A humurous outlook on student life, love and the choices we make
5 stars
Before reaching for this novel I watched the anime a couple of years ago (which is still one of my all-time favourites). Recently however, I wanted to experience the story again, so I reached for the original novel and I can safely say that it doesn't disappoint.
"Tatami Galaxy" follows the many paths of a university student in Kyoto, who is on a quest for the ever-elusive rose-colored campus life. He is narcisstic and lazy, but an honorable person at heart. His student life quickly becomes a disaster, thanks to his predispositions and an evil fellow named Ozu. Even though he manages to somewhat succeed and find love, he can't let his past choices go and simply can't stop asking himself the question if it really had to be this way? Read the book to find out.
If you can penetrate the thick layer of irony that the protagonist's self-aggrandizing narration is coated with, it's an amusing book. I often like familiar things more, so the repetitive structure worked to its advantage – I grew fond of these characters, as dubious as most of them were.
Actually, I can't give a general recommendation for this book. It's the sort of work that makes me wonder what kind of person the author is. It's perhaps a book for someone who wants to examine a particular Type of Guy under a microscope.
I could write a lot on this one but I don’t think I have the energy. It was good, and I feel like it’s likely polarizing, which is why I think I feel so strongly in two directions yet settle for three stars.
The Bad: MC is an insufferable nice guy, but reading the translators note it seems that’s the point and a theme in the author’s work. The journey of a creep that has the potential to be an actually good guy if he grows up a little. Still hard to read and relate and care for me, but maybe different for someone more in the coming of age campus life time of their life. Love interest was a manic pixie girl vibe.
The Mixed: The repetition is awful at times when it’s an obvious two page copy-paste, for the third time. Other times it’s a whimsical touch because …
I could write a lot on this one but I don’t think I have the energy. It was good, and I feel like it’s likely polarizing, which is why I think I feel so strongly in two directions yet settle for three stars.
The Bad: MC is an insufferable nice guy, but reading the translators note it seems that’s the point and a theme in the author’s work. The journey of a creep that has the potential to be an actually good guy if he grows up a little. Still hard to read and relate and care for me, but maybe different for someone more in the coming of age campus life time of their life. Love interest was a manic pixie girl vibe.
The Mixed: The repetition is awful at times when it’s an obvious two page copy-paste, for the third time. Other times it’s a whimsical touch because things are slightly different. I wish there was more of the latter and less of the former. I struggled with the comedy for more than half the book, because I just kept reading it as an insufferable nice guy blaming his problems on others. Once I viewed it from an absurd satire perspective, I was able to loosen up on this, but it took too long for me to find the charm.
The Good: Sense of place, especially googling the locations, was fantastic. I felt like I was really in this neighborhood and especially after four trips through it, it was the most memorable character to me. I love a strong sense of space. Each part of the book got better, with the tipping point into good being the third, and the fourth actually feeling like a good time. Even the most obnoxious characters had their own charm by this point.
I’m conflicted on whether or not to read the second. I may place a hold at the library and give myself a very generous threshold to DNF it. If I do read it I’ll update this review, if I remember…