ツナグ

Pretty Good, But Not Amazing

Tsunagu is your typical Japanese slice of life novel with chapters telling different stories from the perspective of different people, but centered around one person--the young "tsunagu" who connects the characters of each story with someone who's passed away.

It has all the tropes of a Japanese heartstring puller (stories specifically written to make you cry) but none of the things that normally annoying me. It might be because Tsujimura's writing is really easy to read, the characters feel fleshed out, and plot twists are hinted at instead of pulled out of thin air. (The twists are easy to guess but that happens when your novel is 5 short connected stories instead of over arching narrative.)

The Japanese was really good. I learned a fair few new words and I really enjoy Tsujimura's style of writing.

If you like stories like Before the Coffee Gets Cold or What You're Looking for Is in the Library (but with better writing than both), then you'll like this.

Overall a good read. Wasn't amazing, wasn't bad. 3.5/5

Best for simple, thought-provoking reads

Unlike many stories with a conventional story structure including a protagonist, antagonist, etc. the reader follows along throughout, Tsunagu is different.

This time, you will follow five different people and their POVs on the events, a few of which overlap with one another. The book is an interesting and nonreligious take on the popular philosophical question: "If you could meet anyone who is no longer with us in this world, who would you pick and why?"

As of writing this review, I have not watched the film adaptation so I cannot comment on the similarities/differences.

In short, I strongly recommend it for anyone who doesn't mind or enjoys simpler, slice of life stories that may involve some jumping around between characters.