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lesyeux_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, and Sexual content
mukunamatata's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
being abused by him.
Graphic: Rape and Physical abuse
patmaaf's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual content, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Torture and Death
Minor: Child death, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
dariarp's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Slavery
rieriereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
𝘐𝘧 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩. 𝘐𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘐 𝘢𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭. 𝘛𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺
𝙷𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚕 𝙸𝚛𝚒𝚜 by Yoko Ogawa (translated by Stephen Synder) is an eerie, haunting, and disturbing novel. The story starts one night when Mari, a 17-year-old girl, hears a man's loud voice in the hotel her family owns. Captivated by the man's voice, pristine suit, and calm nature. Together, Mari and the old man, whom she calls Translator, slowly start an odd relationship full of pleasure and pain.
To start, this book is not for everybody. Although beautifully written, it is full of heavy themes such as BDSM, pedophilia, loneliness, and so much more. The plot gives off a whirlwind of emotions that makes you either want to read more or stop and DNF it. I was in the middle of both. I'm not easily disturbed by trigger warnings, but this did. Overall though I still wanted to finish it, and it was a ride I probably wouldn't go again.
Honestly, writing a review for Hotel Iris is difficult. Unlike the two other books I've read of Yoko Ogawa, this sticks out like a sore thumb. I significantly like those two more than this. Hotel Iris left me with a queasy feeling after finishing it. It made me wonder, reflect, and question. It is disgusting, and yet I see the odd beauty in it. Especially from the writing; no matter how heavy the story is, I know I would never be disappointed by Ogawa's writing. I highlighted so many lines and have so many thoughts on this book. I do believe though that because Yoko Ogawa is a woman, it makes me say and question less than more (if you get what I mean).
Overall, it was an interesting and thought-provoking book. I would not recommend this because although I liked it, again, this is a book someone should thoroughly check the trigger warnings There is also a thin line between liking and hating it. To those interested in reading this, please tag me, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions. It's a good book to discuss between friends.
📚 | 45
⭐ | 3.5
•••
My Rating System
5 🌟 - Life changing, a new favorite read
4 ⭐ - I loved it
3 ⭐ - I liked it
2 ⭐ - It was okay
1 ⭐ - I hated it but decided to not dnf
Graphic: Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death of parent
darkenthecurves's review
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Sexual violence, and Rape
clammyheart's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Torture, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
tailwhip's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy and Abortion
pirate's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Child death, Death of parent, Rape, and Child abuse
traceymc's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It's thought provoking, unsettling and definitely not for everyone.
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death