svmreads's Reviews (412)

I tried to get into this, I really did. But it was just too meandering for my taste.

A lovely, charming, and surprisingly touching story from Hiromi Kawakami, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I had no idea this was actually a companion novel to Strange Weather in Tokyo until I read the Goodreads description, but I think this could be read as a stand-alone.
I love how Kawakami subverted my expectations with this story - I went into it thinking it would be about one thing, and then she went into a different direction which I completely appreciated.
I’m excited to read Strange Weather in Tokyo and more Kawakami in the future!

I've been reduced to a puddle of mush

This is 100% the type of book where you finish it and the only thing you can do is stare at a wall.
Words can’t express how much Severance captivated me. Ling Ma’s exploration of religion, routine, and ritual under apocalyptic conditions/late-stage capitalism is absolutely brilliant, and reading this book as Covid still has a hold on the world brings a chilling relevance to the text.
Severance is a new all-time favorite of mine and I cannot recommend this book enough. I am so thrilled to read Ling Ma’s collection of short stories, Bliss Montage, when it is released in September! 

Best part about the book was the cover and the quote “this is a consequence of the wellsprings of spontaneity that I count on to feel alive.”
Other than that, a largely unreadable slog.
I would recommend Hiromi Kawakami’s People from My Neighborhood if you’re looking to get into flash fiction.

Too heavy and depressing for me at the moment. May return at a future point.

My boyssss

I’m so happy to exist in the same timeline as this book