Brave Story
by Miyuki Miyabe
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 136)
recommends it for:
Japanese animation fans, or fans of the Neverending Story
This was a fun, if lengthy story. According to the book jacket, Ms. Miyabe is quite an accomplished author, with several accolades and awards to her name in her native Japan. I'm always interested in the manner in which Japanese books are translated to English.
One of my observations is that the books I've read in Japanese tend to play a little more loosely with the point of view. In other words, the authors don't have a problem leaping from one character's head to another, and then back, withi...more
One of my observations is that the books I've read in Japanese tend to play a little more loosely with the point of view. In other words, the authors don't have a problem leaping from one character's head to another, and then back, withi...more
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Read in May, 2008
This is one of those books that I wish had been more heavily edited. It was good and I enjoyed it, but it was just too long to really be necessary. The beginning really sucked me in--it was a good mix of mystery, fantasy and drama. After Wataru is transported to the magical realm of Vision, things start to weaken significantly.
Overall, I felt that it was too many things right after another. As someone who grew up playing Final Fantasy and other Japanese role-playing video games, I'm complete...more
Overall, I felt that it was too many things right after another. As someone who grew up playing Final Fantasy and other Japanese role-playing video games, I'm complete...more
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Read in January, 2008
Besides having to hide at my desk to read this at lunch hour (people were constantly asking me 'how long's it take you to read a book like that??), I really like it. I'm a big fan of japanese literature in general but this was my first taste of fantasy. Usually I can only get mysteries. Miyabe is an accomplished mystery writer which is probably why she managed to get this one marketed in the US. I'm so glad she did!
I'll be honest, if you don't spend hours glued to Final Fantasy you're ...more
I'll be honest, if you don't spend hours glued to Final Fantasy you're ...more
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Read in May, 2008
I managed to read to page 560, but my inter-library loan is up. I am not compelled to borrow it again via ILL. Maybe if our library owned the copy and I was able to renew it I would keep going. But I was forcing myself to keep going as it was, so maybe not.
I did skim to the end, which seemed to tie up things, I suppose. Maybe if I could read it in the original Japanese I would have liked it better. I felt it was a tad preachy at times. I would have preferred to follow a number of other chara...more
I did skim to the end, which seemed to tie up things, I suppose. Maybe if I could read it in the original Japanese I would have liked it better. I felt it was a tad preachy at times. I would have preferred to follow a number of other chara...more
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recommends it for:
Harry Potter fans
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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The first 226 of this 816 page book were spent setting up a young boys's family life and how it all comes crashing down on him....his father leaves, his mother attempts to kill herself, etc etc. The boy, Wataru, finds himself able to enter a fantastic, mysterious world. I was personally enchanted. Part 2 of the book reads as if I am sitting next to my brother while he naviagtes through the levels of Final Fantasy 12 on his Playstation 3, narrating each and every move his character makes.
The b...more
The b...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
RPG players, past and present
Brave Story is a wonderfully long book about a boy who goes into a mystical land on a quest to change his fate after his father is caught fooling around with another woman.
Really, though, the opening part of the story has little to do with what occurs once the boy enters the mystical world of Vision, which is the focus of this book. Like most of Miyabe's work, it is somewhat slow to start, but once beyond a certain point, it becomes a real page-turner.
Anyone who grew up, as I did,...more
Really, though, the opening part of the story has little to do with what occurs once the boy enters the mystical world of Vision, which is the focus of this book. Like most of Miyabe's work, it is somewhat slow to start, but once beyond a certain point, it becomes a real page-turner.
Anyone who grew up, as I did,...more
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Read in September, 2007
I made it through the 800 + pages, so I guess that's something, but it was with a continual hope that I would start to enjoy it, or that the ending would satisfy me. But the ending was wretchedly pulled from the blue, and it was pretty much a "this happens next, and then this happens next, and then this happens next," sort of book. Plodding and predictable, the only surprising elements were the divorce aspects of the beginning, and the fact that it was all but left behind afterwards. I...more
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Read in May, 2008
This Japanese fantasy novel (now turned into an anime movie and manga series)has more complex morals than your average fairy tale. It is about a boy, who is facing a hardship in his life, that travels to another world to change his fate. But, as the adventure goes on, he learns more important life lessons. The story is a bit strange and sometimes I was bored with the slower parts, but overall it was an interesting book and would recommend it to those who still have a kid's imagination.
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recommends it for:
fans of video rpgs
This book has elements of Zelda and the Neverending Story combined. It takes place in the real world and a fantasy world that the main character crosses into to try to change his destiny. It reads like every RPG I've ever played. Overall, I think I like the story in the real world better, which only takes up a third of the book.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
people who like adventure
This book was a great adventure. Tradgic at times when you learnt of what people did or what they were doing, made me want to cry. I highly recommend this book for teenaged readers who like a bit of fun ^-^
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Read in February, 2008
Got Nintendo Zelda and this book at the same time. I've only recently emerged from RPG alternate reality. The book was cute. The artwork on the cover was better.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
10 and up
this book is my ABSOLUTE favorite better then any book i have ever read
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