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omgbiscoffspread's review
5.0
Without a doubt the weirdest book I've ever read. It made me wish I was in grad school again so I could write a paper about it. It also made me crave cucumbers like nobody's business!
houxli's review
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
medium-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? No
5.0
I too am enamored with cucumbers.
The prose is unique, using otomotopia
The prose is unique, using otomotopia
ril_amber's review
4.0
So I've seen a review that started with "Well, I can't keep giving every book 4 stars!".
Yeah, well, WATCH ME. I chanced upon a streak of good books and so help me, I'm gonna enjoy it.
As I was about halfway through Half World, I thought to myself: "I wouldn't mind reading something else by this author."
And I found this. I mean, Japanese-Canadian take on magic realism AND queer representation? With ample reference to Little House on the Prairie Of course I was interested!
I had some mixed feelings about this book at the beginning. Japanese brand of magic realism is decidedly more weird and less incesty than the Western kind, which is great, tbh.
But this story was also very sad and lonely, and oh boy, that was a lot of domestic abuse.
And then, it turned into a hopeful story of gradual change and healing. (And also, this is a story with a protagonist that wear pajamas all day every day (goals!), and lots, lots of lesbians, who are absolutely fine by the end of the story!) And it's wonderful.
Yeah, well, WATCH ME. I chanced upon a streak of good books and so help me, I'm gonna enjoy it.
As I was about halfway through Half World, I thought to myself: "I wouldn't mind reading something else by this author."
And I found this. I mean, Japanese-Canadian take on magic realism AND queer representation? With ample reference to Little House on the Prairie Of course I was interested!
I had some mixed feelings about this book at the beginning. Japanese brand of magic realism is decidedly more weird and less incesty than the Western kind, which is great, tbh.
But this story was also very sad and lonely, and oh boy, that was a lot of domestic abuse.
And then, it turned into a hopeful story of gradual change and healing. (And also, this is a story with a protagonist that wear pajamas all day every day (goals!), and lots, lots of lesbians, who are absolutely fine by the end of the story!) And it's wonderful.
nwhyte's review
3.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3637918.html
A complex novel of a Japanese-Canadian girl whose family moves from British Columbia to the harsher landscape of Alberta, trying and failing to farm rice there. The Kappa is a Japanese water creature; the protagonist becomes mysteriously pregnant; she and her sisters are oppressed by their father and by the heat. The plot threads overlap and I found it a little hard to keep track, but I did enjoy the vivid writing.
A complex novel of a Japanese-Canadian girl whose family moves from British Columbia to the harsher landscape of Alberta, trying and failing to farm rice there. The Kappa is a Japanese water creature; the protagonist becomes mysteriously pregnant; she and her sisters are oppressed by their father and by the heat. The plot threads overlap and I found it a little hard to keep track, but I did enjoy the vivid writing.
dfparizeau's review
5.0
I am stunned by this book.
It is rare that I have such intense feelings of saudade before even finishing a book, which points to how deeply invested I became in the characters. Truly, some of the best character narrative I have ever read.
After reading this book, I am left contemplating whether there truly is a liminality that exists between childhood and adulthood. A rewarding and gorgeous read if you can find yourself a copy.
It is rare that I have such intense feelings of saudade before even finishing a book, which points to how deeply invested I became in the characters. Truly, some of the best character narrative I have ever read.
After reading this book, I am left contemplating whether there truly is a liminality that exists between childhood and adulthood. A rewarding and gorgeous read if you can find yourself a copy.
picaselle's review
5.0
This book is like a real journey. I have never took this much time to read a book of such length but it was necessary. If I rushed through it, I would have missed so many things.
At first, I was not partial toward the main character and, to be frank, I found her disgusting. Her negativity and the overly realistic way in which she described her life, put me off. It was such a strong feeling that a few times I almost wanted to stop reading the book all together. However, what is amazing about "The Kappa Child" is how my perception of the main character changed with her development. The more she was changing herself and understanding the people around her, the more the writing style differed. It was a subtle change but it left a lasting impressions. The negativity and shudder-inducing similes gave way to a more balanced outlook on life. In the end, I actually genuinely started to like the main character and reading the book became a pleasure.
I do think that some people may hate this book. Some people may find it rather shallow as well. However, I think that not only was it written well enough to induce strong emotions in me, it presented its themes successfully and left me satisfied.
At first, I was not partial toward the main character and, to be frank, I found her disgusting. Her negativity and the overly realistic way in which she described her life, put me off. It was such a strong feeling that a few times I almost wanted to stop reading the book all together. However, what is amazing about "The Kappa Child" is how my perception of the main character changed with her development. The more she was changing herself and understanding the people around her, the more the writing style differed. It was a subtle change but it left a lasting impressions. The negativity and shudder-inducing similes gave way to a more balanced outlook on life. In the end, I actually genuinely started to like the main character and reading the book became a pleasure.
I do think that some people may hate this book. Some people may find it rather shallow as well. However, I think that not only was it written well enough to induce strong emotions in me, it presented its themes successfully and left me satisfied.
mikifoo's review
4.0
I preferred this to "Chorus of Mushrooms", and although Joy Kogawa's "Obasan" is the quintessential Japanese Canadian text taught at school in Canada, I think that "Kappa Child" is also one that should be taught. It captures the post-WWII experience of Japanese and Japanese Canadians who were forced to settle east in a manner that highlights the terrible ways in which the Japanese communities were treated.
I read this a few years after I finished my MA as I needed a bit space from Japanese North American lit.
I read this a few years after I finished my MA as I needed a bit space from Japanese North American lit.
gottabekb's review
2.0
Not really sure what to think of this. The writing was beautiful, but the plot was a mess of things with very little resolution.
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