An anthology of “dreams seen in childhood,” told through both text and illustrations. Frightening dreams, bittersweet dreams—or even dreams about wetting the bed…? Mitsuyo Kakuta, Rio Shimamoto, Kanako Nishi, Hiroyuki Agawa, Toshiyuki Horie, Hiroshi Homura, Genichiro Takahashi, and other renowned authors weave stories of “dreams,” accompanied by beautiful artwork.
(Translator: ChatGPT)
Mixed, but helpful for understanding my reading preferences
This was a mixed collection for me, but I'm glad I read it because it helped me understand my preferences better.
Some of the stories were difficult to enjoy, especially the more abstract or literary ones. I struggled most with stories where not much actually happened, or where the meaning was vague and open to interpretation. Those felt slow and hard to stay engaged with, even though the grammar itself wasn’t always difficult.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed the clearer, more concrete stories. The first two, as well as the final story, stood out as the strongest for me. They were a bit weird, but things were actually happening and I could follow them easily.
Vocabulary-wise, it wasn't too bad overall, but some stories required more effort. One story used older spellings and historical kana usage, which made it more difficult to read. The biggest challenge overall was staying engaged when the content felt abstract or directionless.
I would recommend this collection mainly to readers who enjoy literary or experimental writing, or who want exposure to a range of styles. If you prefer clear, story-driven narratives, some of the stories may not be very enjoyable.
Overall, I'm glad I read it, but I probably wouldn't choose another anthology like this again.