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elbowglitter's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book, but the ending left me wanting something more.
mrgeof's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
shelbydamiani's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
napkins's review against another edition
3.0
I'll admit I was hoping for a more lyrical style than what the book presents - the cover and synopsis make it seem more evocative than it is in execution. It could be because of the dual hurdles of a diary style and translation, but I was hoping that the fact that the author was the translator would lessen the troubles.
It's a short read; the action in the book takes place over less than a week, and it never really has a chance to hit a good stride in its storytelling or thoughts (again, possibly intentional due to the diary aspect, but that's questionable). For all of its shortness, though, the characters are sketched and developed remarkably quickly and well - a good thing, since they're the only thing to carry the story.
It was nice to see something set down in Okinawa though, a region that had some very different opinions and experiences with the war than much of mainland Japan.
The ending is wrapped up rather abruptly after jumping to modern times - again in a diary format - leaving just as many questions as it answers. But in the end, peace is still the main message, peace and the miracle of any given meeting.
It's a short read; the action in the book takes place over less than a week, and it never really has a chance to hit a good stride in its storytelling or thoughts (again, possibly intentional due to the diary aspect, but that's questionable). For all of its shortness, though, the characters are sketched and developed remarkably quickly and well - a good thing, since they're the only thing to carry the story.
It was nice to see something set down in Okinawa though, a region that had some very different opinions and experiences with the war than much of mainland Japan.
The ending is wrapped up rather abruptly after jumping to modern times - again in a diary format - leaving just as many questions as it answers. But in the end, peace is still the main message, peace and the miracle of any given meeting.
triestina85's review against another edition
It failed to keep my attention. It felt too forced.
misslezlee's review against another edition
2.0
This book reads like a proposal for a novel, a first draft, like something you'd submit for a peer review at a writing class. A short story or a longer novel would have been more satisfying.
cierra_marie's review against another edition
4.0
The characters were likable and there was just the right amount of "this could end badly" throughout to keep me needing to know what the next page held. It was a quick read and the end definitely threw me for a loop. I wish the author would've done something...more...with the final character. I felt like I was reading an 8th grader's diary and not the story of a young woman in college taking on such an important story.
writingwwolves's review against another edition
3.0
This book has left me with very mixed feelings; I've put 3 stars on here but really it's a 3.5.
The first chapter totally pulled me in and I was hooked on the story pretty quickly. I'm a bit obsessed with books set in Asia at the moment, and I've always wanted to learn more about World War 1 and 2, so this seemed like a perfect read.
I absolutely loved part 1, Bob annoyed me a little but I still enjoyed his character, just as I did the rest of the cast. I loved the idea of the story; 3 unlikely people being pushed together in an awful time, and I was really starting to get into it! Then it suddenly stopped and parts 2 and 3 just confused me - I don't understand why Pulvers ruined a really deep, interesting story with a ridiculously crap ending! If he had continued Hiromi's story further and then ended it on a cliff-hanger that would have been fine... but it didn't finish at a point that made sense to me, and I just didn't see the point of adding in the last 2 parts! It sort of feels like he got bored of writing the story and wrote parts 2 and 3 just so the book had an ending. I'm devastated because I had been really pulled into the story. I've been left feeling very unsatisfied, and incredibly disappointed.
The first chapter totally pulled me in and I was hooked on the story pretty quickly. I'm a bit obsessed with books set in Asia at the moment, and I've always wanted to learn more about World War 1 and 2, so this seemed like a perfect read.
I absolutely loved part 1, Bob annoyed me a little but I still enjoyed his character, just as I did the rest of the cast. I loved the idea of the story; 3 unlikely people being pushed together in an awful time, and I was really starting to get into it! Then it suddenly stopped and parts 2 and 3 just confused me - I don't understand why Pulvers ruined a really deep, interesting story with a ridiculously crap ending! If he had continued Hiromi's story further and then ended it on a cliff-hanger that would have been fine... but it didn't finish at a point that made sense to me, and I just didn't see the point of adding in the last 2 parts! It sort of feels like he got bored of writing the story and wrote parts 2 and 3 just so the book had an ending. I'm devastated because I had been really pulled into the story. I've been left feeling very unsatisfied, and incredibly disappointed.
julia_rhys's review against another edition
4.0
Star Sand
This is a book about a diary found in the lap of a skeleton. I found it interesting and a fun quick read. I'm not sure that the "diary" should have been called that, it was more a novel, but hey, maybe it was a translation thing. I did enjoy reading it and it makes you think of those that are unwillingly sucked into war and the danger of "otherness" patriotism.
This is a book about a diary found in the lap of a skeleton. I found it interesting and a fun quick read. I'm not sure that the "diary" should have been called that, it was more a novel, but hey, maybe it was a translation thing. I did enjoy reading it and it makes you think of those that are unwillingly sucked into war and the danger of "otherness" patriotism.