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Deblovestoread
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=covers&year=2024

I am always excited to see NPR‘s yearly favorites list. It does tend to explode my TBR.

Chelsea.Poole This is one of my favorite lists of the year. 1w
49 likes1 comment
review
squirrelbrain
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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Pickpick

Quite different to the other Ogawa books I‘ve read, this was very sweet and whimsical and not very ‘challenging‘ or complicated at all.

Tomoko, aged 12, is sent to live in her Uncle‘s opulent mansion, where she makes friends with her cousin Mina who is one year younger and in delicate health.

It did read like a children‘s book at times and I loved it whilst reading it, but it‘s immediately gone out of my mind since I finished it.

squirrelbrain Have you read this one yet, Barbara? @BarbaraBB (edited) 2w
sarahbarnes This is on my list - I‘m intrigued even though it does sound so different from her others. 2w
BarbaraBB I haven‘t! I bought a copy in Manchester but haven‘t gotten to it yet. Curious about it after your review! 2w
See All 8 Comments
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll both like it, even though it‘s rather different! @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 2w
willaful Is there “Secret Garden“ inspiration? 2w
squirrelbrain No, I don‘t think there is @willaful - no-one is cantankerous and, although Mina is ill, Tomoko doesn‘t ‘rescue‘ her. 2w
Megabooks I‘m surprised this didn‘t make the longlist! 2w
squirrelbrain I‘m not that surprised having read it @Megabooks - it wasn‘t ‘out there‘ enough for the list, I don‘t think. 2w
64 likes8 comments
review
Pinta
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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Pickpick

Light & lovely coming-of-age story, Tomoko lives a year w/ wealthy extended family. Girlhood, crushes, friendship, fantasy. Strong trans. Stephen Snyder 2024
81 “If you wanted to describe Mina in a few words, you might say she was an asthmatic girl who loved books & rode a pygmy hippopotamus. But if you wanted to distinguish her from everyone else in the world, you‘d say that she was a girl who could strike a match more beautifully than anyone.”

review
brushlo
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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Pickpick

so good. loved her book memory police as well. this book captures the complex feelings of being a young adult staying in a new city with extended family. the cast of characters are great. loved it! just good vibes.

review
Hooked_on_books
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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Pickpick

A girl is sent to live with her wealthy extended family including cousin Mina and a tame Pygmy hippo. I enjoyed this story while listening, but it‘s not sticking at all and I really wished Ogawa had leaned into the quirk instead of giving just a little. I think it‘s worth reading but ultimately a bit forgettable. A low pick.

sarahbarnes I‘m interested in this one since I like others of hers I‘ve read, but reviews seem mixed. 3mo
41 likes1 comment
review
BookishTrish
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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Mehso-so

This was charming in an almost Wes Anderson way. I liked it but was never really into it - and I definitely feel like the blurb and cover promised me more hippo.

TieDyeDude I have a replica of this hippo. A former co-worker's father used to make replicas for museum gift shops. 3mo
rwmg @TieDyeDude I do not have an artistic or handicraft-y bone in my body, but what a cool job 3mo
36 likes3 comments
blurb
bookish_wookish
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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Starting this one on my lunch break!

sarahbarnes I really like this writer and didn‘t know about this one! Stacking. 3mo
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
vlwelser
Mina's Matchbox | Yoko Ogawa
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Pickpick

This is an early book from this author. Totally enjoyable. Added bonus is a pet pygmy hippo living in the family's garden.

#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

US pub date is 8/13/24
#ARC #Netgalley

JanuarieTimewalker13 Stacking!! 8mo
batsy Sounds good! 8mo
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 8mo
42 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
KristiAhlers
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Pickpick

This light novel may be one of my favorites. I love the world building and the way the author tells the story. This #mangatheme reading month has really exposed me to some different and yet highly entertaining stories! I'm finding I truly connect with the writing of these authors. #bookspin @thearomaofbooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!!! 1y
37 likes1 comment