What do you think?
Rate this book
A Perfect Day to Be Alone
It was raining when I arrived at the house. The walls of my room were lined with cat photos, set in fancy frames just below the ceiling.
When her mother emigrates to China for work, twenty-year-old Chizu moves in with 71-year-old Ginko, an eccentric distant relative, taking a room in her ramshackle Tokyo home, with two its resident cats and the persistent rattle of passing trains.
Living their lives in imperfect symmetry, they establish an uneasy alliance, stress tested by Chizu's flashes of youthful spite. As the four seasons pass, Chizu navigates a series of tedious part-time jobs and unsatisfying relationships, before eventually finding her feet and salvaging a fierce independence from her solitude.
A Perfect Day to Be Alone is a moving, microscopic examination of loneliness and heartbreak. With flashes of deadpan humour and a keen eye for poignant detail, Aoyama chronicles the painful process of breaking free from the moorings of youth.
When her mother emigrates to China for work, twenty-year-old Chizu moves in with 71-year-old Ginko, an eccentric distant relative, taking a room in her ramshackle Tokyo home, with two its resident cats and the persistent rattle of passing trains.
Living their lives in imperfect symmetry, they establish an uneasy alliance, stress tested by Chizu's flashes of youthful spite. As the four seasons pass, Chizu navigates a series of tedious part-time jobs and unsatisfying relationships, before eventually finding her feet and salvaging a fierce independence from her solitude.
A Perfect Day to Be Alone is a moving, microscopic examination of loneliness and heartbreak. With flashes of deadpan humour and a keen eye for poignant detail, Aoyama chronicles the painful process of breaking free from the moorings of youth.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2007
219 people are currently reading
7,146 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 723 reviews
April 21, 2025
Nanae Aoyama¡¯s A Perfect Day to Be Alone is a novel that attempts to capture the quiet struggles of early adulthood but, alas falls short of leaving a lasting impression.
The story follows 20-year-old Chizu as she moves to Tokyo, seeking independence while her mother works in China. With no money, she stays with Ginko; elderly relative and spends a year navigating love, heartbreak, work, and loneliness. While the premise holds promise, the execution feels lackluster and uninspired.
One of the book¡¯s strengths lies in its seasonal structure, which mirrors Chizu¡¯s emotional journey. The division into Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter provides a framework for her growth; and Aoyama¡¯s spare, understated prose effectively conveys the melancholic atmosphere of her life in Tokyo. There are moments of deadpan humor and subtle introspection that add depth to the narrative, and the contrast between Chizu, her mother, and Ginko offers a thoughtful exploration of generational differences and societal expectations. Ginko, in particular, stands out as a character who embodies resilience and fulfillment, providing a stark contrast to Chizu¡¯s aimlessness.
However, the novel¡¯s flaws are hard to overlook. Writing unlikeable character can be a hit or a miss, depending on how you write your character. Chizu, as a protagonist is cynical, unmotivated, and often mean-spirited. While her flaws may make her realistic, they also make it difficult to root for her especially for a reader like me, who places a lot of importance on how a character is portrayed. That said, characters don¡¯t necessarily have to be kind or good to be compelling; the way the story is told and the depth of their development is what play a crucial role in shaping the reader¡¯s engagement. As for me, it is not worthwhile.
Much of the reason is that her lack of curiosity, ambition, or meaningful relationships leaves little to invest in, and the story often feels stagnant as a result. The plot itself is thin, with little happening beyond mundane daily struggles, and the pacing can feel tedious at times. Therefore, the book¡¯s reliance on symbolism and ambiguity may appeal to some, but it often comes across as superficial ¡ª leaving too much unsaid and too little to hold onto.
Nevertheless, the novel¡¯s exploration of loneliness and the challenge of adulthood is relatable in theory, but Chizu¡¯s constant negativity and lack of growth is what make it hard to fully engage with her journey (perhaps a matter of preference and subjective experience). While the ending attempts to strike a hopeful note, it feels not merited as Chizu¡¯s development throughout the story is minimal at best.
Ultimately, this book did try to find meaning in the mundane, but struggles to deliver an imperative or memorable experience. While it has moments of insight and a few well-drawn characters, its unlikable protagonist, slow pacing, and lack of plot make it a taxing read. For those who enjoy introspective, slice-of-life stories, it may offer some appeal, but unfortunately, it seems to me that this is forgettable and disappointing.
The story follows 20-year-old Chizu as she moves to Tokyo, seeking independence while her mother works in China. With no money, she stays with Ginko; elderly relative and spends a year navigating love, heartbreak, work, and loneliness. While the premise holds promise, the execution feels lackluster and uninspired.
One of the book¡¯s strengths lies in its seasonal structure, which mirrors Chizu¡¯s emotional journey. The division into Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter provides a framework for her growth; and Aoyama¡¯s spare, understated prose effectively conveys the melancholic atmosphere of her life in Tokyo. There are moments of deadpan humor and subtle introspection that add depth to the narrative, and the contrast between Chizu, her mother, and Ginko offers a thoughtful exploration of generational differences and societal expectations. Ginko, in particular, stands out as a character who embodies resilience and fulfillment, providing a stark contrast to Chizu¡¯s aimlessness.
However, the novel¡¯s flaws are hard to overlook. Writing unlikeable character can be a hit or a miss, depending on how you write your character. Chizu, as a protagonist is cynical, unmotivated, and often mean-spirited. While her flaws may make her realistic, they also make it difficult to root for her especially for a reader like me, who places a lot of importance on how a character is portrayed. That said, characters don¡¯t necessarily have to be kind or good to be compelling; the way the story is told and the depth of their development is what play a crucial role in shaping the reader¡¯s engagement. As for me, it is not worthwhile.
Much of the reason is that her lack of curiosity, ambition, or meaningful relationships leaves little to invest in, and the story often feels stagnant as a result. The plot itself is thin, with little happening beyond mundane daily struggles, and the pacing can feel tedious at times. Therefore, the book¡¯s reliance on symbolism and ambiguity may appeal to some, but it often comes across as superficial ¡ª leaving too much unsaid and too little to hold onto.
Nevertheless, the novel¡¯s exploration of loneliness and the challenge of adulthood is relatable in theory, but Chizu¡¯s constant negativity and lack of growth is what make it hard to fully engage with her journey (perhaps a matter of preference and subjective experience). While the ending attempts to strike a hopeful note, it feels not merited as Chizu¡¯s development throughout the story is minimal at best.
Ultimately, this book did try to find meaning in the mundane, but struggles to deliver an imperative or memorable experience. While it has moments of insight and a few well-drawn characters, its unlikable protagonist, slow pacing, and lack of plot make it a taxing read. For those who enjoy introspective, slice-of-life stories, it may offer some appeal, but unfortunately, it seems to me that this is forgettable and disappointing.
May 9, 2024
Nanae Aoyama¡¯s prize-winning novel¡¯s a bittersweet blend of slice-of-life and coming-of-age story. It¡¯s narrated by Chizu who¡¯s just turned 20 - not much younger than Aoyama when this originally appeared in 2007. Chizu¡¯s lived alone with her mother since early childhood but now her mother¡¯s taken a teaching job in China. Instead of going with her, Chizu opts to move to Tokyo to stay with older relative Ginko, someone she¡¯s never met. Suddenly thrown together, the two women are at very different stages in life. Ginko¡¯s in her seventies, residing with her cats in a one-storey house in the Tokyo suburbs, for Chizu she¡¯s a source of fascination and occasional irritation. Like many Japanese novels, Aoyama¡¯s book unfolds over the course of a year from spring to spring, following Chizu in her efforts to define herself: to work out who she wants to be and how she wants to live. There are no major plot developments, Aoyama¡¯s emphasis is more on character and mood, as Chizu forms a tentative bond with Ginko, drifting between bad relationships and equally dead-end jobs.
Aoyama¡¯s clearly invested in representing women on the margins of Japanese society, her central character Chizu provides an opening for an oblique exploration of Japan¡¯s so-called ¡°freeters¡± (¥Õ¥ê©`¥¿©`, fur¨©t¨¡), a group of younger people not in education or full-time employment. Instead, they seem somehow rootless, engaged in low-status, temp work. Most often women, "freeters" like Chizu are frequently represented as a social problem, misfits who¡¯ve failed, or refused, to achieve the status of adult in Japanese society: seemingly without aspirations; lack of money makes them less likely to live independently, marry or produce children; a potential economic burden because they don¡¯t contribute to pensions or have health insurance.
Aoyama¡¯s sympathetic but refreshingly unsentimental portrait of Chizu raises additional issues relating to femininity and cultural expectations. Chizu¡¯s clearly uncomfortable in her own skin, she longs for meaningful relationships yet holds herself apart from everyone around her. Prickly and frustrated, Chizu exists in a state of muted rebellion, she supposedly despises those who appear settled and ¡°normal¡± but secretly envies their apparent certainty. She expresses her yearning for intimacy by stealing small objects from people around her, reminders of loss and/or symbols of what might have been. She carefully scrutinises older women like her mother and Ginko in an attempt to work out what futures are possible. Although at times some of Aoyama¡¯s creative choices, such as placing Ginko¡¯s house next to a train station to suggest transition and fleeting connection, felt a little obvious. They also prefigured Aoyama¡¯s ultimate refusal to provide a neat or lasting resolution to Chizu¡¯s predicament. Displaying the influence of writers like Banana Yoshimoto and Fran?oise Sagan, Aoyama¡¯s acutely-observed piece rewards close reading. I particularly enjoyed and admired Aoyama¡¯s controlled combination of the direct and the lyrical, the copious, atmospheric depictions of light, colour and sensation. Although I would¡¯ve loved to see some scenes that presented things from Ginko¡¯s perspective. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher MacLehose Press for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
Aoyama¡¯s clearly invested in representing women on the margins of Japanese society, her central character Chizu provides an opening for an oblique exploration of Japan¡¯s so-called ¡°freeters¡± (¥Õ¥ê©`¥¿©`, fur¨©t¨¡), a group of younger people not in education or full-time employment. Instead, they seem somehow rootless, engaged in low-status, temp work. Most often women, "freeters" like Chizu are frequently represented as a social problem, misfits who¡¯ve failed, or refused, to achieve the status of adult in Japanese society: seemingly without aspirations; lack of money makes them less likely to live independently, marry or produce children; a potential economic burden because they don¡¯t contribute to pensions or have health insurance.
Aoyama¡¯s sympathetic but refreshingly unsentimental portrait of Chizu raises additional issues relating to femininity and cultural expectations. Chizu¡¯s clearly uncomfortable in her own skin, she longs for meaningful relationships yet holds herself apart from everyone around her. Prickly and frustrated, Chizu exists in a state of muted rebellion, she supposedly despises those who appear settled and ¡°normal¡± but secretly envies their apparent certainty. She expresses her yearning for intimacy by stealing small objects from people around her, reminders of loss and/or symbols of what might have been. She carefully scrutinises older women like her mother and Ginko in an attempt to work out what futures are possible. Although at times some of Aoyama¡¯s creative choices, such as placing Ginko¡¯s house next to a train station to suggest transition and fleeting connection, felt a little obvious. They also prefigured Aoyama¡¯s ultimate refusal to provide a neat or lasting resolution to Chizu¡¯s predicament. Displaying the influence of writers like Banana Yoshimoto and Fran?oise Sagan, Aoyama¡¯s acutely-observed piece rewards close reading. I particularly enjoyed and admired Aoyama¡¯s controlled combination of the direct and the lyrical, the copious, atmospheric depictions of light, colour and sensation. Although I would¡¯ve loved to see some scenes that presented things from Ginko¡¯s perspective. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher MacLehose Press for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
May 24, 2024
Interpretacja, kt¨®r? dostajemy pod koniec ksi??ki nieco uratowa?a ten tytu?, ale kompletnie si? z nim rozmin??am. Zlapalam si? na tym, ?e nie interesuje mnie dok?d zmierzaj? historie.
May 28, 2024
Musz? i?? na odwyk od takich ksi??ek.
January 19, 2025
Japanese culture goes from one extreme to the other ¨C movies like Guinea Pig : The Devil¡¯s Experiment, Tetsuo The Iron Man, Tumbling Doll Of Flesh, Visitor Q and Tokyo Gore Police (watch these from behind your sofa or better don¡¯t watch them at all); then books like
Coin Locker Babies by Ryu Murakami which is completely mad; then all those ones by Haruki the other Murakami, they are pretty weird; and then you get little novels like Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto and the (rightfully) beloved Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata where it¡¯s all about alienated women gradually going mad and dissolving or managing to stay sane but only just. Extreme violence and extreme boredom. Nothing in between.
This little novel (novelette? no, I hate that word) is a not much good version of Convenience Store Woman. 20 year old Chizu goes to Tokyo to find work and lives with a 70 year old lady and footles and mooches around and gets stupid part time jobs and dislikes pretty much everything and can¡¯t find any really solid reasons for stayin¡¯ alive and th-th-th-that¡¯s all folks.
Random point : I don¡¯t get how Japanese people aren¡¯t all overweight ¨C on every other page Chizu is going on about food
While the two of them picked away at a single plate of cabbage rolls, I silently devoured everything I¡¯d ordered, beef tendon braised in black vinegar, veal Milanese, German potato salad, mackerel sushi wrapped in bamboo leaves, and an orange sorbet
(In every Asian movie I have seen there is a scene where they have a family meal about five minutes from the start but they are all slender. What is the secret.)
But the real problem here is that Chizu is mindnumbingly bland and uninteresting as she mopes about, and the old dame she lives with isn¡¯t the most electric raconteur you ever came across either. At the moment of high drama when Chizu breaks up with her boyfriend this is what they say :
¡°You like someone else, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡±
¡°I know you do.¡±
¡°It¡¯s Ito-chan, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°No, I mean, I don¡¯t know. Sorry.¡±
¡°You might as well come out and say it. How can you be so casual about this?¡±
¡°About what?¡±
¡°About everything.¡±
¡°What¡¯s everything?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know, okay?¡±
Well not everything has to be Dostoyevsky but really.
Two stars not one because I still get a cool feeling when I read a novel in a day, even one like this.
Coin Locker Babies by Ryu Murakami which is completely mad; then all those ones by Haruki the other Murakami, they are pretty weird; and then you get little novels like Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto and the (rightfully) beloved Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata where it¡¯s all about alienated women gradually going mad and dissolving or managing to stay sane but only just. Extreme violence and extreme boredom. Nothing in between.
This little novel (novelette? no, I hate that word) is a not much good version of Convenience Store Woman. 20 year old Chizu goes to Tokyo to find work and lives with a 70 year old lady and footles and mooches around and gets stupid part time jobs and dislikes pretty much everything and can¡¯t find any really solid reasons for stayin¡¯ alive and th-th-th-that¡¯s all folks.
Random point : I don¡¯t get how Japanese people aren¡¯t all overweight ¨C on every other page Chizu is going on about food
While the two of them picked away at a single plate of cabbage rolls, I silently devoured everything I¡¯d ordered, beef tendon braised in black vinegar, veal Milanese, German potato salad, mackerel sushi wrapped in bamboo leaves, and an orange sorbet
(In every Asian movie I have seen there is a scene where they have a family meal about five minutes from the start but they are all slender. What is the secret.)
But the real problem here is that Chizu is mindnumbingly bland and uninteresting as she mopes about, and the old dame she lives with isn¡¯t the most electric raconteur you ever came across either. At the moment of high drama when Chizu breaks up with her boyfriend this is what they say :
¡°You like someone else, don¡¯t you?¡±
¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡±
¡°I know you do.¡±
¡°It¡¯s Ito-chan, isn¡¯t it?¡±
¡°No, I mean, I don¡¯t know. Sorry.¡±
¡°You might as well come out and say it. How can you be so casual about this?¡±
¡°About what?¡±
¡°About everything.¡±
¡°What¡¯s everything?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know, okay?¡±
Well not everything has to be Dostoyevsky but really.
Two stars not one because I still get a cool feeling when I read a novel in a day, even one like this.
May 25, 2024
No nie pyk?o nam. Sko¨½czy?am kilka godzin temu i ju? zd??y?a z mojej g?owy wyparowa?.
Plus za tytu? i obja?nienie/interpretacje na ko¨½cu ksi??ki, kt¨®ra troch? to uratowa?a, ale z drugiej strony my?l?, czy skoro te kilka s?¨®w obja?nienia na ko¨½cu, by?y potrzebne, to czy to nie oznacza, ?e ksi??ka by?a po prostu s?aba?
Wielokrotnie w literaturze czytamy mi?dzy wierszami, przy tym tytule te? powinni?my, jednak ja tego nie zrobi?am i nie wiem, z czego to wynika, bo stara?am si? to wszystko zrozumie?, jednak nie widzia?am w tym po prostu wi?kszego sensu¡
Niestety - rozczarowanko.
Plus za tytu? i obja?nienie/interpretacje na ko¨½cu ksi??ki, kt¨®ra troch? to uratowa?a, ale z drugiej strony my?l?, czy skoro te kilka s?¨®w obja?nienia na ko¨½cu, by?y potrzebne, to czy to nie oznacza, ?e ksi??ka by?a po prostu s?aba?
Wielokrotnie w literaturze czytamy mi?dzy wierszami, przy tym tytule te? powinni?my, jednak ja tego nie zrobi?am i nie wiem, z czego to wynika, bo stara?am si? to wszystko zrozumie?, jednak nie widzia?am w tym po prostu wi?kszego sensu¡
Niestety - rozczarowanko.
August 31, 2024
2,5 ??
Tengo sentimientos encontrados sobre ¡®Un buen d¨ªa para estar sola¡¯ de la autora japonesa Nanae Aoyama.
?
En primer lugar, tengo que decir que me conquist¨® la preciosa ilustraci¨®n de la cubierta. Una es as¨ª de superficial y nada m¨¢s verla supe que la quer¨ªa. Tambi¨¦n, el t¨ªtulo me inspiraba una historia bonita, de autodescubrimiento, algo calmado y agradable para leer sin sobresaltos. Justo lo que buscaba estos d¨ªas, as¨ª que me tir¨¦ de cabeza a por ella.
?
Innegablemente, es una lectura sencilla y que se lee muy fluida. Yo en concreto, de una sentada gracias a un viaje en tren que tendi¨® a infinito (gracias por tanto, Renfe). No tiene grandes sorpresas o giros, y creo que qui¨¦n entra a este libro, ya lo intuye por lo que ah¨ª no tengo cr¨ªticas.
?
Sin embargo, tengo que decir que no consegu¨ª empatizar con la protagonista (su personalidad es complicada) y en este tipo de libros lograr esa conexi¨®n es importante, adem¨¢s el mensaje final me dej¨® entre fr¨ªa y un poco enfadada. No quiero tampoco romper el camino de la lectura a nadie por lo no voy a entrar en detalles, pero es verdad que la novela se public¨® en 2007 en Jap¨®n, es decir, hace casi 20 a?os y en una sociedad muy distinta, donde quiz¨¢ el punto en el que nos despedimos de la protagonista si tuviera entonces algo m¨¢s de rompedor. ?
?
Bueno, ?de qu¨¦ va el libro? Tenemos a nuestra protagonista y narradora, Chizu, una joven de veinte a?os que no tiene muy claro qu¨¦ hacer con su vida. Aprovechando (o m¨¢s bien arrastrada por) que su madre se muda a China, se instalar¨¢ en casa la casa de Tokio de una familiar lejana, Ginko, una se?ora (bastante estupenda, por cierto) de 70 a?os. La convivencia entre ellas y c¨®mo poco a poco van derribando los muros que ambas han construido, los trabajos a tiempo parcial, las relaciones sentimentales, el paso del tiempo y la sensaci¨®n de soledad cuando sientes que no encajas son las claves de esta historia.
?
Quiero ser justa y decir que tal vez este libro hace diez a?os me hubiera gustado mucho m¨¢s, de haberlo le¨ªdo en un momento vital m¨¢s cercano al de la protagonista, cuando estrenas la vida adulta y verdaderamente, no sabes qu¨¦ hacer ni entiendes nada y la soluci¨®n es ir probando y fallando hasta que vas haciendo tu camino.
Tengo sentimientos encontrados sobre ¡®Un buen d¨ªa para estar sola¡¯ de la autora japonesa Nanae Aoyama.
?
En primer lugar, tengo que decir que me conquist¨® la preciosa ilustraci¨®n de la cubierta. Una es as¨ª de superficial y nada m¨¢s verla supe que la quer¨ªa. Tambi¨¦n, el t¨ªtulo me inspiraba una historia bonita, de autodescubrimiento, algo calmado y agradable para leer sin sobresaltos. Justo lo que buscaba estos d¨ªas, as¨ª que me tir¨¦ de cabeza a por ella.
?
Innegablemente, es una lectura sencilla y que se lee muy fluida. Yo en concreto, de una sentada gracias a un viaje en tren que tendi¨® a infinito (gracias por tanto, Renfe). No tiene grandes sorpresas o giros, y creo que qui¨¦n entra a este libro, ya lo intuye por lo que ah¨ª no tengo cr¨ªticas.
?
Sin embargo, tengo que decir que no consegu¨ª empatizar con la protagonista (su personalidad es complicada) y en este tipo de libros lograr esa conexi¨®n es importante, adem¨¢s el mensaje final me dej¨® entre fr¨ªa y un poco enfadada. No quiero tampoco romper el camino de la lectura a nadie por lo no voy a entrar en detalles, pero es verdad que la novela se public¨® en 2007 en Jap¨®n, es decir, hace casi 20 a?os y en una sociedad muy distinta, donde quiz¨¢ el punto en el que nos despedimos de la protagonista si tuviera entonces algo m¨¢s de rompedor. ?
?
Bueno, ?de qu¨¦ va el libro? Tenemos a nuestra protagonista y narradora, Chizu, una joven de veinte a?os que no tiene muy claro qu¨¦ hacer con su vida. Aprovechando (o m¨¢s bien arrastrada por) que su madre se muda a China, se instalar¨¢ en casa la casa de Tokio de una familiar lejana, Ginko, una se?ora (bastante estupenda, por cierto) de 70 a?os. La convivencia entre ellas y c¨®mo poco a poco van derribando los muros que ambas han construido, los trabajos a tiempo parcial, las relaciones sentimentales, el paso del tiempo y la sensaci¨®n de soledad cuando sientes que no encajas son las claves de esta historia.
?
Quiero ser justa y decir que tal vez este libro hace diez a?os me hubiera gustado mucho m¨¢s, de haberlo le¨ªdo en un momento vital m¨¢s cercano al de la protagonista, cuando estrenas la vida adulta y verdaderamente, no sabes qu¨¦ hacer ni entiendes nada y la soluci¨®n es ir probando y fallando hasta que vas haciendo tu camino.
May 13, 2024
Du?o w tej ksi??ce symboliki, kt¨®ra pozwala na r¨®?norodne interpretacje i wiele refleksji za co du?y plus. Sama historia r¨®wnie? do?? przyjemna w lekturze, cho? niekt¨®re momenty by?y do?? nu??ce. Styl pisania autorki jest oszcz?dny, surowy, ale w jaki? spos¨®b ?wietnie oddaje kontrast mi?dzy obiema bohaterkami i podkre?la r¨®?nic? ich charakter¨®w. Mimo wszystko wydaje mi si?, ?e szybko wypadnie mi z g?owy i nieco zniknie na tle innych ?komfortowych¡± tytu?¨®w.
May 31, 2024
Takie sobie. Zero kot¨®w, kt¨®re by?y g?¨®wnym motywem promocji.
W notce o autorce jest napisane, ?e jest doceniana za szczeg¨®ln? umiej?tno?? tworzenia dialog¨®w i je?li uznamy, ?e "szczeg¨®lne" znaczy od czapy, dr?twe, zb?dne, niekonsekwetne i nudne - to tak, ma t? umiej?tno??.
W notce o autorce jest napisane, ?e jest doceniana za szczeg¨®ln? umiej?tno?? tworzenia dialog¨®w i je?li uznamy, ?e "szczeg¨®lne" znaczy od czapy, dr?twe, zb?dne, niekonsekwetne i nudne - to tak, ma t? umiej?tno??.
May 28, 2024
Japanese literature tends to be hit and miss for me, but I'm happy to say this little peek at Japanese slacker culture won me over. Short enough to be consumed in a single day, if that's your thing, or conveniently structured by the seasons of a year if you want to break it up and linger longer.
When her mother announces she is emigrating to China for work, 20yo Chizu decides to stay behind in Japan, but move to Tokyo for the first time. In Spring, arrangements are made for her to move into the spare room of an elderly, widowed, distant relative named Ginko, whom Chizu had never met before.
The walls of my room were lined with cat photos, set in fancy frames just below the ceiling. They started on the left as you went in, continued above the window on the far side of the room and extended halfway down the right-hand wall. (Page 1 - OK Nanae Aoyama, you got me!)
These pictures turn out to be the 'Cherokees', Ginko's departed cats whose individual names are no longer remembered, but who were loved nevertheless. Chizu seems to take this and many of Ginko's other quirks in her stride, although she can at times be cruel in attitude and in what she says to the elderly lady. But soon enough, they are getting along and Chizu feels settled enough to add a second part-time job at a nearby train station to her first as a hostess.
As the year passes, both women are in relationships, and the elderly couple often invite Chizu along on their dinner dates. Chizu doesn't exactly reciprocate, but she does bring her boyfriend home for meals with them often enough to warrant his own set of chopsticks. But as the relationship fades, Chizu's insecurities lead to withdrawal and the need to make some big decisions about her life.
By the following Spring, Chizu's transformation is well underway.
In some ways this story reminded me of 's book, , although this time we are looking at it from the younger lodger's point of view. But in Aoyama's book, I felt the connection between the two housemates was more tender and very close to becoming a genuine friendship. I'm happy to recommend this quiet, melancholic coming of age story.
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an eARC to read and review.
When her mother announces she is emigrating to China for work, 20yo Chizu decides to stay behind in Japan, but move to Tokyo for the first time. In Spring, arrangements are made for her to move into the spare room of an elderly, widowed, distant relative named Ginko, whom Chizu had never met before.
The walls of my room were lined with cat photos, set in fancy frames just below the ceiling. They started on the left as you went in, continued above the window on the far side of the room and extended halfway down the right-hand wall. (Page 1 - OK Nanae Aoyama, you got me!)
These pictures turn out to be the 'Cherokees', Ginko's departed cats whose individual names are no longer remembered, but who were loved nevertheless. Chizu seems to take this and many of Ginko's other quirks in her stride, although she can at times be cruel in attitude and in what she says to the elderly lady. But soon enough, they are getting along and Chizu feels settled enough to add a second part-time job at a nearby train station to her first as a hostess.
As the year passes, both women are in relationships, and the elderly couple often invite Chizu along on their dinner dates. Chizu doesn't exactly reciprocate, but she does bring her boyfriend home for meals with them often enough to warrant his own set of chopsticks. But as the relationship fades, Chizu's insecurities lead to withdrawal and the need to make some big decisions about her life.
By the following Spring, Chizu's transformation is well underway.
In some ways this story reminded me of 's book, , although this time we are looking at it from the younger lodger's point of view. But in Aoyama's book, I felt the connection between the two housemates was more tender and very close to becoming a genuine friendship. I'm happy to recommend this quiet, melancholic coming of age story.
With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an eARC to read and review.
May 18, 2024
1.25/5?
Bardzo nie dla mnie. Podczas czytania zupe?nie nie czu?am tej metafory, przes?ania o kt¨®rym mowa na koniec ksi??ki. Okre?li?abym j? jako chaotyczna i o niczym. Niby taka kr¨®tka, a mnie wynudzi?a
Bardzo nie dla mnie. Podczas czytania zupe?nie nie czu?am tej metafory, przes?ania o kt¨®rym mowa na koniec ksi??ki. Okre?li?abym j? jako chaotyczna i o niczym. Niby taka kr¨®tka, a mnie wynudzi?a
May 16, 2024
Nie trafi?o to do mnie niestety. Dla mnie to co czuj? i robi? bohaterowie to abstrakcja, nie rozumiem ich emocji oraz zachowa¨½. Nie wiem sk?d ta z?o?liwo?? i arogancj? przy wchodzeniu w doros?e ?ycie. My?l?, ?e to bardzo subiektywne, ?e te opowiadania do mnie nie przemawiaj?.
July 10, 2024
La madre de Chizu emigra a China por cuestiones de trabajo, y ante la negativa de esta de acompa?arla, no le queda m¨¢s remedio que buscarle alojamiento en la casa de la anciana Ginko, una pariente lejana. Chizu acaba de cumplir los veinte a?os y se encuentra en una etapa complicada: ya no es una ni?a, y el mundo de los adultos se le atraganta. No entiende porque las cosas funcionan como lo hacen, porque ella debe comportarse como la sociedad dicta que debe hacerlo. La verdad es que se siente sola y triste, la marcha de su madre, la falta de atenci¨®n de su novio y lo extra?a que le resulta la se?ora con la que se ve obligada a vivir, la llenan de un desanimo que le impiden relacionarse con los dem¨¢s, provocando en ella una gran falta de ganas de salir al mundo y disfrutar de las experiencias que este pueda ofrecerle.
¡°Un buen d¨ªa para estar sola¡± es de esos libros t¨ªpicamente japoneses en los que si se hace una lectura superficial podr¨ªa pensarse que no ocurre nada, sin embargo, es de esas historias que hablan mucho de emociones, de sentimientos, y en ese sentido, dentro de la protagonista est¨¢n pasando cosas constantemente. El sentimiento que m¨¢s persigue a Chizu es la soledad, y no solo por la ausencia de su madre, tambi¨¦n a causa de que los hombres que conoce y con los que sale acaban d¨¢ndole de lado. A esa soledad, se suma la incertidumbre de no entender el amor, de no saber si est¨¢ sintiendo lo que deber¨ªa sentir, lo que ve en otras parejas cuando pasea o cuando se sube al metro, lo que parece que estas personas sienten cuando est¨¢n enamoradas.
Me ha gustado mucho ver esa uni¨®n que se va forjando con Ginko, que pese al choque inicial que siente Chizu al conocerla por esos cincuenta a?os que las separan, lo cual la lleva a casi rechazarla, poco a poco el lector asiste a la creaci¨®n de un v¨ªnculo entre ambas. La curiosidad que Ginko produce en Chizu sirve de motor para que esta ¨²ltima despierte e incluso se abra con la anciana y le muestre su lado m¨¢s vulnerable. Las charlas que ambas dos mantienen son mi parte favorita de la obra.
Creo que en ning¨²n otro lugar son capaces de plasmar por escrito tan bien como los japoneses esa sensaci¨®n de sentirse fuera de lugar, de percibirse como un extra?o en el mundo que te rodea. Este es un tema recurrente en la literatura japonesa, y no s¨¦ si es por ser una cuesti¨®n tremendamente habitual en la sociedad japonesa o por que sus autores consiguen adentrarse en ese sentimiento como nadie, pero el caso es que siempre consiguen hacerme sentir comprendido. Al final, a poco que hayas vivido en el mundo y te hayas salido de alguna norma impuesta, es imposible no haberse sentido as¨ª. Me gusta mucho como en la literatura japonesa los autores exploran mucho esa idea de no entender estas reglas no escritas, pero que todo el mundo acata, y como el que no las cumple, es apartado de la sociedad, ya que deja de ser ¨²til para esta. Chizu convive constantemente con el enfrentamiento entre lo que desea hacer y lo que se supone que deber¨ªa hacer.
Otro tema muy habitual en la literatura japonesa, reflejo de su sociedad, es esa falta de comunicaci¨®n a la hora relacionarse con los dem¨¢s. Chizu experimenta mucho pesar por no poder expresar sus sentimientos, para evitar sentirse vulnerable frente a otros, por no sentirse rid¨ªcula o por pensar que no es asunto de los dem¨¢s. Los hombres con los que se relaciona o incluso su propia madre, huyen de la confrontaci¨®n, y evitan comunicarse con ella, dar nombre a lo que sienten o explicae por qu¨¦ act¨²an como lo hacen, lo cual a¨²n perturba m¨¢s sus emociones, aumentando esa apat¨ªa que siente ante la vida.
Pese a que es un personaje infantil e inmaduro, a ratos incluso desagradable y grosero con los dem¨¢s, no he podido evitar empatizar con Chizu. Entend¨ªa perfectamente su mon¨®logo interno, sus preocupaciones y sus incertidumbres, hasta tal punto que las p¨¢ginas finales han conseguido emocionarme. En definitiva, ¡°Un buen d¨ªa para estar sola¡± es una novela intimista, que sigue la vida de una joven durante las cuatro estaciones de un a?o y permite al lector asistir al crecimiento de esta, y como deja atr¨¢s la juventud para convertirse en adulta. Ojal¨¢ consigamos en espa?ol m¨¢s historias de Nanae Aoyama porque es de esas autoras que conectan completamente conmigo y puede convertirse en una de esas autoras indispensables en mi biblioteca como lo son Kazumi Yumoto, Banana Yoshimoto o Hiromi Kawakami, a las cuales me ha recordado.
¡°Un buen d¨ªa para estar sola¡± es de esos libros t¨ªpicamente japoneses en los que si se hace una lectura superficial podr¨ªa pensarse que no ocurre nada, sin embargo, es de esas historias que hablan mucho de emociones, de sentimientos, y en ese sentido, dentro de la protagonista est¨¢n pasando cosas constantemente. El sentimiento que m¨¢s persigue a Chizu es la soledad, y no solo por la ausencia de su madre, tambi¨¦n a causa de que los hombres que conoce y con los que sale acaban d¨¢ndole de lado. A esa soledad, se suma la incertidumbre de no entender el amor, de no saber si est¨¢ sintiendo lo que deber¨ªa sentir, lo que ve en otras parejas cuando pasea o cuando se sube al metro, lo que parece que estas personas sienten cuando est¨¢n enamoradas.
Me ha gustado mucho ver esa uni¨®n que se va forjando con Ginko, que pese al choque inicial que siente Chizu al conocerla por esos cincuenta a?os que las separan, lo cual la lleva a casi rechazarla, poco a poco el lector asiste a la creaci¨®n de un v¨ªnculo entre ambas. La curiosidad que Ginko produce en Chizu sirve de motor para que esta ¨²ltima despierte e incluso se abra con la anciana y le muestre su lado m¨¢s vulnerable. Las charlas que ambas dos mantienen son mi parte favorita de la obra.
Creo que en ning¨²n otro lugar son capaces de plasmar por escrito tan bien como los japoneses esa sensaci¨®n de sentirse fuera de lugar, de percibirse como un extra?o en el mundo que te rodea. Este es un tema recurrente en la literatura japonesa, y no s¨¦ si es por ser una cuesti¨®n tremendamente habitual en la sociedad japonesa o por que sus autores consiguen adentrarse en ese sentimiento como nadie, pero el caso es que siempre consiguen hacerme sentir comprendido. Al final, a poco que hayas vivido en el mundo y te hayas salido de alguna norma impuesta, es imposible no haberse sentido as¨ª. Me gusta mucho como en la literatura japonesa los autores exploran mucho esa idea de no entender estas reglas no escritas, pero que todo el mundo acata, y como el que no las cumple, es apartado de la sociedad, ya que deja de ser ¨²til para esta. Chizu convive constantemente con el enfrentamiento entre lo que desea hacer y lo que se supone que deber¨ªa hacer.
Otro tema muy habitual en la literatura japonesa, reflejo de su sociedad, es esa falta de comunicaci¨®n a la hora relacionarse con los dem¨¢s. Chizu experimenta mucho pesar por no poder expresar sus sentimientos, para evitar sentirse vulnerable frente a otros, por no sentirse rid¨ªcula o por pensar que no es asunto de los dem¨¢s. Los hombres con los que se relaciona o incluso su propia madre, huyen de la confrontaci¨®n, y evitan comunicarse con ella, dar nombre a lo que sienten o explicae por qu¨¦ act¨²an como lo hacen, lo cual a¨²n perturba m¨¢s sus emociones, aumentando esa apat¨ªa que siente ante la vida.
Pese a que es un personaje infantil e inmaduro, a ratos incluso desagradable y grosero con los dem¨¢s, no he podido evitar empatizar con Chizu. Entend¨ªa perfectamente su mon¨®logo interno, sus preocupaciones y sus incertidumbres, hasta tal punto que las p¨¢ginas finales han conseguido emocionarme. En definitiva, ¡°Un buen d¨ªa para estar sola¡± es una novela intimista, que sigue la vida de una joven durante las cuatro estaciones de un a?o y permite al lector asistir al crecimiento de esta, y como deja atr¨¢s la juventud para convertirse en adulta. Ojal¨¢ consigamos en espa?ol m¨¢s historias de Nanae Aoyama porque es de esas autoras que conectan completamente conmigo y puede convertirse en una de esas autoras indispensables en mi biblioteca como lo son Kazumi Yumoto, Banana Yoshimoto o Hiromi Kawakami, a las cuales me ha recordado.
July 26, 2024
"I feel like maybe I should use all of my sadness now, while I'm young. So I don't end up all miserable when I'm old."
"If you try to and save all the fun for later, you'll be my age before you know it, and dying will seem like a pretty grim prospect.
- Pain, suffering - that stuff's always scary, no matter how long you've been around."
A Perfect Day to be Alone brings us through the seasons, and through the lenses an adolescence trying to make way into the world. Its a perfect coming-of-age story that is reminiscent of going through adulthood through the seasons.
We follow through the journey of Chizu in her new life in Tokyo, sharing a house with 70 year old Ginko. The story delves into the eccentric dynamics between the two of them, the exploration of complexity of human relationships and especially of a youngster trying to grasp adulthood on her own, and of humans and their need for companion.
There is nothing and everything in this book. But underneath of the light and monotonous tone of this story, there is almost a dark reflection and expectations of society to women and how at the end its of their struggles to be deemed successful or useful to society .
The writing is quite straightforward and reading it on surface level, there is nothing that likable to our main character, Chizu. She exudes a sense of an-almost arrogance and know-it-all, but beneath all of the bravado, its a girl that just didn't know how to express her feelings well. Reading about Chizu navigating through her life, and her woes and helplessness makes you feel sorry for her and also, its almost like a reminder of how some women struggle to be independent especially with Chizu who lives through a single-mother household all of her life.
I liked the dynamics between her and her house mate Ginko. Both of them are eccentric in their own way, but their friendship works well. And I feel that, Ginko was the best person for Chizu to have in her life on her own for the first time as she learns that even as a 70 year old, Ginko is living her life as she pleases.
I liked the setting of this novel that it goes through the seasons and we can see Chizu's growth through the seasons that has passed as well. From Spring - where the flower blooming is significant to the start of a new venture - to Summer - where she found love that is alive like the blazing heat - to Autumn - where the withering of leaves reflects a change in her relationships - to Winter - where the cold reflects the loneliness within and to Early Spring - where everything is starting again. The way the author has subtly integrated all of these elements made us feel like, as readers, we are growing with Chizu as well. And I felt that was one of the reasons why it won the Akutagawa Prize back in 2006/2007.
I wished we have a POV of Ginko because it will complete this novel entirely, but overall, its a read that will let you reminscene the earlier days of adulthood, the struggles and loneliness of being entirely own your own and of exploring relationships and love.
4 stars for this gem.
Thank you to Pansing for this copy! I truly appreciate it.
May 19, 2024
?Ach, wi?c tak wygl?da krzyk duszy.¡°
July 16, 2024
20-letnia Chizu postanawia usamodzielni? si? i wyprowadza si? do Tokio. Zaczyna mieszka? z pewn? pani? Ginko, kt¨®ra ma ju? siedemdziesi?t wiosen za sob?. Pojawiaj? si? r¨®?nice pokoleniowe mi?dzy obiema kobietami, ale zasadnicz? r¨®?nic? jest podej?cie do ?ycia - kiedy m?oda prze?ywa kryzys to starsza cieszy si? ka?d? drobn? rzecz?.
Najwi?kszym problemem w tej ksi??ce nie jest bardzo spokojna akcja czy zero jakiego? t?pni?cia emocjonalnego tylko sama g?¨®wna bohaterka. Chizu jest m?oda, niekt¨®re rzeczy prze?ywa mocniej ni? osoba, kt¨®ra du?o wi?cej do?wiadczy?a. Natomiast nie mog? zaakceptowa? jej zachowania w stosunku do Ginko. Przepa?? pokoleniowa jest olbrzymia, do?wiadczenia s? zupe?nie inne, technologia si? zmieni?a, kultura tym bardziej, zwi?kszy? si? p?d ?ycia i tak dalej. Z g¨®ry wiadomo, ?e nie b?d? nadawa? na tych samych falach. Przede wszystkim Chizu jako osoba ?wie?o krocz?ca po ?cie?ce doros?o?ci nie potrafi wykaza? si? empati? oraz szacunkiem wobec starszej od niej osoby. Wy?miewa si? z niej, kpi, odpowiada sarkastycznie, a czasami nawet bardzo chamsko oraz przejawia bardzo specyficzn? zazdro?? tylko dlatego, ?e Ginko jest w dobrym nastroju, a ona w do?ku. Zdarza?o jej si? nawet wbija? ma?e szpilki w stosunku do towarzysza Ginko. Wszystko tylko po to, ?eby starsza pani czu?a si? tak samo ?le jak ona, bo jak ona cierpi to powinni wszyscy dooko?a. Nie, jeszcze raz nie, ja tego nie akceptuj? i to przekre?la ca?? ksi??k?.
Najwi?kszym problemem w tej ksi??ce nie jest bardzo spokojna akcja czy zero jakiego? t?pni?cia emocjonalnego tylko sama g?¨®wna bohaterka. Chizu jest m?oda, niekt¨®re rzeczy prze?ywa mocniej ni? osoba, kt¨®ra du?o wi?cej do?wiadczy?a. Natomiast nie mog? zaakceptowa? jej zachowania w stosunku do Ginko. Przepa?? pokoleniowa jest olbrzymia, do?wiadczenia s? zupe?nie inne, technologia si? zmieni?a, kultura tym bardziej, zwi?kszy? si? p?d ?ycia i tak dalej. Z g¨®ry wiadomo, ?e nie b?d? nadawa? na tych samych falach. Przede wszystkim Chizu jako osoba ?wie?o krocz?ca po ?cie?ce doros?o?ci nie potrafi wykaza? si? empati? oraz szacunkiem wobec starszej od niej osoby. Wy?miewa si? z niej, kpi, odpowiada sarkastycznie, a czasami nawet bardzo chamsko oraz przejawia bardzo specyficzn? zazdro?? tylko dlatego, ?e Ginko jest w dobrym nastroju, a ona w do?ku. Zdarza?o jej si? nawet wbija? ma?e szpilki w stosunku do towarzysza Ginko. Wszystko tylko po to, ?eby starsza pani czu?a si? tak samo ?le jak ona, bo jak ona cierpi to powinni wszyscy dooko?a. Nie, jeszcze raz nie, ja tego nie akceptuj? i to przekre?la ca?? ksi??k?.
August 5, 2024
3.5 stars. I really wasn¡¯t liking this at first but then when the main plot kicked in I started to enjoy it a lot more. It¡¯s about a young woman who moves in with a 71-year-old woman and takes up a job at the train station where she meets a man who will break her heart. It¡¯s a really short book but explores the trauma from the lack of closure you get from being broken up with and how it can make you feel completely worthless. The more I read the book the more I really enjoyed it and felt like it was a really sad and tender read about loneliness. A really good pick for women in translation month!
May 26, 2024
4,5/10
Pomimo, ?e sama ksi??ka w przyjemny spos¨®b zawiera du?o symboliki to nie wpad?a ona w moje gusta. Z jednej strony rozumiem ?e g?¨®wna bohaterka ma trudny okres w ?yciu jednak to ile jest w niej z?o?ci sprawia, ?e nie jestem w stanie jej polubi?. Sama historia mnie osobi?cie te? jako? specjalnie nie wci?gn??a.
Pomimo, ?e sama ksi??ka w przyjemny spos¨®b zawiera du?o symboliki to nie wpad?a ona w moje gusta. Z jednej strony rozumiem ?e g?¨®wna bohaterka ma trudny okres w ?yciu jednak to ile jest w niej z?o?ci sprawia, ?e nie jestem w stanie jej polubi?. Sama historia mnie osobi?cie te? jako? specjalnie nie wci?gn??a.
June 26, 2024
A Perfect Day to Be Alone is a quirky story about a young, stubborn woman without a lot of drive finding her way after living with an elderly relative in Tokyo. It¡¯s not incredibly exciting in terms of content, but it does grow on the reader.
Chizu moves in with Ginko, a distant relative with a house next to a train station in Tokyo after her mother moves to China. Chizu knows she doesn¡¯t want to go to China, but she doesn¡¯t really know what she does want. She¡¯s drifting in life with a casual job and boyfriend and not a lot of interest in anything. The only thing she does seem to enjoy is trying to get a raise from Ginko ¨C but always fails as Ginko is calm and quiet. Over the course of the novel, they get to know each other better. They both find boyfriends/companions, and Chizu finds more casual jobs. Chizu begins to open up to Ginko about her fears and concerns for the future, sounding more like an elderly person who is sick and tired of everything instead of a twenty year old woman.
Over the course of the year, Chizu grows more independent and less at odds with the world. She finds herself caring for Ginko more than she expected, even though their time together is relatively short and only a small part of each other¡¯s lives. Not a great deal happens between Chizu¡¯s relationships and work and the reader is less informed about Ginko¡¯s past and current relationships, seeing it only through Chizu¡¯s eyes. It¡¯s a coming of age for Chizu as she realises she¡¯s not old before her time and that not everything has to be negative. She even stops partaking in casual theft from others (not sure what it is about women stealing small objects from others in fiction lately ¨C it¡¯s the second book detailing this in as many months), finding no joy in it.
The story is told simply, divided into seasons across 150 pages. It¡¯s easy to read this in a day or a single sitting as a slice of life novel. It¡¯s not groundbreaking, rather more gentle like other Japanese novels. It¡¯s also without the feelgood vibes of other popular Japanese novels, but is still enjoyable.
Chizu moves in with Ginko, a distant relative with a house next to a train station in Tokyo after her mother moves to China. Chizu knows she doesn¡¯t want to go to China, but she doesn¡¯t really know what she does want. She¡¯s drifting in life with a casual job and boyfriend and not a lot of interest in anything. The only thing she does seem to enjoy is trying to get a raise from Ginko ¨C but always fails as Ginko is calm and quiet. Over the course of the novel, they get to know each other better. They both find boyfriends/companions, and Chizu finds more casual jobs. Chizu begins to open up to Ginko about her fears and concerns for the future, sounding more like an elderly person who is sick and tired of everything instead of a twenty year old woman.
Over the course of the year, Chizu grows more independent and less at odds with the world. She finds herself caring for Ginko more than she expected, even though their time together is relatively short and only a small part of each other¡¯s lives. Not a great deal happens between Chizu¡¯s relationships and work and the reader is less informed about Ginko¡¯s past and current relationships, seeing it only through Chizu¡¯s eyes. It¡¯s a coming of age for Chizu as she realises she¡¯s not old before her time and that not everything has to be negative. She even stops partaking in casual theft from others (not sure what it is about women stealing small objects from others in fiction lately ¨C it¡¯s the second book detailing this in as many months), finding no joy in it.
The story is told simply, divided into seasons across 150 pages. It¡¯s easy to read this in a day or a single sitting as a slice of life novel. It¡¯s not groundbreaking, rather more gentle like other Japanese novels. It¡¯s also without the feelgood vibes of other popular Japanese novels, but is still enjoyable.
April 6, 2022
zanimljivo kao mini uvid u japansku kulturu; odnosi izme?u chizu i ginko i ostalih (chizunih simpatija, njene majke i ginkinog hofiranta) ?ini se da su stvoreni da bi predstavili japan i njegove vrijednosti. ipak, gledano iz perspektive chizu -koja je hladna, zlobna, pakosna, zapravo jedan nemili lik i, uza sve, i kleptomanka- roman je obavijen nezadovoljstvom, samo?om i tihim pesimizmom. chizu je, ustvari, predstavnica generacije koja je nesigurna u sebe, nezadovoljna sobom, nemo?na ostvariti duboke, smislene i kvalitetne odnose i emocionalno invalidna. pedeset godina, koliko je dijeli od ginko, vrijeme je koje je potencijal za razvoj u zadovoljnu i mirnu osobu.
p. s. od tridesetak vrsti hrane koja se spominje, a koje spadaju pod klasi?nu japansku kuhinju, niti od jedne mi nisu zatitrali nepci. ?ele od grahorice? ?aj od morske alge? kola? od ?kroba iz korijena paprati? ma nemoj.
p. s. od tridesetak vrsti hrane koja se spominje, a koje spadaju pod klasi?nu japansku kuhinju, niti od jedne mi nisu zatitrali nepci. ?ele od grahorice? ?aj od morske alge? kola? od ?kroba iz korijena paprati? ma nemoj.
June 27, 2017
??c truy?n ki?u b? h?ng 1 ch¨²t
Kh?ng hi?u sao, m¨¬nh ch?a bao gi? th¨ªch truy?n vi?t ki?u gi?ng nh? ??i nh? v?y
Ki?u nh¨¬n v¨¤o m?t nh?n v?t, ??c bi?t l¨¤ nh?n v?n ch¨ªnh. M¨¬nh mu?n th?y cu?c ??i h?, h? g?p ai, h? ngh? g¨¬, h? l¨¤m g¨¬, t?i sao hay ch?ng t?i sao h? l?i l¨¤m nh? v?y
Nh?ng truy?n Nh?t th??ng ko nh? th?. M¨¬nh g?p m?t nh?n v?t nh? g?p 1 ng??i ngo¨¤i ??i v?y
R?t cu?c, ta c?ng ch?ng hi?u h?
Ch?ng bi?t b?t ??u
Ch?ng bi?t k?t th¨²c
Nh? ki?u d? dang ng?m nh¨¬n cu?c ??i m?t con ng??i r?i b??c ?i
---
C¨® th? m?t ?o?n cu?c ??i ?y ?? l¨¤ ? ngh?a c?a t¨¢c gi? r?i. Ch? l¨¤ em tr?n nh?ng th? m? h? ? cu?c ??i v¨¤o ??y t¨¬m ki?m ch¨²t g¨¬ r? r¨¤ng. N¨ºn ??c c¨® ch¨²t h?ng th?i
Kh?ng hi?u sao, m¨¬nh ch?a bao gi? th¨ªch truy?n vi?t ki?u gi?ng nh? ??i nh? v?y
Ki?u nh¨¬n v¨¤o m?t nh?n v?t, ??c bi?t l¨¤ nh?n v?n ch¨ªnh. M¨¬nh mu?n th?y cu?c ??i h?, h? g?p ai, h? ngh? g¨¬, h? l¨¤m g¨¬, t?i sao hay ch?ng t?i sao h? l?i l¨¤m nh? v?y
Nh?ng truy?n Nh?t th??ng ko nh? th?. M¨¬nh g?p m?t nh?n v?t nh? g?p 1 ng??i ngo¨¤i ??i v?y
R?t cu?c, ta c?ng ch?ng hi?u h?
Ch?ng bi?t b?t ??u
Ch?ng bi?t k?t th¨²c
Nh? ki?u d? dang ng?m nh¨¬n cu?c ??i m?t con ng??i r?i b??c ?i
---
C¨® th? m?t ?o?n cu?c ??i ?y ?? l¨¤ ? ngh?a c?a t¨¢c gi? r?i. Ch? l¨¤ em tr?n nh?ng th? m? h? ? cu?c ??i v¨¤o ??y t¨¬m ki?m ch¨²t g¨¬ r? r¨¤ng. N¨ºn ??c c¨® ch¨²t h?ng th?i
June 24, 2024
W?a?ciwie ci??ko stwierdzi? o czym jest ta ksi??ka, a jeszcze ci??ej jest polubi? bohater¨®w. Tytu? i ok?adka zach?ca, ale to tyle.
May 14, 2024
Takie nijakie to by?o troch? dla mnie¡ Cho? interpretacja ksi??ki na ko¨½cu nieco dodaje tej historii.
January 11, 2025
3.5 stars
May 2, 2024
?wietna. Melancholijne spojrzenie na rok z ?ycia dziewczyny wkraczaj?cej w doros?o??. ?adnej niezwyk?o?ci, po prostu zwyczajno?? i powolna akceptacja swojego losu. Bije od niej lekki smutek, czasem rozczarowanie i niepewno??. Bardzo mi si? podoba?a, chocia? nie polubi?am si? z g?¨®wn? bohaterk? - nie m¨®j typ charakteru, lecz same rozterki jak najbardziej do mnie trafia?y. A wgl?d na ?ycie Ginko to by?o wr?cz uleczaj?ce do?wiadczenie.
[Nie rozumiem tej ?redniej oceny ?]
[Dosta?am plik do recenzji od brytyjskiego wydawcy, ale b?d? jeszcze czyta? polsk? wersj?!]
[Nie rozumiem tej ?redniej oceny ?]
[Dosta?am plik do recenzji od brytyjskiego wydawcy, ale b?d? jeszcze czyta? polsk? wersj?!]
March 26, 2021
A highly relatable story of a young woman starting to live in a big city, having a whole set of strange things fold before her eyes. She tries to feel something new yet she feels very little.
Reading this novel feels like hearing snatches of people's private conversations, like the ones we overhear in cafes or on trains, which fills us with happiness and sadness both.
Reading this novel feels like hearing snatches of people's private conversations, like the ones we overhear in cafes or on trains, which fills us with happiness and sadness both.
May 20, 2024
S? utwory, w kt¨®rych od razu si? zakochujemy, kt¨®re uwodz? histori? lub fraz? od pierwszej strony. "Idealny czas na smuteczek" do nich nie nale?y, tu zachwyt wzrasta powoli, tak jak stopniowo ods?aniaj? si? istotne m?dro?ci ?yciowe.
Chizu jest m?oda i to m?oda ostentacyjnie wr?cz, podkre?la sw? g?adko?? i to, ?e jest na pocz?tku drogi. Tyle ?e nie wie, dok?d zmierza, a koniec drogi wydaje jej si? tak odleg?y, ?e nie musi o nim my?le?. Przyje?d?a do Tokio, gdzie zamieszkuje u pani Ginko, starszej od siebie o 50 lat. Przy niej ?atwo manifestowa? m?odo??... Chizu jest bezczelna i niedelikatna, nie rozumie starszej pani, wy?miewa jej relacje z r¨®wnie starym przyjacielem. Pani Ginko znosi ataki m?odo?ci ze stoickim spokojem, ?yje po swojemu, ba, potrafi cieszy? si? ?yciem. Pocz?tkowo osch?o?? i brak pomys?u na ?ycie Chizu mnie irytowa?y. P¨®?niej zrozumia?am zamys? autorki. Przecie? atak cz?sto maskuje strach. Chizu boi si? ?ycia. Boi si? tego, ?e rozczaruje si? swoimi wyborami, wi?c nie wybiera. Boi si? utraty mi?o?ci, wi?c wyprzedza fakt wi???c si? z "nierokuj?cymi". Boi si? staro?ci, wi?c j? wy?miewa.
M?odo?? i staro??. Dwie strony barykady. Przeciwie¨½stwa. Trudno?? w porozumieniu. W rzeczywisto?ci - tak s? sobie bliskie, tak wiele mog? od siebie czerpa?. Pani Ginko wie, ?e ?ycie sk?ada si? z po?egna¨½. Im szybciej to zrozumiemy, im szybciej si? z tym pogodzimy, tym mniej zgorzkniali b?dziemy. Wspomnienia o kotach, wspomnienia o minionym ?yciu - nawet je?li czasem bol?, dobrze je mie?.
W tomie jest te? kr¨®ciutkie opowiadanie "Nowy pocz?tek" - o tym, jak wiele w ludzkim ?yciu zmienia perspektywa. Czasem warto spojrze? na siebie, na sw¨®j los oczami kogo? innego. Da to si?? na pogodzenie si? z sob? albo na zmian? wszystkiego.
Przeczytajcie te niespieszne, m?dre, troch? smutne, ale w?a?nie m?drze smutne historie. Mnie urzek?y.
Chizu jest m?oda i to m?oda ostentacyjnie wr?cz, podkre?la sw? g?adko?? i to, ?e jest na pocz?tku drogi. Tyle ?e nie wie, dok?d zmierza, a koniec drogi wydaje jej si? tak odleg?y, ?e nie musi o nim my?le?. Przyje?d?a do Tokio, gdzie zamieszkuje u pani Ginko, starszej od siebie o 50 lat. Przy niej ?atwo manifestowa? m?odo??... Chizu jest bezczelna i niedelikatna, nie rozumie starszej pani, wy?miewa jej relacje z r¨®wnie starym przyjacielem. Pani Ginko znosi ataki m?odo?ci ze stoickim spokojem, ?yje po swojemu, ba, potrafi cieszy? si? ?yciem. Pocz?tkowo osch?o?? i brak pomys?u na ?ycie Chizu mnie irytowa?y. P¨®?niej zrozumia?am zamys? autorki. Przecie? atak cz?sto maskuje strach. Chizu boi si? ?ycia. Boi si? tego, ?e rozczaruje si? swoimi wyborami, wi?c nie wybiera. Boi si? utraty mi?o?ci, wi?c wyprzedza fakt wi???c si? z "nierokuj?cymi". Boi si? staro?ci, wi?c j? wy?miewa.
M?odo?? i staro??. Dwie strony barykady. Przeciwie¨½stwa. Trudno?? w porozumieniu. W rzeczywisto?ci - tak s? sobie bliskie, tak wiele mog? od siebie czerpa?. Pani Ginko wie, ?e ?ycie sk?ada si? z po?egna¨½. Im szybciej to zrozumiemy, im szybciej si? z tym pogodzimy, tym mniej zgorzkniali b?dziemy. Wspomnienia o kotach, wspomnienia o minionym ?yciu - nawet je?li czasem bol?, dobrze je mie?.
W tomie jest te? kr¨®ciutkie opowiadanie "Nowy pocz?tek" - o tym, jak wiele w ludzkim ?yciu zmienia perspektywa. Czasem warto spojrze? na siebie, na sw¨®j los oczami kogo? innego. Da to si?? na pogodzenie si? z sob? albo na zmian? wszystkiego.
Przeczytajcie te niespieszne, m?dre, troch? smutne, ale w?a?nie m?drze smutne historie. Mnie urzek?y.
January 30, 2025
3,5 ?
June 5, 2024
Saya sedikit maklum kalau ada orang yang memberi rating satu atau dua bintang untuk novel ini. Ya, sebab memang tidak ada adegan "dar-der-dor" yang menegangkan. Lebih ke ke dalam, ke persoalan pribadi, ke bagaimana mitigasi seseorang menghadapi masa depan dan ketakutan akan apa yang terjadi ketika menjadi tua...
(aku mau nulis review agak panjang, wait yaaa)
(aku mau nulis review agak panjang, wait yaaa)
August 5, 2024
Nothing special honestly just finished it and if you asked what it was about I could barely tell you what happened
Displaying 1 - 30 of 723 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.