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kristinerisch's review against another edition
5.0
As a foreigner living in Japan this book gave me a beautiful picture of Japan and gave words to many feelings and experiences that I've had in my interactions with this complex and vibrant culture. A very lovely book.
kappafrog's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
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
The writing style of these stories is beautiful. I highlighted so many passages that made me pause. Waters has a gift for commenting on the abstract and how it manifests in our environment. Some of the reflections on age and memory were particularly moving.
The reason I'm giving this a slightly lower score is that the stories blend together. Images stand out in the memory, but not the individual characters or circumstances as much. Many of the characters have the same internal voice.
That said, I enjoyed each story. I recommend this collection to anyone looking for contemplative tales about the many changes Japan went through in the 20th century.
The reason I'm giving this a slightly lower score is that the stories blend together. Images stand out in the memory, but not the individual characters or circumstances as much. Many of the characters have the same internal voice.
That said, I enjoyed each story. I recommend this collection to anyone looking for contemplative tales about the many changes Japan went through in the 20th century.
walshero's review against another edition
5.0
Gorgeously crafted, poignant stories of post-war Japan. One of my favorite collections of short stories.
miamia1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Very difficult story/subject to read but couldn’t put it down
misscharlied's review against another edition
4.0
I've realized that short story collections are not my favorite, but this book made me want to read more Japanese-themed books. I liked how she incorporated their language and culture. I was somewhat bored throughout this book, but I do like her writing style.
mavenbooks's review against another edition
3.0
A collection of nice Japanese stories, but not as enjoyable as her novel. The stories felt more fast-paced than the novel (I enjoyed its slow nature), and some overlapped with the novel or with each other. I liked some of the variety, but it was just ok overall.
threadpanda's review
5.0
This collection of short stories is phenomenal. All of the stories are from the point of view of Japanese characters, most of them living in Japan. These stories investigate how people were affected by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. If you're familiar with the simple beauty of Japanese haiku, you'll love Waters' use of language throughout the book. She uses words carefully and precisely and these stories leave you feeling like you lived these people's experiences. It's a wonderful book.
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