Tokyo Ueno Station

3.5

Eu li esse livro num impulso sem nem saber direito sobre o que se tratava, tanto que pela capa colorida eu não esperava que ele fosse mais um pra lista de livros de literatura japonesa melancólicos que tenho na minha estante.

Nesse livro acompanhamos o protagonista Kazu, que agora está morto. Ao longo da história, contada em primeira pessoa, ele conta sobre suas origens, sua vinda à cidade grande e todas as dificuldades e tragédias que ele encontrou em sua vida pessoal e, ao fim, como ele encontrou a morte.

Apesar de não achar nada wow, gostei bastante de acompanhar o protagonista e da sua narração. Não é um livro que te deixa extremamente triste, mas te faz refletir sobre o que o personagem passou, e o que tantas pessoas na vida real passaram e ainda passam igual a ele.

Esse livro ganhou o 2020 National Book Award de obra traduzida, e de fato a tradução (do japonês para o inglês) é bem fluída e não prejudica a leitura.

I don't know if I lacked appropriate historical context or if the writing just didn't strike me, but I couldn't find much to enjoy in this book. The themes were interesting and there was some beautiful prose, but so much of the story felt smothered under innumerable references to places, things, people, or events that were never fleshed out.

I really enjoyed this book with its simplified yet informative history on certain events, places, statues etc in Tokyo especially, and obviously, in Ueno Park. All the history explained in this novel in some way relates to the population of homeless people in the Ueno Park and also the personal life of Kazu. Along with the informative part of this book, I found the writing very beautiful and it felt like hearing personal stories from that of a grandparent. Overall I think this is a great read for people interested in a more realistic view of Tokyo or Japan in general :)

A century of Japan with hardships and public and personal tragedies, told through the eyes of a laborer. The protagonist is used to support his family by earning money far away, so at the end of his life he chooses homelessness (in Tokyo's Ueno Park) over becoming a burden to a family he barely knows.

I quite liked this, as it's giving a perspective that isn't so common.

A contemplative, emotional journey through Kazu's life, which has been full of hardships. This book offers a closer look at homelessness in Japan, juxtaposed with the wealth and easy living of the Japanese imperial family. Evocative and wholly touching, this is one of those books that's nearly impossible to explain and therefore which I can only say to read, read, read and experience for yourself.