Litsy

Strange Weather in Tokyo | Hiromi Kawakami

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A slightly bittersweet story of companionship and love. Written in the quirky, quiet style that I love about Japanese fiction. Great descriptions of food and lots of great non sequiturs and frank dialogue. And a lovely story as well. I really enjoyed it. Book 2 for #10BeforeTheEnd.

ChaoticMissAdventures

BarbaraBB This was a fun read. Beautiful photo too 🩷 2d

sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 🩵 It really was. I‘m excited that she has a new book out, which sounds really different from her others I‘ve read.

Under the Eye of the Big Bird: A Novel

ChaoticMissAdventures ✅ great job! 2d

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BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes that sounds like a book we‘d like! And like a possible ToB longlisted one 😀 2d

sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB I agree! 😁 2d

sarahbarnes @ChaoticMissAdventures thank you! 😊 2d

27 likes1 stack add6 comments

BookNAround

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

I started this 4 months ago for #camplitsy but set it aside. I‘m picking it back up in hopes of finishing it this time. And yes, I know it was not universally appreciated by the readers back then but I am nothing if not contrary, so here‘s hoping I enjoy it!

TheBookHippie 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😅😵‍💫 3w

BarbaraJean I didn‘t necessarily enjoy it, but I found it fascinating!! Hope it‘s a good read for you! 3w

BarbaraBB I liked it! 3w

See All 9 Comments

CogsOfEncouragement I‘m really appreciated this one. Enjoy! 3w

Bookwormjillk I liked this one! 3w

mcctrish I‘m glad I read it and it has to be finished to be appreciated imo 3w

dabbe I just finished a couple of weeks ago for #camplitsy! 😂 3w

kspenmoll I was ambivalent at first but I ended up liking the book, glad I read it. 2w

Suet624 I liked it. Of course I‘m now trying to remember how it ended. 5d

60 likes9 comments

andrew61

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

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My irl group discussed this bk this evening. Great discussion of a story that explores cultural expectations of women, weight, + food in Japan. Told by reporter Rika, who interviews Kajii, apparent female serial killer of older men. Kajii is a gloriously manipulative character who twists Rika + her best friend Reiko round + round. A fascinating look at Japan, a country I'd love to visit. Overlong, no murders, but enjoyable + grt for a bk grp

47 likes

Readerann

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

so-so

I know this is based on true events, but I was never more than casually interested in how the story would unfold. I had the feeling some of the translation was a little awkward. I‘m also sure I would have enjoyed it more if I were a foodie. 😊

16 likes

TheEllieMo

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

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I feel like I‘ve been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride with this book. At times, the level of detail was infuriating, I found the behaviour of the main character, Rika, difficult to understand, and I was expecting to give it a low score, but by the end, I felt a connection with Rika. I loved the book, and I‘ve got lots of ideas for simple food involving butter that I can make when I get home from work!

24 likes

Night_Reader

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

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3/5 🌟

A journalist seeks an exclusive interview with a woman on trial for the murder of three men. Did she commit the crime or not? I loved the premise, the writing, and the themes of gender roles and body image. However, the book was too lengthy. It would have been a much better book if it had been more concise.

16 likes1 stack add

LeftyDv

The Thief | Fuminori Nakamura

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Symbolism permeates this book about a thief who is reckoning with his past and his future all at one time. The dark underworld of Japan is its own character - bristling with dread and unquenched desires. Are we to trust the narrative of the thief? Or has he metaphorically stolen something from us as we distract ourselves in the tale? Nakamura leaves it open-ended enough for us to decide for ourselves.

4 likes

dabbe

Butter: Roman | Asako Yuzuki

so-so

It only took me almost 3 months, but I finally finished this, #CampLitsy! I thought of quitting many times, but something inside of me wanted to finish. Learning about the culture and delicious descriptions re: food was what made me want to finish. The story itself dragged on way too long, and I found most of the characters unlikable, especially Kajii, the so-called serial killer who is set to go on trial. Too much telling and not enough showing.

kspenmoll Like your “ too much telling and not enough showing.” This book took me some time to get through too- very unlikeable characters. 2mo

dabbe @kspenmoll That's probably the one thing I would tell students over and over re: their writing: “Show, don't tell!“ 😂 2mo

Texreader Excellent review. But I loved this book—I thought it was a such a good description about how women focus so much on their weight and what other people think about them. I loved how the main character came into her own and was happy with that. But yes, the serial killer was awful and some descriptions were just gross 2mo

dabbe @Texreader Agree 💯. There were parts I loved (like what you described), but overall, it fell flat for me. It tended to feel like it was going on and on and on, and I wanted Rika to figure herself out more quickly! 😂 2mo

Texreader @dabbe I agree!! 2mo

66 likes5 comments