This started off strong, with definite Heartstopper vibes, but jeez the trauma just piled on at the end. I didn't love the way some of it was handled,This started off strong, with definite Heartstopper vibes, but jeez the trauma just piled on at the end. I didn't love the way some of it was handled, or maybe *not* handled. It was a lot, and I'm not sure the messaging...existed? That poor kid....more
This fantasy story from 1970 starts with the MC waking up in a hospital and realizing he doesn't remember who he is -- but he's pretty sure he's in daThis fantasy story from 1970 starts with the MC waking up in a hospital and realizing he doesn't remember who he is -- but he's pretty sure he's in danger.
So the first part of the book follows him as he tries to piece together the clues of his past, and then the second part is heavy fighting/action, but the third part is where it really sucked me in.Â
I found the first two-thirds interesting objectively but wasn't feeling truly invested in the outcome for the majority of it. For me, that always means a book is a candidate for DNF'ing, which I considered here a couple of times, but I've been trying to read more of the "classics" from this time period, and since it was keeping my attention I stuck with it. And then by the end I could not. put. it. down. So I'm glad I stuck with it, but it's a loooong series, and I don't have any interest in continuing it.
The writing style isn't my favorite, the MC isn't my favorite, and it looks like there won't be any real resolution for quite a while. Book 1 definitely concludes an arc, so it works as a stopping point even though there are mostly just a bunch of unanswered questions and unresolved issues, which isn't the most satisfying reading experience, but it does work pretty decently as a standalone to set up the rest of the series. Not quite as much of a standalone as I was expecting, but I'm still glad I read it for the "classics" experience....more
I liked this, but it was very much Phase 1 of a larger story, and four years later there's still no followup. I wouldn't say the ending wasn't satisfyI liked this, but it was very much Phase 1 of a larger story, and four years later there's still no followup. I wouldn't say the ending wasn't satisfying. It makes sense as an ending for Book 1, and there's no cliffhanger -- but there's also no Book 2.
I have no regrets reading this, and writing this way overdue review 9 months later I can still say I'd pick up Book 2 tomorrow if it existed. Just pick it up as a young girl's coming of age/coming into her own story, not as, let's say, a romance, because that part is still to come (or possibly not, but I would guess yes). This isn't written as a Young Adult book, though. YA has not been working for me at all this year, and I would classify the writing as adult fantasy even though the MC is 13 to 15 years old. Not because of the content, to be clear, just because of the writing style....more
This is such a weird little book. I'm not really sure what the point was. Half of what I found interesting were the details about day-to-day life in JThis is such a weird little book. I'm not really sure what the point was. Half of what I found interesting were the details about day-to-day life in Japan, which is obviously *not* the point since this was not written for an international audience.
I thought we were going to see the MC navigate her way to a romantic relationship with an unusual co-worker, which I was all in on -- Takeo was the most interesting character in this; I think I was more invested in him than the MC -- but that didn't really happen either.
At times I wondered if maybe this wasn't as good a translation as the other book I've read from this author, but it's the exact same translator so I don't think that's the problem.
I don't know. It took me a couple of chapters to get into the flow, but it was a quick, easy read after that. A puzzling, mildly enjoyable read with interesting glimpses of Japan....more
Loading...
