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the_sunken_library's review
2.0
Oh man how do I review this? I am not sure I understand Japanese comedy or maybe this isn't supposed to be particularly funny? I had two laugh out load moments but that was it.
A thoughtful and contemplative narrative on setting your sights on a dream and chasing after it. Although poignant, I felt it was too meandering for me. I didnt feel much of a connection with either of the main characters and perhaps my lack of knowledge on Manzai led me to being too ignorant to appreciate this story.
A thoughtful and contemplative narrative on setting your sights on a dream and chasing after it. Although poignant, I felt it was too meandering for me. I didnt feel much of a connection with either of the main characters and perhaps my lack of knowledge on Manzai led me to being too ignorant to appreciate this story.
8797999's review
3.0
I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. It was decent but also a bit of tough read. Probably my own fault because I am unfamiliar with Manzai, I would perhaps watch the Netflix adaptation and do some research into manzai before I give it another read.
I did expect it to be funnier than it was, the end portion was my favourite when Kamiya makes his return and how Torunaga speaks his feelings aloud.
Decent read but I would be disgruntled if I paid more than the 99p i did for it.
I did expect it to be funnier than it was, the end portion was my favourite when Kamiya makes his return and how Torunaga speaks his feelings aloud.
Decent read but I would be disgruntled if I paid more than the 99p i did for it.
timothycwon's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
owsh's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
freddie's review
4.0
Honestly perplexed by the average rating. This book is a complex but unique mix of friendship, hero worship (of sorts), feasibility of nonconformity, and success culture.
cathieleyy's review
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
cauchemarlena's review
3.0
Praegu tuleb mulle raamatusoovitusi rohkem kui muidu, sest õpilased jutustavad mulle oma lemmiktegevustest ning nii mõnelegi meeldib lugemine (juhhei!). Iga kord küsin ma siis muidugi, et mis on nende lemmikraamat või mida nad peavad parimaks raamatuks, mida nad siiani lugenud on. Üks neist nimetas oma lemmikuks "Hibana", mille kohta internetist uurides avastasin, et see on ka inglise keelde tõlgitud. Tellisin kohe ära, sest jaapani kirjandus on jaapani kirjandus, isegi kui ma nende huumorist päriselt aru ei saa. Lugedes avastasin, et ohhoo, selle võib paigutada päris mitme väljakutse punkti alla ning sealhulgas ka üks neist punktidest, mis mulle eriti ei meeldi - näitleja kirjutatud raamat. Kuigi Naoki Matayoshi teenib elatist koomikuna, on ta mänginud ka mõnes filmis ja telesarjas, mängides Natsume Soseki raamatul "Botchan" põhinevas filmis autori tegelaskuju. Igatahes oli ta minu jaoks soovituse saamiseni täiesti tundmatu inimene ja juba see äratas minus suurt uudishimu.
Tokunaga on noor koomik, kelle nimi on komöödiamaailmas üsnagi tundmatu. Ta töötab õhtuti kodulähedases toidupoes, et oma kuludega kuidagi toime tulla. Ühel päeval pärast mitte just eriti edukat esinemist tutvub ta hullu geeniuse (või siis lihtsalt hullu) Kamiyaga, kes otsustab Tokunaga oma õpilaseks võtta tingimusel, et poiss kunagi tema autobiograafia kirjutab. Kamiya on temast ainult mõned aastad vanem ning tema üüratu enesekindlus ühtlasi inspireerib ja hirmutab Tokunagat. Neist saavad kiiresti sõbrad.
Mis mulle selle raamatu juures väga meeldis, oli see, et see rääkis ka elu elamisest nii, et sa ise oled õnnelik. Sa ei pea ega saa kõigile meeldida. Elada tuleb nii, et sa ei mõtle kõike liialt üle ega aja end hulluks, mõeldes teiste arvamusele. Minu arust on see Jaapani kontekstis väga oluline teema, arvestades ühiskondliku survet sulanduda halli massi.
Komöödia pool läks minust aga kaarega mööda. Minu jaoks ei olnud see vaimukas raamat ja üsna selgelt on selles süüdi kultuurilised erinevused. Kui päris aus olla, siis ma ei olnud manzai komöödiast varem kuulnudki. Manzai on Jaapani traditsiooniline komöödia, milles osalevad kaks tegelaskuju, üks nutikas ja teine lihtsameelne. Enamus naljadest on seotud sõnamängude, möödarääkimiste ja mitmetähenduslike lausetega. Mõnes kohas roomas naeratus siiski näole, aga võib-olla ei suutnud tõlge nalju piisavalt hästi edasi anda. Või siis lihtsalt kultuuriliselt ei sobinud.
Raamatu lõpp on aga samas mõnes mõttes loo keskpaik. Edasine jääb ikkagi lugeja otsustada, aga ma arvan, et see on selle raamatu puhul hea. Ja ma olen nüüd jälle natuke targem. Üldkokkuvõttes soovitan - see oli tempokas ja ma ei tahtnud seda üldse käest panna enne kui raamat läbi, isegi kui osa sellest loost oli nagu hane selga vesi.
"Spark" sai 2015. aastal Akutagawa auhinna ja selle põhjal on ilmunud samanimeline Netflixi sari.
"Write down what you saw today, do it while it's fresh."
Tokunaga on noor koomik, kelle nimi on komöödiamaailmas üsnagi tundmatu. Ta töötab õhtuti kodulähedases toidupoes, et oma kuludega kuidagi toime tulla. Ühel päeval pärast mitte just eriti edukat esinemist tutvub ta hullu geeniuse (või siis lihtsalt hullu) Kamiyaga, kes otsustab Tokunaga oma õpilaseks võtta tingimusel, et poiss kunagi tema autobiograafia kirjutab. Kamiya on temast ainult mõned aastad vanem ning tema üüratu enesekindlus ühtlasi inspireerib ja hirmutab Tokunagat. Neist saavad kiiresti sõbrad.
I got into manzai because I wanted to do comedy, so when I hear I'm not funny, it cuts pretty close to the heart.
"If you care too much about what people say, you'll only get tired. Does it make you change what you do?"
Mis mulle selle raamatu juures väga meeldis, oli see, et see rääkis ka elu elamisest nii, et sa ise oled õnnelik. Sa ei pea ega saa kõigile meeldida. Elada tuleb nii, et sa ei mõtle kõike liialt üle ega aja end hulluks, mõeldes teiste arvamusele. Minu arust on see Jaapani kontekstis väga oluline teema, arvestades ühiskondliku survet sulanduda halli massi.
Komöödia pool läks minust aga kaarega mööda. Minu jaoks ei olnud see vaimukas raamat ja üsna selgelt on selles süüdi kultuurilised erinevused. Kui päris aus olla, siis ma ei olnud manzai komöödiast varem kuulnudki. Manzai on Jaapani traditsiooniline komöödia, milles osalevad kaks tegelaskuju, üks nutikas ja teine lihtsameelne. Enamus naljadest on seotud sõnamängude, möödarääkimiste ja mitmetähenduslike lausetega. Mõnes kohas roomas naeratus siiski näole, aga võib-olla ei suutnud tõlge nalju piisavalt hästi edasi anda. Või siis lihtsalt kultuuriliselt ei sobinud.
Raamatu lõpp on aga samas mõnes mõttes loo keskpaik. Edasine jääb ikkagi lugeja otsustada, aga ma arvan, et see on selle raamatu puhul hea. Ja ma olen nüüd jälle natuke targem. Üldkokkuvõttes soovitan - see oli tempokas ja ma ei tahtnud seda üldse käest panna enne kui raamat läbi, isegi kui osa sellest loost oli nagu hane selga vesi.
"Spark" sai 2015. aastal Akutagawa auhinna ja selle põhjal on ilmunud samanimeline Netflixi sari.
despenkhenk's review
2.0
Manzai artist Tokunaga finds a senpai in Kamiya, whose tutelage consists entirely of drunk conversations. Most of those boil down to discussions on the line between creating art and appealing to the masses, interspliced with manzai bits. Perhaps in Japanese their rambling banter might be fun, but in this written down and translated form, pretty much every joke falls flat. In manzai comedy you have two roles: the straight man and the fool. Even outside of manzai, the two man cannot shake their roles: Kamiya is a fool and Tokunaga ambodies the role of the straight man. They sometimes, but rarely, switch, which ensures their characters remain neatly within the confines of their archetypes. The ending, in which a defeated Kamiya has gotten himself breasts for the sake of a joke, is mostly tasteless.
apoorvasr's review
4.0
Spark by Naoki Matayoshi translated by Allison Watt
Spark is based on comedians who practice Manzai i.e a duo act who make jokes at each other's expense, which consists of a serious man and a funny man having quick conversations.
The conversations in such a manzai act originated in Osaka.
Tokunaga, a young adult wants to make his name in Manzai and meets his sempai Kamiya in one of the act. This book is no about anything particular. But its about having philosophical arguments about what a comic act composes of.
Relationships come and go.. popularity rises and fades, is stand up comedy a well paid job? How to bring out the freshness in each act and went does it get stale.. what is the right definition of funny and till what direction we you go to achieve hat sense of making other people happy? The author keeps going in loops asking if the comedian has to go in the right path and crack safe humor or self deprecating humor is okay? Where does self respect, imitation and friendship matter in all this.
Kamiya takes Tokonuga as kohei amidst drunk conversations and hotpot they discuss their opinions about manzai.. What happens to the comedian finally? What is the tipping balance in a Manzai act? Kamiya and Tokunaga have contradicting conversations about Manzai but they never match. It seemed more like a deep dive into the right and wrong of being a comedian. But does that guarantee mental peace?
"The essential thing is to disrupt the colourful, beautiful and another unreal, more awesomely beautiful world will appear on its own."
This book kept asking me for more and more.. but the open ending was realistic and made sense..
Spark is based on comedians who practice Manzai i.e a duo act who make jokes at each other's expense, which consists of a serious man and a funny man having quick conversations.
The conversations in such a manzai act originated in Osaka.
Tokunaga, a young adult wants to make his name in Manzai and meets his sempai Kamiya in one of the act. This book is no about anything particular. But its about having philosophical arguments about what a comic act composes of.
Relationships come and go.. popularity rises and fades, is stand up comedy a well paid job? How to bring out the freshness in each act and went does it get stale.. what is the right definition of funny and till what direction we you go to achieve hat sense of making other people happy? The author keeps going in loops asking if the comedian has to go in the right path and crack safe humor or self deprecating humor is okay? Where does self respect, imitation and friendship matter in all this.
Kamiya takes Tokonuga as kohei amidst drunk conversations and hotpot they discuss their opinions about manzai.. What happens to the comedian finally? What is the tipping balance in a Manzai act? Kamiya and Tokunaga have contradicting conversations about Manzai but they never match. It seemed more like a deep dive into the right and wrong of being a comedian. But does that guarantee mental peace?
"The essential thing is to disrupt the colourful, beautiful and another unreal, more awesomely beautiful world will appear on its own."
This book kept asking me for more and more.. but the open ending was realistic and made sense..