Reviews

The Forest of Wool and Steel by Natsu Miyashita, Philip Gabriel

marlensophie's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

4.75

jennifertijssen's review

2.0

Niet mijn onderwerp, en iets te abstract met de beeldspraak. Kon me er totaal niet mee verbonden. Hoofdpersoon was ook iets te blanco om interessant te zijn.

jaina's review

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

8797999's review

4.0

A very enjoyable read, it did remind me of some books by Robert Seethaler that I have read previously. My first time reading this author and I look forward to more translated fiction by them in the future.

A lovely, charming and warm plot with excellent and relatable charcaters.

A gem of a book and one I will be purchasing to read again. This copy was an ARC provided via NetGalley.

3.5 rounded up.

slowa_w_filizance's review against another edition

3.0

To zdecydowanie była książka z potencjałem. Bardzo podobały mi się w niej przemyślenia na temat sztuki i piękna. Przyjemny był też klimat, taki ciepły i spokojny... Przynajmniej dopóki książka nie stała się zbyt spokojna. Bo o ile na początku sam klimat i ładny styl pisania mi wystarczaly, potem miałam poczucie, że historia nigdzie nie zmierzała i ciężko mi było kontynuować. Ale jak komuś odpowiada takie no plot just vibes based on music, to całkiem przyjemna historia

skbrooke's review

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

imogens_corner's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing

3.75

lily_daisy's review

hopeful relaxing fast-paced

4.0

yuyu8's review

hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

“The Forest of Wool and Steel” by Natsu Miyashita is a beautifully written novel with poetic prose and abundant reflective quotes. The story delves into an intriguing niche—the journey of a piano tuning apprentice. It begins with the protagonist’s first encounter with a piano and follows his progressive path toward mastery.

The novel opens our eyes to the depth and breadth that a seemingly niche topic can achieve when infused with the magic of words. It explores how one can hold their work dear and strive to give their best.

The portrayal of protagonists in Japanese stories finding their true calling or true love and dedicating their lives to it is intriguing and romantic. While it may not always align with reality, it captures our imagination. I wonder, though, if there’s ever a fleeting moment when they question whether they’ve chosen the correct path.

The novel also prompts reflection on materialism. In a world where everyone competes for the materialistic gains, do we choose a career based on financial gain or how much it enriches our lives?
The quote, “Playing the piano is not how I’ll make a living. It’s how I’ll make a life,” resonates deeply. 

Anyone who loves the piano and admires the Japanese craftsman’s pursuit of perfection will find joy in this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

karinacheah17's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25