Very original book

There is virtually no plot in the book but is all about the range of experiences of a woman in Tokyo (and possibly most women everywhere). Very original and just rolls out fairly gently with various characters e.g the narrator's sister, niece, agent etc. The weakest part was the ending which didn't really do justice to the rest of the book.

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Fascinating read

This is a fascinating read. It explores the role of women in Japanese society and bodily autonomy, and has some really thought provoking (or disturbing, depending on your anxiety levels) reflections on life and death and the ethics of having children. The writing is excellent and really brings the characters to life. Some of it is (in the second part of especially) is darkly funny, excruciatingly so at points. I found it a little over long and slow paced but I think that's because I listened to the audiobook, I think it may be better to read in print.

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9 people found this helpful

Excellent Narration!!

I think this audiobook’s narration is what really worked - I was completely engaged by the main reader, and having multiple narrators made the dialogue really enjoyable.

It’s interesting hearing Japanese phrasing and speech style translated into English, I think it might come across as meandering, dramatic or overly self-deprecating sometimes to a western reader, but I believe this is more of a cultural difference and I really enjoyed how it was translated.

It was a great backdrop, and for people who’ve spent time in Osaka (Minato ward/港区 for example) or Tokyo (around Sangenjaya/三軒茶屋) it’s interesting to hear about local sights and history.

I think this book provided a great look into Japanese society when it comes to family, women and children, and an insight into social issues in Japan such as women’s rights and the falling birth rate.

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1 person found this helpful

really enjoyed

took me a while to get into this but really enjoyed how it covered topics of fertility, physical appearance and growing up. I found the narrator easy to listen to

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Utterly Beautiful book

Every word is crafted and draws you in. Perfect narration.
I was compelled to write a review this book, to express to others how moving it is. Very feminine, feminist, modern and educated but not at the expense of the traditional. The characters are well rounded and real. The narrators expertly bring them to life so you believe their struggles and fears.

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Loved the prose, but...

Natsu was a puzzle at the start and remained so at the end! I couldn't find a reason why she was as she was or stayed so. The relationship with Aizawa was "resolved" in massive leap before the rushed ending, which came as a surprise given the minute detail with which the two books of the novel had been described. Why had we been put through all of that, then? What relevance was book one to book two beyond being two periods in this very odd (actually, just clinically depressed) woman's life?
This book was a real head-scratcher for me. I like Emily Woo Zeller's voice, but why was every sentence spoken like a dramatic statement with almost no performance? It was a little odd.
Still, I didn't NOT enjoy it though, and it made a nice change for me to read literature set in modern working class.

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Well read

I chose this novel because of the reader and I wasn’t disappointed. However, I found the story a bit irregular: very well written, very thought provoking issues but the ending didn’t convince. I was hoping for something more unexpected to happen at the end.

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A Masterpiece...

I loved every single moment of this book. Wonderfully translated and narrated - a poetic journey of a young woman making her way through life. I look forward to revisiting these books again one day.

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6 people found this helpful

Dreamy

I loved this. Subtle and clever, complicated and sad. When it was over I missed these sisters and their funny, sad lives. I wanted it to go on forever.

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1 person found this helpful

Could have been much better

A very well written and narrated book, dealing with very profound and thorny themes like donor conception and surrogacy especially when seen through the filter of Japanese society and culture.

The only thing that spoiled what could have been a masterpiece is the unending self pity and self loathing of the main characters. Even the beautiful birth and hope at the end doesn't make up for their pervasive pessistic worldview.

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