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indy148's review
4.0
Lovely novel about the journey of life we take. Set in Japan, it mentions many places I visited when I lived there. Really well written.
aeski's review
emotional
reflective
slow-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? Yes
3.0
I love Banana’s writing style but this book was so long and bland. I wanted to like it but I really struggled to stay engaged. It is possible that I didn’t relate to the themes as much as her previous books and that is why it didn’t appeal to me. I also wasn’t a fan of the supernatural elements. Of all of Banana’s books, I would not recommend this one to a friend.
cami19's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
greeniezona's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jesslynnstudio's review
3.0
I finished Amrita, by Banana Yoshimoto, today. The story is about a young woman adjusting to the tides of life after a head injury left her with partial amnesia. She travels, works, dates, and helps her brother surmount struggles caused by his burgeoning psychic abilities.
While I enjoyed the meandering plot, I wasn't a fan of the repetitive writing style. At one point, for instance, the narrator writes a letter explaining a scene that just occurred, then describes the letter immediately afterwards. Many paragraphs could have been condensed to a sentence or two. There is a tendency to name the feeling metaphors are meant to inspire, within the imagery itself.
Some of the repetition might be due to the story having been translated. Perhaps in the original Japanese, there are many synonyms for single word English equivalents? I don't know. But it took me months to push through this book.
While I enjoyed the meandering plot, I wasn't a fan of the repetitive writing style. At one point, for instance, the narrator writes a letter explaining a scene that just occurred, then describes the letter immediately afterwards. Many paragraphs could have been condensed to a sentence or two. There is a tendency to name the feeling metaphors are meant to inspire, within the imagery itself.
Some of the repetition might be due to the story having been translated. Perhaps in the original Japanese, there are many synonyms for single word English equivalents? I don't know. But it took me months to push through this book.
mistypb's review
1.0
Like a 1.5….
Why is she dating her dead sisters boyfriend… and why doesn’t anyone in the book acknowledge how weird that is….
It’s not really a coherent novel imo
Why is she dating her dead sisters boyfriend… and why doesn’t anyone in the book acknowledge how weird that is….
It’s not really a coherent novel imo
radha_aroha's review
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
_dustypage_'s review
3.0
I have mixed feelings for this one.
On the one hand, the novel does not have any actual plot, so everything feels really fragmented and disconnected. Mostly the narrative moves along in whichever direction the main character, Sakumi, thinks. As a result, once you put down the book, it’s really hard to pick it up as there is no drive, nothing interesting that urges you to continue reading.
On the other hand, Banana’s writing has always appealed to me the same way. Her prose somehow feels extremely peaceful and calming to me. Parts where she writes about the sea speak to me the most. I can just read that for hours and hours without ever feeling bored.
That is to say, giving a book with no plot a higher review is not something I do, no matter how much it pains me to 3-star a Banana Yoshimoto book.
On the one hand, the novel does not have any actual plot, so everything feels really fragmented and disconnected. Mostly the narrative moves along in whichever direction the main character, Sakumi, thinks. As a result, once you put down the book, it’s really hard to pick it up as there is no drive, nothing interesting that urges you to continue reading.
On the other hand, Banana’s writing has always appealed to me the same way. Her prose somehow feels extremely peaceful and calming to me. Parts where she writes about the sea speak to me the most. I can just read that for hours and hours without ever feeling bored.
That is to say, giving a book with no plot a higher review is not something I do, no matter how much it pains me to 3-star a Banana Yoshimoto book.