Reviews

My Neighbor Totoro: The Novel by Tsugiko Kubo

tinusreads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Following up Howl's Moving Castle this is the second book i have read that got turned into a famous Studio Ghibli animation adaption. Unlike Howl's Moving Castle however, this book came a bit after the movie. So the book is quite similar without losing any magic of the story.

I read and finished this book in my parents house close to the woods and the sea. And there is something about the imagination of Mei and Satsuki that brought me back to my own youth too. Where the line between reality and fantasy is still a blur. Untouched by adulthood, willing to take it all away. And Totoro is what weaves it all together.

A beatiful story where animism is the major theme. At times funny and quite relaxing right up until the last chapter. It's no secret as to why this story and it's characters are so loved. We all had this precious magic once, and if provoked we can all notice it's still there in our hands. Sometimes we just need a book to get it going again. I'll be looking for acorns and chestnuts in the forest now.

abigailhope13's review against another edition

5.0

it made me happy and also gave my heart a big hug

lobsterpal's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

okjaaaaa's review against another edition

sometimes you just need a cute silly little hug but like.... as a book.

classynoname's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

rienkat's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

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

3.75

dromwald's review against another edition

4.0

I've always been a fan of Japanese animation and particularly Studio Ghibli films so when I saw this little hard-backed book based on one of my favourite Miyazaki animations for less than a fiver I knew I had to pick it up. The story itself is deceptively simple; two little girls move to the country from Tokyo with their father and move into a 'haunted' house and subsequently meet a strange creature called Totoro. It is actually about much more than this of course as the girls explore a simpler life in rural Japan and make the most of things whilst their mother is in hospital.
It is a children's book and both the narrative and prose are not complex - but the story has depth if you choose to look for it and the prose has a beauty all of its own.

bells_books's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

dreamer626's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

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

3.0

fablefeather's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

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

3.75