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Sep 2023
10:17pm, 29 Sep 2023
53,181 posts
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McGoohan
Our Oct 2023 book kicks off Season Seven of the Fetch Book Group. It's written by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and translated from Japanese by Geoffrey Trousselot.
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Sep 2023
10:21pm, 29 Sep 2023
53,182 posts
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McGoohan
Mostly very positive opinions on Amazon but I give you this one star review to balance that.
Angela
1.0 out of 5 stars El paquete llegó dañado y el libro también.
Reviewed in Spain on 19 May 2023
Verified Purchase
El libro ha llegado doblado y muy arrugado. La verdad es que es un libro caro y me hubiera gustado tenerlo en perfecto estado. No voy a devolverlo porque no quiero tener que esperar a que me llegue otro, pero no estoy contenta.
I'm guessing that says, 'packaging damaged and book was torn. They offered me a replacement but I'm not happy. One-star.' Is so, it shows that Amazon reviewers can be just as stupid in Spain as they can in the UK.
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Sep 2023
10:25pm, 29 Sep 2023
43,691 posts
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Night-owl
Blimey season 7
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Oct 2023
4:08pm, 2 Oct 2023
81,748 posts
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Diogenes
Is this the season where we jump the shark?
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Oct 2023
6:47pm, 2 Oct 2023
53,188 posts
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McGoohan
Oh I think we already water-skied over that particular shark back in Season 3 or 4 
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Oct 2023
4:47pm, 3 Oct 2023
64,244 posts
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LindsD
Am I the first?
OK. I'm wondering whether there is something about Japanese that means that when it's translated into English it feels overwritten, or whether I've just been unlucky and every book I've ever read that's been translated from the JP has been poorly translated. I think a. is more likely than b., and I can see that (with my translator head on) there is often an imperative to maintain the 'foreignness' of a book (actually my PhD was related to this). However, it's annoying. The beginning of this book, in particular, felt like I was being mansplained to or had travelled back in time to primary school.
I also struggled to remember who was who at first and how they were related.
It either settled down or I got used to it, as I stopped noticing it so much after about 1/4 of the way through.
I liked this, but didn't think it was special. It's one of those sorts of books that offer "insights" into the human condition through a sci-fi device. It reminded me a bit of The five people you meet in heaven. I did care about the characters by the end and was happy that things were mostly wrapped up. Again, though, it was obvious to me what was happening with Kei's daughter even when it wasn't obvious to the characters.
I gave it a 7 but I don't think I'll read any more.
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Oct 2023
7:59pm, 6 Oct 2023
43,808 posts
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Night-owl
OK finished this late last night or possibly just after midnight this morning
After the bookshop raved about it I was expecting more reminds me when I worked in the cinema if you forgive the analogy
Sometimes a film gets released and it gets so hyped up when you see it it's a bit disappointing it's still a good film just not as great as they made out
This book is like that I read each of the 4 stories each night at first I was thinking hurry up get on with it
I did like it but I didn't love it
I'll probably give it a 6
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Oct 2023
8:06pm, 6 Oct 2023
64,327 posts
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LindsD
Liked it but didn't love it. Exactly
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Oct 2023
10:41pm, 9 Oct 2023
53,198 posts
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McGoohan
Well, I've finished. I'll review it tomorrow so I don't want to let on just yet what I thought of this absolutely appalling garbage fire of a book. I'll keep that a secret for now.
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Oct 2023
10:58pm, 9 Oct 2023
64,380 posts
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LindsD
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