Reviews

Botchan by Joel Cohn, Natsume Sōseki

dyno8426's review against another edition

4.0

Botchan is bound to remind you of Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye if you have read it, and more so if you loved the latter like I did. However, there is a difference in the mood between the two. Botchan (which is the name of the main protagonist of this story) feels much hardened and rough compared to Caulfield. They share a same exterior sense of hardness and cynicism regarding one's fellow humans, while preserving a tenderness that is precious and relatable. (In all faithfulness, I don't remember Caulfield's portraiture in exactness and I don't want to refresh it with an external view; nor do I want to taint the precious first impression it had on me.) Botchan's development shows how his early and insignificant life has toughened his world views. His almost deadpan narration of how unloved he felt by his own family evokes pity. The fact that he only felt really cared for by his housekeeper Kiyo deserves our sympathy. This also plays an important recurring aspect of his humanizing sustenance when he reveals more memories about his time with Kiyo. But through all this harshness, we see that Botchan is a good man at heart. That's because we quickly realize how idealistic he is. He upholds high standards of living, particularly with how humans should behave with each other, big or small. And Botchan is not too old as well - consider the fact that the story focuses on his getting job as a teacher, just after graduating, and accepts an assignment in a remote, unfamiliar territory, beyond the comforts of his used-to life, just out of whim and lack of any special preference. Therefore, his inexperience and passion to champion those ideals, vocally and strongly, only foretells disappointment in store for him. Combine this idealism with youthful energy, high expectations and a catalytic teenage angst, and you see Botchan ready to burst into conflict and action at every opportunity possible. As he constantly encounters non-idealistic townsfolk, his criticism and contempt for them only increases his bitterness and rebellious nature. While Botchan's aggression and conflicting nature makes him look arrogant and with fewer friends than even your average introvert person, you as a reader resonate with that pure spirit that either was once alive in you or protectively preserved in you - a spirit full of hope, goodness and a power to change. Botchan's narration reveals contradiction at places. We see self-deprecation in his narration; some may argue it as humility or plain honesty. He does not expect much from himself. He considers himself unexceptional and lacks ambition. However, his courage and confidence in what he is ready to fight for shows some belief in his capability to change. Other explanation could be that he has nothing to lose except his ideals. So, his all-out attitude could be desperation. Similarly, branching from contradiction, there is a contrast of tenderness in Botchan that one feels for as mentioned before. Botchan, like Salinger's Caulfield, hates two-faced nature and cowardice of any sort. Because of that, he is highly appreciative of and actively seeks honest people, who of course, are a rare qualification according to him. This is also endearing and empathizing about him. He constantly misses the humility of his past housekeeper, Kiyo, amidst the dishonesty of the hostile people whom he keeps encountering. We cheer for him when he finds a fellow colleague who he deems respect-worthy. Time has not becalmed his youthful fires within and smoothened his harsh exteriors without, yet. He is constantly on guard and ready to fight or rebel if needed. During other more sombre moods, he is ready to flee at a moment's notice. He appears defeatist despite his defiance. His pride and refuge of his Tokyo memories are his only respite from his loneliness and unhappiness. I loved Botchan as a character because he makes you feel youthful in all the right and wrong ways.

yeshi's review against another edition

3.0

it's a little lite and quick book- a japanese classic - and has similar feels as 'catcher in the rye'. slightly funny and slightly sweet here and there.

gvh_14's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

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

4.25

gabingy's review against another edition

4.0

La verdad me gustó mucho más que la obra anterior que leí del autor. Siento que me transportó perfectamente a la mente del personaje principal. Me gustó mucho lo graciosa e irónica que era. Necesito comprarla en físico porque me divirtió mucho leerla. ๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑

patuso's review against another edition

3.0

Cómo me gusta la forma de ver la vida de los japoneses, siempre tan detallistas y prestando atención a todo lo que les rodea, a las estaciones y climatología...

Sobre el libro en sí... pues me ha entretenido cuando lo iba leyendo, pero no me ha mantenido enganchada.
El argumento tiene poca fuerza, se centra en la rutina y en la descripción de historias cotidianas de un profesor de instituto en un pueblo rural de Japón.
Hay momentos en los que tiene su gracia, pero para nada hasta el punto de hacer reir en voz alta o a carcajadas como sugiere alguna sinopsis del libro.

No me ha gustado para nada el final, esperaba algo más elaborado en el plan de Puercoespín y Botchan.
Puede que sea el cruel y fiel reflejo de la sociedad ... pero la moraleja que se extrae no me parece nada instructiva, de hecho no entiendo que sea un libro de referencia en institutos.

chou520's review against another edition

5.0

everyone needs to read this, it was so good and definitely worthy of being so revered! i wish i had read something like this in high school, it’s simultaneously funny and so intellectually relevant to the never ending predicament of what it means to grow into an adult in a culture which rewards vice

also has one of the best opening lines i’ve ever read — ‘Because of an hereditary recklessness, I have been playing always a losing game since my childhood.’

shireadsalot's review against another edition

funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

ellamareading06's review against another edition

2.0

2.5
It was a medium experience tbh I can appreciate it but I think that since it was a translation (and I say this a lot) it had less of a flow and as I wasn’t very captivated by the plot or connected to the characters it made it more challenging to enjoy.
I did enjoy the themes and the writing was not terrible, the plot definitely picks up in the second half.

ro_cio12's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad fast-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

5.0

ssesiliiaa25's review against another edition

5.0

It's a good book indeed! I love it, the humor this book contains was why i love it so much. There are also some lesson learned in this book and it means so much for me. It's my first book that written by Japanese author, i read the translation ver, Indonesian ver! I recommended this book to those who wants to read a short book yet a fun and good story.