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(3.82/5)Very engaging, end a bit lacking
I really enjoyed the story and it was an engaging read. The most fun I had reading in a while and I finished in within a few days. The language was not particularly difficult and while the genre would be considered fantasy, it's all set in a real world setting without any particularly difficult words or concepts/ideas.
Only the ending felt a bit rushed and left me wanting a more information.
Very interesting ideas, somewhat disappointing execution
I actually listened to the audiobook of this, just for reference. The story centers around 浦島トンネル (named after the famous 浦島太郎 legend) where time passes faster inside than out. The main characters explore this tunnel because they each hope to reclaim something they've lost, and it's said that you can find anything you desire on the other side. The catch, of course, is that you'll lose time in the world now with all the people you know. This idea is really cool, and the way they explore the tunnel and test it's abilities feels very realistic, so I loved that part. Unfortunately, I didn't really get attached to the characters. Neither felt especially well developed and the romantic dynamic between them felt very forced.
Thought this was a pretty well done "boy meets girl" story with a bit of a sci-fi twist and nice message. Could have used a bit more time to cement some of the characterization, but with the plot and later half of the story being as interesting and well-paced as they were I couldn't help but keep reading it to the end once the story picked up.
For use with learning this also has a lot going for it:
- The audiobook is well done for those who use that approach with reading
- The vocab is more expansive than most romance light novels I've read, but not by way of using really "domain-specific" vocab as happens in many stories centering around a certain job or hobby.
- Some pretty interesting use of language: figurative speech, idioms, etc
I recommend being familiar with the story of 浦島太郎 before reading this book as it's referenced a few times. If you don't know the story yet, a quick summary can be found here: http://nihon.syoukoukai.com/modules/stories/index.php?lid=23
If you like the listening/reading method, the audiobook follows the written counterpart pretty much perfectly.
I honestly wasn't that engaged with the story, even at the end the characters felt rather poorly developed to me, but the plot was interesting enough that it wasn't hard to keep going. The real value in this book is the expansive vocabulary used and a scattering of idioms. Great as a learning resource!
Pretty forgettable, but with a memorable gimmick
I want to give this a 2.5 because it's just fine, but I think in this case it'll be rounded down to a 2 instead of up to a 3.
I just listened to the audiobook (from audiobook.jp) while doing other things and didn't read along. Only note I have re: the audiobook is that Karen's voice actor had the most horrible, grating voice I've ever heard. Maybe I'm misremembering but wasn't she supposed to be 10 when she went missing? She sounds 4 years old.
I usually read a buuuuunch of reviews before deciding if I want to commit to a book, but I was looking for an audiobook to listen to while multitasking/commuting and I like this author, so I just picked it up.
I think it's the weakest of this author's books that I've read, which I find quite surprising as it's his most popular book! I preferred the autumn book over this one for sure (this is part of his seasons and SF themed series), although that one appealed to me more with its brand of SF twist. As with all of his books that I've read, the language is easy and everyday. If you're looking for an author to multitask to, Hachimoku Mei is one.
I will fully admit that I was only half paying attention for some bits, but I did leave the book a bit confused as to what kind of person Hanashiro was. She just seemed to jump all over the place to whatever was the most convenient personality for her to have at the time imo.
I also found the romance........ cringe is the only word that comes to mind. I muuuch preferred the MCs' dynamic in the autumn book.
I think it kind of dipped in the middle and then picked up again at the end. I will say I'm more interested in what happens after the book to these characters now compared to the autumn book though! I'd actually really enjoy a more introspective short story or something taking place after this that deals with the fallout of losing years and years to the tunnel and emerging in a different world, the MC technically being an adult but looking like a child still, etc.
The fantastical elements kept the story interesting and kept me guessing at how the story would end. I thought the protagonist was a little bit boring and passive, though I wonder if this is maybe just typical of light novel protagonists. The difficulties of his life were almost comically pitiful as were the antics of the "mean girl", yet it's not too depressing.
This is the first light novel I've read. There was a lot of new vocabulary for me.
It's a great first light novel for me and I'd recommend it. That this is a single-volume story and not part of a series makes it less intimidating to read.
Watching the movie after made me appreciate the novel even more. The movie has some questionable differences like using mobile phones more and leaving out most of the conflict with 川崎さん and leaving out much of what happens after the climax of the story and Having 紅葉 trees instead of 鳥居.
If you watched the movie in the theatre in Japan you were able to receiving a 23-page extra bonus epiologue chapter in which they move to Tokyo watch a movie in Shinjuku and follow some mysterious 女子高生 into a tunnel where they don't actually travel through time but catch a glimpse of some momiji ending with an ambiguous feeling of mystery.
Interesting idea, entertaining, good audio, but can be better
I both listened to the audiobook and read the e-book. I can understand much better from reading, though. I find penmanship amusing.
Just like everyone has said. Characters can have more depth. Heroine better than the rest of the cast, but just barely 7.5/10.
The concept of the Tunnel is interesting, but in the end, I hope more of the mystery and supernatural-ness.