Reviews

N.P. by Banana Yoshimoto

faulkneribarelyknowher's review against another edition

4.75

Banana’s done it again…

fantastic gripping charming magical realism. some classic ideas from the literary “fantastic” (notably doppelganger, in Sui and Saki as sisters, in Sui and Kazami as ex-lovers of Shoji, in even Otohiko and Sui as sibling-lovers, double suiciders (“Sui”-cide?”)).

i found some beautiful themes i resonated with, like translation and repressed queerness, even the beautiful casual alcoholism. but i especially noted the theme of forgiveness in Sui and Kazami’s relationship: despite the violence, kidnapping, drugging, Kazami still retained an affection (friendly and romantic!) for Sui.

Yoshimoto’s metaphors were on another level in this novel, metaphors that aren’t purely analogical but essence-based or feeling-based, like:

“The sound echoed in my ears for a moment, just as the rhythm of the surf stays with you.” 192

sssteicy's review against another edition

3.0

Empecé a leer este libro pensando que sería una historia policial de muertes relacionadas por un libro, pero terminó siendo un viaje de instrospección con unos personajes muy completos.
De la nota final de la autora: “Todas las diferentes personas que hay en este mundo tienen derecho a vivir como crean y donde quieran, sin sentirse amedrentadas por nadie”

“Dicen que las personas abren su corazón cuando están frente al mar”.

trin's review against another edition

1.0

Banana Yoshimoto features on a lot of Japanese literature recommendations lists. My theory is that these reccers just like the idea of endorsing an author whose (assumed) name is Banana. Because wow, this book was awful. College creative writing class awful, by which I mean trying really hard to be edgy, but in fact incompetent. Yoshimoto throws a lot of ingredients into the pot: suicide! Incest! Faux lesbianism! But she doesn’t do anything with any of them—just leaves them to ostentatiously simmer, as if to say, “Do you see what I’m cooking with here? I’ve got people offing themselves, and some [b: Flowers in the Attic|43448|Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger, #1)|V.C. Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327880853l/43448._SX50_SY75_.jpg|3311885] action, and women who might, maybe, like to experiment! Aren’t I extreme?”

I should have known that anybody who decides to call herself “Banana” would be trying too hard.

bellep's review

dark funny reflective 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

3.25

kkmccall's review

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

phoenix2's review against another edition

3.0

N.P is a fast-paced, weird short read with Yoshimoto's style of writing at its finest. Interesting characters, lots of food for thought, and an odd story that contains a lot of elements, like love, death, supernatural theories, and many more, are what one should expect by reading N.P. There are though some themes, like sexual relationships between siblings, or father and daughter, that aren't everyone's cup of tea. But the author handles them with sensitivity and acceptance.

cansinnoh's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest

logolepsy_e's review against another edition

4.0

Nell'arco di un'estate, nel giro di pochi mesi, una giovane donna, Kazami, viene risucchiata nella realtà di tre personaggi a lei completamente estranei, lasciandosi assorbire dalla loro essenza e dalla forza dei sentimenti e degli avvenimenti che li coinvolge. La sua vita entra a far parte di un racconto, legato indissolubilmente ad altri racconti che segneranno per sempre la sua esistenza.
E' un racconto strano, N.P.. Strano ma intenso come i racconti di Sarao Takase, capace di entrare talmente a fondo dell'animo del lettore, da non uscirci mai più.
La storia è molto particolare, complessa, e i personaggi sono ottimi. Lo stile della Yoshimoto è sempre lieve e leggero, mai pesante o artificioso, tanto che il libro si lascia leggere davvero in poco tempo.
Il libro però presenta qualche pecca. In primo luogo, ai personaggi è dato troppo poco spessore. I tratti dei loro caratteri si intuiscono facilmente attraverso i loro comportamenti, ma dei personaggi così profondi e complessi andrebbero, secondo me, presentati in modo molto più preciso e approfondito e sviluppati più ampiamente. La stessa cosa vale anche per gli avvenimenti ed i colpi di scena, che mi sono sembrati un po' buttati lì, inseriti con leggerezza in modo breve e troppo conciso. Troppe cose sono lasciate implicite o date per scontate, e questo secondo me provoca una lettura ed un coinvolgimento troppo superficiali da parte del lettore.
Tutto sommato è comunque un racconto molto bello, un po' diverso dagli altri della Yoshimoto che ho letto finora, ma il suo stile incredibile rimane sempre e comunque inconfondibile.

cbxtherine's review against another edition

3.0

im here for the manic pixie dream girl representation & the fixation on love suicide

hannahdane's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 - great vibes (other than the incest) just something felt like it was missing