
The reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 is a problem I have with a character, my dislike of 1st person narration in general, and my overall enjoyment not being as high as i would have liked.
Overall this book is well written, comedic and heartwarming, and low stakes. I’d recommend it to anyone is a reading slump wanting to get back into the hobby as well as anyone what has ever worked in fast food or retail, I definitely found myself empathising with feeling in tune with your work environment.
ambamsaurus's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
rita_r's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0