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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) 5d
sarahbarnes This is on my list - I‘m intrigued even though it does sound so different from her others. 4d
BarbaraBB I haven‘t! I bought a copy in Manchester but haven‘t gotten to it yet. Curious about it after your review! 4d
See All 8 Comments
squirrelbrain I think you‘ll both like it, even though it‘s rather different! @sarahbarnes @BarbaraBB 4d
willaful Is there “Secret Garden“ inspiration? 4d
squirrelbrain No, I don‘t think there is @willaful - no-one is cantankerous and, although Mina is ill, Tomoko doesn‘t ‘rescue‘ her. 3d
Megabooks I‘m surprised this didn‘t make the longlist! 9h
squirrelbrain I‘m not that surprised having read it @Megabooks - it wasn‘t ‘out there‘ enough for the list, I don‘t think. 8h
62 likes8 comments
review
Night_Reader
Lemon | Yeo-sun Kwon
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Pickpick

4/5 🌟

This short, intriguing and brilliantly crafted novel follows a family's grief after the brutal murder of a young girl, told through three perspectives. As the victim's sister seeks closure years later, the story reveals the impact and consequences left behind.

quote
Bertha_Mason

“I've got a neighbor who blacks out after a night out drinking. Maybe death is a stiff drink that helps you forget the boring night out that is your life.“
-“Diary of a Murderer“

quote
Bertha_Mason

“Words are slowly escaping me. My head is turning into a sea cucumber. A hole is opening up. It's slimy and everything escapes through it.“
-“Diary of a Murderer“

quote
AroundTheBookWorld
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There‘s no point in dwelling on the past, but you acknowledge it and try to make things better. Or try a new way, and know that this time will be different.
#ThisTimeWillBeDifferent #MisaSugiura #lastline #closingline #book #books #bookshelf #bookshelves #bookshelfie #bookshelfies #shelfie #shelfies #bookstack #bookstacks #stack #stacks #bookstore #YoungAdult #Contemporary #Romance #Fiction #LGBT #RealisticFiction #Audiobook #AsianLiterature 💙💙

review
Nebklvr
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Pickpick

This sweet, slow burn romance puts a spotlight on the pressures put on high achievers in high school. The friendship between Sadie and her best friend was amazing. The bitterness between Sadie and Julius, her nemesis and love, became almost cruel at times. While Sadie had some resolution with her family, Julius had none. I wasn‘t always wishing for a HEA for these two.

blurb
xicanti
????????: Seven Stories | Yukio Mishima
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From today‘s Outdoor Reading With Schnauzers session. I think novella-length is my sweet spot with Yukio Mishima. I got tired of SPRING SNOW, a novel, a fair ways before it ended and none of the shorter pieces in this collection wowed me, but I really enjoyed both the novellas included here.

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