Great voice actor

Good book but great voice actor—lovely tone of voice and reading, and good character voice differentiations. I have friends that read the paperback and I think, for me, the actor added an extra level to the story that made me enjoy it more than I might have.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Could not stop listening

Really engaging. Kept me up at night because I couldn’t stop listening. I wanted a story to escape into and this was perfect.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A good gripping read

A good contemporary ghost story, atmospheric and sad, I found it quite gripping. Would recommend

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

A WELL WRITTEN DARK STORY

When jaded 48-year-old scriptwriter Harada visits Tokyo's old entertainment district where he grew up, he encounters a likeable working man who is the spitting image of his dead father. Lonely, nostalgic, and willing to believe the unbelievable, Harada follows the mysterious man, embarking on a bittersweet journey into the womb of a city whose living inhabitants have perhaps changed too rapidly and lost their souls.While the visits to his parents seem invigorating to Harada, his beautiful and strangely vulnerable neighbor Kei insists that he stop seeing them for his own good. A battle for the soul - Harada's, a tired city's - ensues in this thinking man's ghost story.
This surprised me. It reads as a tender love story and awakening. But as the narrative plays out things take a very dark turn. I have not seen the movie adaptation therefore I cannot compare, but I do recommend this audio and Geoff Sugiyama's narration is flawless.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Gripping exploration of grief

A story exploring themes of grief, loss and love told in a beautifully gripping way.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

I enjoyed this very different book

This book was unusually sad for me & very deep, having lost my parents very young It helped me imagine seeing them & being with them again. I had thought Kaye may have been saved at the parents accident & May have been his sister with the burns on her. It was very thought provoking &such a different kind of story. I was so sad when he had to say bye to his parents again. A really really interesting read. Thank You.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

weird

a bit simplistic for me, I prefer more of a story. it's a touch boring

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

loved the voice

really lovely interesting listen. I really enjoyed this and now will watch the film. I love those more though

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Out of this world experience

I chose this book as it is to be made into a movie, and, for a long time, I have been fascinated by all things Japan and their way of approaching life eg Departures (a older movie about funerals)

WOW! I was not disappointed!

The interplay of reality and spirit worked so well, the listen was wholly plausible.
And though I haven’t seen a photo of the narrator, I imagined him of Japanese descent. The timbre of his voice was well chosen for this listen.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Quiet lovely

Most unusual and intriguing. Beautifully narrated. I found this to be a compelling listen. Highly recommended.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!