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A review by pineconek
Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
This is one dark, bleak book. And I read a lot of dark, bleak books.
Shipwrecks is a story about the frailty of humans when resources are scarce. Set in a coastal and isolated Japanese village, this story exposes the raw vulnerability of self-sustainded living in the pre-industrial era. The horrors of starvation and food rationing are infused into every page. Familial ties are constantly tested, as some children die while others need to work the fishing boats. Adults leave their families for years of indentured servitude, hoping that they'll return in time to save some of their kin from starvation.
This reminded me of some other harrowing books that I read this year: The Terror by Dan Simmons and The Indifferent Stars Above (the tale of the Donner party). I recommend these books if you "enjoyed" Shipwrecks.
And I recommend Shipwrecks if you enjoyed those books, or just beautiful slow burn prose about terrible topics, and harrowing horrific scenes of human misery that will remain seared into your brain. 4.5 stars rounded down to 4.
Shipwrecks is a story about the frailty of humans when resources are scarce. Set in a coastal and isolated Japanese village, this story exposes the raw vulnerability of self-sustainded living in the pre-industrial era. The horrors of starvation and food rationing are infused into every page. Familial ties are constantly tested, as some children die while others need to work the fishing boats. Adults leave their families for years of indentured servitude, hoping that they'll return in time to save some of their kin from starvation.
This reminded me of some other harrowing books that I read this year: The Terror by Dan Simmons and The Indifferent Stars Above (the tale of the Donner party). I recommend these books if you "enjoyed" Shipwrecks.
And I recommend Shipwrecks if you enjoyed those books, or just beautiful slow burn prose about terrible topics, and harrowing horrific scenes of human misery that will remain seared into your brain. 4.5 stars rounded down to 4.