Tokyo Ueno Station
Ratings50
Average rating3.3
Stream of consciousness writing ought to be its own genre so I can more easily avoid it.
Did not finish.
The first part of the book I wasn't sure what was going on and who was who. The last half of the book was just sad and frustrating. But it didn't feel like a clear story, more of a collection of thoughts?
Not quite the Miyazaki meets Shirley Jackson I had imagined. Maybe it’s my fault for never really letting go of those expectations.
A contemplative, emotional journey through Kazu's life, which has been full of hardships. This book offers a closer look at homelessness in Japan, juxtaposed with the wealth and easy living of the Japanese imperial family. Evocative and wholly touching, this is one of those books that's nearly impossible to explain and therefore which I can only say to read, read, read and experience for yourself.
I really enjoyed this book with its simplified yet informative history on certain events, places, statues etc in Tokyo especially, and obviously, in Ueno Park. All the history explained in this novel in some way relates to the population of homeless people in the Ueno Park and also the personal life of Kazu. Along with the informative part of this book, I found the writing very beautiful and it felt like hearing personal stories from that of a grandparent. Overall I think this is a great read for people interested in a more realistic view of Tokyo or Japan in general :)
3.5 stars
This book was recommended to me by Luna as part of the 12 in 12 challenge that I am participating in this year. Thanks for the recommendation, Luna!! I have to say this book was out of my comfort zone and I knew that going into it but I was still excited to read it because I trust Luna. This is a pretty short book but it's a heart wrenching book as well. This book goes through Kazu's life and details all the hardships he had to face. Reading about everything he endured was hard to read. You will feel so many emotions while reading this book. This book is translated from Japanese to English and I'm not sure if it was because of the translation or what but it felt a little disjointed. It would literally jump from one thing to the next in the middle of a paragraph that I found myself lost several times and wondering if I had missed something. You have to really be paying attention while reading this book otherwise you will find yourself lost like I did. In the synopsis it tells you this story is about a ghost. Kazu is dead and this is him basically telling his story. However, if I hadn't read the synopsis beforehand, I wouldn't have known he was a ghost. I don't think that's ever mentioned until we are a little ways into the book unless it was one of those instances where I missed something. Overall I did enjoy this book and I am so glad that Luna got me to step out of my comfort zone and read something I wouldn't normally have picked up on my own.
I don't know if I lacked appropriate historical context or if the writing just didn't strike me, but I couldn't find much to enjoy in this book. The themes were interesting and there was some beautiful prose, but so much of the story felt smothered under innumerable references to places, things, people, or events that were never fleshed out.
A century of Japan with hardships and public and personal tragedies, told through the eyes of a laborer. The protagonist is used to support his family by earning money far away, so at the end of his life he chooses homelessness (in Tokyo's Ueno Park) over becoming a burden to a family he barely knows.
I quite liked this, as it's giving a perspective that isn't so common.