March 31, 2023

This is a book with multiple narrators. The voice and thought processes of each narrator are different, and I found some of them harder to read than others. In terms of reading difficulty, there's also frequent mention of famous people of the time (2002), TV programs and movies, brands and Tokyo neighbourhoods.

I think it's better to get into this book without knowing much about it, so I'll refrain from saying much. A motley group of young people end up sharing a two-bedroom apartment in Tokyo. As they each take up the narration in turn, we get to know them, or think we do. Do we ever really know anyone? As one character comments, we all construct a version of ourselves for the people we're with. Most of the book is just people describing their daily lives and small incidents at home and outside, their thoughts and some of their past, and it feels for the most part relaxed and somewhat unfocused, yet it kept my interest throughout. The ending definitely leaves an impression.

Gradings:19
1
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omk3 graded
on May 20, 2024
omk3 graded
on February 25, 2024
omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
harder than憤死L33
omk3 graded
on December 28, 2023
harder than月の裏側L33
omk3 graded
on December 4, 2023
omk3 graded
on October 12, 2023
omk3 graded
on August 31, 2023
easier than家庭用安心坑夫L38
omk3 graded
on August 22, 2023
similar in difficulty to予言の島L37
omk3 graded
on May 31, 2023
harder than硝子の塔の殺人L33
omk3 graded
on April 26, 2023
easier than推し、燃ゆL36
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023
harder than夜市L29
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023
similar in difficulty to三毛猫ホームズの推理L31
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023
easier thanユージニアL36
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023
similar in difficulty to狐火の辻L35
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023
similar in difficulty to叙述トリック短編集L34
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023
similar in difficulty to告白L33
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023
harder than秋の牢獄L31
omk3 graded
on March 31, 2023