This book needed a lot less orentialism and a lot more talk about the culturebound syndrome of hikkomori. Culture bound syndromes can be a symptom of cultural issues, but I don’t think a lack of Christianity and the banking system not being flexible is that much of interest.

This is the sort of book that should never be made into a movie. The strength of the book is the fact that the central character changes only a little bit- she does gain a better connection with her daughter, and starts to accept more of the past and the future, but in a movie, instead of the subtle changes shown here, it’d be hosed down in sludgy glurge.

Many of the references are dated, so even if a story would have been funny in the time it was printed, it’s much less funny now.

Some good ideas, but I get the impression that this guy is kind of a douche.

I even watched the bonus Kujin Unbalance episode.

Although I’m reading the penguin classics edition with all the notes in it. I love notes in older books, although I wish they’d put them on the bottom of the page instead of the back.

(spoilers) Through this book, we learn that only ghosts can save enabling grandmothers, love withholding man chasing mothers and silly children from themselves

The best book ever! Ok, I say this about every 3rd book I read. But I really enjoyed it. It was hard to read at times because of the nonstandard English, but the story was enticing, amazing and not your average space opera. I gladly am taking the fine for this.

Holy shirtless black men! Mmm mm!

I was worried that I had read this before, but apparently I haven’t.