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spav's review against another edition
4.0
This one, just as Natsuki Ikezawa’s “Mariko/Mariquita”, has such a powerful and exotic narrative that gets you from page one.
belle_fiction's review against another edition
4.0
Short but incredibly well written and packs an emotional and wistful punch.
RTC
RTC
bamairi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
porge_grewe's review against another edition
5.0
A funny, relatable literary puzzle. Reads like a chat with a friend ruminating on life and relationships, albeit a friend who you don't quite understand. Matsuda's joyfully haunting style, introduced to English readers through her short story collection 'Where the Wild Ladies Are' (tr. Polly Barton), keeps the tone light and fun throughout even as some unease begins to creep in regarding what is actually happening here. Having got to the end I still didn't fully understand it, but I'll be glad to go back to it in a month or so to get a new perspective, then the next month, and again, and again, and again.
dylankakoulli's review against another edition
3.0
I think it’s safe to say, Aoko Matsuda is quickly becoming one of my favourite contemporary Japanese authors.
Playing around with themes of memory, ageing and social constructs -especially when those pertaining to gender, Matsuda (with the translational help of Angus Turvill) has created a beautiful -if eerily written, short story.
Yes it may be “unresolved” or at least ambiguous in its ending, but it certainly managed to satisfy this voracious readers appetite (27th book this year already?!)
Definitely the strongest in the Keshiki series so far.
3.5 stars (4 if only it were longer!!)
Playing around with themes of memory, ageing and social constructs -especially when those pertaining to gender, Matsuda (with the translational help of Angus Turvill) has created a beautiful -if eerily written, short story.
Yes it may be “unresolved” or at least ambiguous in its ending, but it certainly managed to satisfy this voracious readers appetite (27th book this year already?!)
Definitely the strongest in the Keshiki series so far.
3.5 stars (4 if only it were longer!!)
eely225's review against another edition
4.0
This very short volume presents an exercise in floating away. What first appears to be a puzzle of shifting narration ultimately says as much about what the reader brings into the story than what the author tries to present. I have my theory about what the author is trying to say, but like a just-wrong puzzle piece, it doesn't fit perfectly. I am torn between jamming it in anyway and sitting in the ambiguity of contradictory conclusions, but it's entirely likely that that's where the reader is supposed to end up.
Recommended broadly for those who want an interesting and brief reading challenge that demands a second look.
Recommended broadly for those who want an interesting and brief reading challenge that demands a second look.
jonathan_zo's review
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
3.0
hannahsimpson's review
challenging
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
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