itsreirei's reviews
421 reviews

The story of a family and it's five daughters written entirely from the perspective of the male gaze. At first it might be enraging that we have to see the story of the girls from the outside and especially from an objectifying male point of view but after having finished, it makes so much sense. The way people look at the girls as some sort of mythical creatures is baffling, considering it's those inspecting every little thing about the sisters who behave ridiculously. The irony of having constantly been observed but never actually seen and understood was also brilliantly done. Reading this book is by no means an enjoyable experience, it's like waiting for the inevitable end with a sense of foreboding: you know it's coming and can't help but watch. 

Since the title itself is quite obviously telling of the finale there isn't much to be surprised by and most things are left hanging in the air. We never get a straight answer to why the events played out the way they did yet somehow it fits perfectly, leaving all open to interpretation.

???????????

Fortunately, I checked some reviews and was prepared for the worst in terms of disgusting descriptions of bodies/plants/food/buildings...so I was damn near underwhelmed by how things actually played out. Quite confusing, almost as if the writer used repulsive language solely for the sake of sounding unique and appalling; came off as a bit pretentious to me. (I did listen to some of the creator's music and it is exactly how one would imagine it having read this novel. Very similar vocabulary, interesting stylistic choices in the production. Dare I say, I preferred it to the book, since the musical arrangement of the same topics are a lot easier to digest, I suppose.)
Reading this work was a highly uncomfortable experience; on the one hand, it hit a lil too close to home, on the other, exactly because everything depicted here was so personal, I felt like I shouldn't be witnessing it. The author dared to portray thoughts and experiences that most of us push into the back of our brains and I sort of respect that. 
The ending left me somewhat empty; I don't need everything spelled out for me but I couldn't help reacting like "that's it???" - so much build-up just to end in such a weirdly silent way.  

Of the characters I have to say I didn't necessarily like anyone; the main character remained a blank canvas, all the men were deplorable and the LGBT+ line left me wanting more.

All the things I've expected from other Japanese authors but never got, Banana Yoshimoto delivered perfectly.