kou
I enjoyed it overall but it was quite the hectic party with the multiple POV changes, and the audiobook was another party of its own (three narrators, all talking in different speeds so I constantly had to change the speed). Still enjoyed the comeback of familiar characters, and the introductions of the new ones! I think I probably have enjoyed it more without the audiobook.
TWs: Bullying, suicidal attempts, terrorists (planes), trauma (psychological/mental)
My life has been changed, soundlessly, instantaneously.
What a beautifully written novel, yet so heartbreaking and sad ;-; The story is written like an autobiography in the present tense as Elaine reminisces memories as she is getting ready for her retrospective exhibition.
It's unfortunate that Elaine had resorted to vengeance and took on Cordelia's 'persona' as she grew up. Though, it could have been different depending on many factors. How might it have been if someone had noticed what Elaine was going through? Who could have stopped Cordelia's bullying? Would they all have been drinking tea as old friends if it had been identified early on? Elaine's vengeance clouded her vision and perhaps came to the realization too late.
TWs: confinement, kidnapping, sexual assault, police brutality, natural disaster (aftermath of)
Time is a great healer. It just flows on all of its own accord.
What happens when you lose memories, the objects that once held meaning, and they all disappear?
Major props to the translator, Stephen Snyder, for providing such a translation that pierces and kept me going! In this odd situation, where objects and memories disappear one by one, with no explanation as to how it happens, the dystopian society provides immense tension as we follow the narrator and her story.
The opposites meet their fate at the end and leave it open for the reader, which may be frustrating. But perhaps there is still hope out there through what is kept hidden and safe.
Other quotes:
I clutched the packet and the envelope to my chest and started up the stairs, feeling the warmth of the old man's body still lingering in the objects.'Men who start by burning books end by burning the men.''Our memories have been battered by the disappearances, and even now when it's almost too late, we still don't realize the importance of the things that have been lost.'
4.5 rounded up; this was really cute! I suppose it's a more romance book so the fantasy/magic components/world building were very shallow but still enjoyable. I think the con is the background story behind Niamh's illness? I feel like it was so quickly brushed on despite its severity -- I need an epilogue about it or something
Holy shit, go read this book. rtc because I need to proceeeeeeeeess AHHH
TWs: Alcohol and drug abuse, death of a parent, PTSD, suicidal thoughts/attempts
Highly, highly recommend reading with the audiobook!!!
補導委託の中、自分の家族をの事をわかり合う親子達。時代とともに、毎日変わっていく日々、人のこころや親子としてどう愛情を表現するか。親として、子としてどういう責任を持っていくのか。人生をどう生きていくか描かれている小説で、大切にしたい作品です。
TWs: suicide, depression
3.75 rounded up; I enjoyed the vignettes and the short chapters, but some of them seemed a little irrelevant or random with different facts and things, trying to connect the pieces together.. it bagan to jumble up and make no sense at one point. I highlighted quite often in the beginning, so many lines that I could relate to, but once the brother's death happened, her grieving looked different than what I expected. I thought she would grieve more (with the synopsis giving that message of "what if other can't live without them?'), or maybe it wasn't portrayed well/strongly enough. But grief looks different for everyone.
最後のおやつは、何を食べたいですか？
TWs/閲覧注意: Terminal illness/末期症状の病気, death of a family member/家族の死
When death approaches, people may often think of a last meal. At the Lion's House, the residents of this hospice have a chance to submit a request for what snack/dessert they would like to eat once again. Every Sunday at 3:00 pm, the residents gather together and eat a snack/dessert item that was submitted.
The story follows Shizuku, who recently was told how long she has due to her illness. Facing her last moments of life, she reflects on her memories, meets other residents of Lion's House and Lemon Island, and enjoys the delicious meals that she took for granted.
A beautiful story about letting go, death, grief, and gratitude. (The dishes that come out in this book sound so good – they will make you hungry!)
TWs: (mentions of) pedophilia/lolicon
Picked it up based on the synopsis, but I didn't expect the context and how the story would unravel between Niki and Kouichi.. Despite Niki being a pedophile, the message and his (forced but ultimately helped) support for Kouichi was kind of heartwarming. I had to laugh occasionally due to its ridiculous turn of events. The ending makes the reader ponder where the two will go and how Kouichi may develop and figure himself out.
本当にやばい先生が出てきて、でも何だかんだ広一を助けてる二木先生... ストーリは成り立ってて、広一を応援してて一瞬で読んでしまったけど、先生が小児性愛障害者というのは... oh my god lol
TWs: misogyny/sexual stereotypes
「普通の人間っていうのはね、普通じゃない人間を裁判するのが趣味なんですよ。」
3.5 rounded up; This book was frustrating because of the misogyny and Asian cultures have this norm, and it's tiring. Keiko repeatedly being told she's not normal, and how she needs to be changed in order to fit the woman stereotype. The journey toward the end was interesting, but I think I was just angry/frustrated most of the time lol
TWs: Discrimination
“What's wrong with living the way our ancestors have always lived?
3.5 rounded down.. or is it a 4?? I don't know!! I really enjoyed the aspects and the topics of indigenous people, their traditions/cultures, and being placed into a colonized, modern world. A topic and question still important to our current modern world as many cultures shift into modernization and integration of technology.
The con for me was also the pacing, repetition, and the odd romance (I say odd because I personally did not expect it lol). Much of the action happens at the very end of the book, so the pacing confused me quite a bit throughout the book. The writing was not my cup of tea, perhaps it is because it's a YA book.
DNF at 64%
I actually kind of enjoyed the writing at first and though it's kind of dramatic (or maybe really dramatic) but it gave this big impact, but when it's repeated so frequently, it becomes tiring. Also Ren ghosting Cathy and Cathy's letters were the opposite of enjoyment. Ren's narrator made it kind of interesting to listen to but.. I am over it lol also the synopsis talks about blood but menstrual blood and all that was not what I was expecting. TMI
in through the noseout through the mouth
I am in awe! The cover and some of the art inside while I flipped through the book caught my eye, but now that I've read it all.. It left deep thoughts, reminders, and inspiration (now I want my own pocket-sized Moleskine!). I didn't know that it was about Covid, but it was an impactful way to put what families went through this time (even today). It affected us all, and this book reminded me to breathe and keep what is close. Now to go search for a copy for myself!
This is such a beautiful collection of short stories with amazing illustrations of all sorts!
3.5 rounded down; This book immediately reminded me of [b:Our Wives Under the Sea 58659343 Our Wives Under the Sea Julia Armfield https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633437192l/58659343.SY75.jpg 92277854] for some reason, maybe because of its quietness and uncertainties throughout the book. There's really no plot, a narrator-mother duo traveling around Japan as the narrator reminisces. I think it threw me off that the memories were beginning to stray, like it started it off with narrator-mother, so I expected its memories to be more connected with them, but it began to be all sorts of things and it immediately disconnected me. I enjoyed the first half, didn't care much for the last half. Beautiful writing though.
Trauma and depressing moments of war. Disturbing thoughts when you face death. The introduction was captivating but I felt a little disconnected in the middle, especially because the phrase God's Truth was used so much.
I accidentally clicked on a spoiler early on and spoiled myself with the ending, so I ended up meticulously highlighting a bunch of things that Sheppard said or did. So when chapter 13 hit, it seemed that Sheppard could be the suspicious one. He and Poirot seemed to have a lot of conflicts, compared to Hastings (though, I've only read one book with Hastings lol but the language is slightly different between the two). I also really like that he brought up how he's the Watson to Poirot's Sherlock, but definitely more “foolish” as this book brought up quite a lot :Chuckle: I really like how it ended! I suppose Sheppard is the foolish one, thinking he can outsmart the Poirot the hair dresser LOL Caroline was the MVP, saying all these things about his brother, and they were all quite true about his true nature..
3.5 rounded up; I'm really torn... I really loved the tea magic concept and the different competitions, which were quite unique! The cons that I faced: Ning's journey suddenly introduced and she jumps right in, the romance was quite immediate, and this darn cliffhanger!!! ;-; Maybe it's just me but I wished it was told in third-person; I felt like it would have been more fitting, but it sounds like the author wanted to use first-person phrases/expressions. Also, so much poison and dying, as well as the poison's severity being on a spectrum, it was kind of weird -- like does it kill immediately, why was Shu's one for so long? I really loved knowing Kang's background and the mystery behind it, but the cliffhanger just sjhfgdksg
Copy/paste from BLC and added comments; This was quite an interesting book! First, I really enjoyed the way it's written, quite addicting I thought! I'd also agree that the 'magic' or ability that Travis had was not used enough, so I felt like it was.. 'useless', for this plot. I thought going in, Travis would be constantly using it throughout the book to better understand it and capabilities beyond what he can do and how to use it, which I was excited for. Instead, it just came up in the beginning and at the end, and I feel like it could have probably just been taken out entirely, and the story would have still made sense. The build-up in Part 1 was great! Travis travels and shares his story of his father, his power, and his sister's death. But again, a great ability fell short as it was only brought up after (for him). I expected the story to further explain his ability, so I guess it's a good thing it gave me a totally different plot..? I'm not sure what to think. The fact that Levi used hypnosis to brainwash and control everyone.. I kind of guessed it by the end of Part 2 but I was still surprised lol I guess my theory behind the inkblot works! (loss of reality, psychosis, seeing unusual things, etc.) Frustrating that the mom kind of strongly nudged her daughter to go to Pastoral, but I'm glad Theo and Calla decided to stay together and continue with their 'new' life, leaving their old, painful past aside. Edit: Since it seems I missed the chuck at the ending, it brings the attention of what is happiness? Do you leave everything behind and back to a place where you were thinking who you actually weren't?
Truly a heartbreaking novel about a mother who loses her daughter and tries to figure out who the culprit is while navigating a world with her Parkinson disease. I really appreciated the Afterward at the end, solidifying the concept and meaning of the phrases, scenes, and characters in the story.
This was such a lovely read! From characters to plot to the development of it all.. All in a short story! I loved the writing so much. Definitely will set it aside for a reread in the future