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thewordsdevourer's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
yoshimoto once again proves that she's the it writer for me, w/ how she so masterfully encapsulates in goodbye tsugumi nostalgia, longing, the bittersweetness of parting, as well as the small moments and details that define and impact one's life.
though some notable things do occur, the novel is mostly comprised of everyday moments from an idyll summer, thus while it is relaxing to read at the time, it can make the book forgettable plot-wise, however i think yoshimoto strives to achieve a certain tone and feeling more than focus on plot. and while i do get where tsugumi's coming from, she still irks me w/ her abusive ways; like it doesnt hurt to be a nicer person??
the climax, meanwhile, is tense yet cliche, non-stereotypical yet baity at the same time, and i have mixed feelings w/ it along w/ the new english title that invites misunderstanding. from my non-japanese-speaking POV, however, the book does come across as seamlessly translated.
though some notable things do occur, the novel is mostly comprised of everyday moments from an idyll summer, thus while it is relaxing to read at the time, it can make the book forgettable plot-wise, however i think yoshimoto strives to achieve a certain tone and feeling more than focus on plot. and while i do get where tsugumi's coming from, she still irks me w/ her abusive ways; like it doesnt hurt to be a nicer person??
the climax, meanwhile, is tense yet cliche, non-stereotypical yet baity at the same time, and i have mixed feelings w/ it along w/ the new english title that invites misunderstanding. from my non-japanese-speaking POV, however, the book does come across as seamlessly translated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Gaslighting, Murder, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Animal death
queenkath32's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, and Animal death
mxpringle's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I feel like this book was too slow paced for me to where I felt like I was just waiting for something to happen, which only happened in maybe the last 50 pages or so. Definitely very well written, but it both felt very solemn and felt like I read nothing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Terminal illness
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Torture and Murder
sleepyriv's review
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
michela_ognibeni's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Chronic illness
angrybookworm's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
There is something so beautifully simple about Banana Yoshimoto's writing that really brings out the genuine feelings of living. From the beginning of the story you think you know how it's going to end, and it sort of does end that way but it sort of doesn't. The characters are very forward in this story, which I usually would think takes away from telling a story like this but instead it highlights the importance of what they say to each other. At it's core, this is a story about cousins and sisters being girls together. We see a love story come to life in front of us, and watch the trials of it from the outside, while still getting all of the feelings of being young adults, teenagers really during the summer with the people you care about. It's about starting over and going back and knowing how to move forward without losing your roots and I cried three times because I have never seen all of these feelings captured so accurately in a book before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
major_tom's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's a slow and emotional ride, which I greatly enjoyed. It was interesting to see so much character analysis in such a small book. While reading, I could imagine the protagonist sitting there and recollecting her eventful summer in a fish town, where she got to glimpse inside the soul of someone quite unfortunate.
I liked how my perception of the story changed as the plot developed further; I was hard to predict such a big change given how slow and reflective the pacing is.
This book will not be enjoyed by everyone, but I think it's a nice read.
I liked how my perception of the story changed as the plot developed further; I was hard to predict such a big change given how slow and reflective the pacing is.
This book will not be enjoyed by everyone, but I think it's a nice read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Chronic illness, Terminal illness, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
kaneebli's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Chronic illness
jselliot's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Although not quite a traditional epistolary novel, it is still told as somewhat a recounting of past events in a slice of life approach. The mood of the novel carries an infusion of nostalgia and the highlights of rural living. Perhaps because of that nostalgia, it ignores the downsides of that lifestyle. (I particularly enjoyed how the scenery and locations were described, giving the seaside tourist town a more modernized feel of the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons atmosphere.) And while Maria is the narrator, the real star of the show is her cousin, Tsugumi ... who could sometimes be a little infuriating, but she was also an engaging and nuanced chronically ill person.
Also, I recommend checking out Astrocourt's review, as they go into many of the same thought processes I had while reading it:
Also, I recommend checking out Astrocourt's review, as they go into many of the same thought processes I had while reading it:
- https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/fe513494-49ac-4ff3-a69b-b4100f1b23db
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
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