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小暮写真館
722 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2010
14 people want to read
About the author
Miyuki Miyabe
308 books555 followersSee also 宮部 みゆき (Japanese language profile) and 宮部美幸 (Chinese language profile).
Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき Miyabe Miyuki) is a popular contemporary Japanese author active in a number of genres including science fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction, social commentary, and juvenile fiction.
Miyabe started writing novels at the age of 23. She has been a prolific writer, publishing dozens of novels and winning many major literary prizes, including the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 1993 for Kasha and the Naoki Prize in 1998 for Riyū [The Reason] (理由). A Japanese film adaptation of Riyû, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, was released in 2004.
Miyuki Miyabe (宮部みゆき Miyabe Miyuki) is a popular contemporary Japanese author active in a number of genres including science fiction, mystery fiction, historical fiction, social commentary, and juvenile fiction.
Miyabe started writing novels at the age of 23. She has been a prolific writer, publishing dozens of novels and winning many major literary prizes, including the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize in 1993 for Kasha and the Naoki Prize in 1998 for Riyū [The Reason] (理由). A Japanese film adaptation of Riyû, directed by Nobuhiko Obayashi, was released in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 26, 2011
As a fan of her earlier works, this was a disappointment.
Miyuki Miyabe, one of the most famous modern mystery novelists in Japan, has always been amazingly versatile, covering a wide range of genres from almost non-fiction style hardboiled mystery that focuses on social issues (my favorite, 火車, is translated--All She Was Worth); to a series of period mystery novels (she's an Edo-period aficionado); to fantasy young-adult fiction (she's a huge fan of video games). I've enjoyed her hardboiled style as well as some of the period novels.
So naturally, her latest major work in 3 years, titled "Kogure Photo Studio", intrigued me.
It ended up being more of a pretty ordinary coming-of-age novel of a high school male student, with very little mystery twist. After the first of the 4 episode chapters, I couldn't come to terms with the fact that there was no twist at all. I ended up reading the entire 700 pages just to make sure I wasn't missing some big secret. I wasn't.
It was still a decent novel, and I don't regret reading it. The parallel healing process of the protagonist's family and the troubled young clerk he has a crush on was touching and cathartic. The friends and family of the protagonist were likable and interesting individuals.
But Miyabe-san's writing was at her best when she was describing the aging and depopulation of the local shopping area, or the support group for children with school avoidance issues. And I kept on wishing she'd delve further into these topics with the cool intensity I know she is capable of.
So in the end, I just wanted to tell her, "Miyabe-san, please, please don't go there. Literary novel is not your thing. Stick with what you're good at!"
Miyuki Miyabe, one of the most famous modern mystery novelists in Japan, has always been amazingly versatile, covering a wide range of genres from almost non-fiction style hardboiled mystery that focuses on social issues (my favorite, 火車, is translated--All She Was Worth); to a series of period mystery novels (she's an Edo-period aficionado); to fantasy young-adult fiction (she's a huge fan of video games). I've enjoyed her hardboiled style as well as some of the period novels.
So naturally, her latest major work in 3 years, titled "Kogure Photo Studio", intrigued me.
It ended up being more of a pretty ordinary coming-of-age novel of a high school male student, with very little mystery twist. After the first of the 4 episode chapters, I couldn't come to terms with the fact that there was no twist at all. I ended up reading the entire 700 pages just to make sure I wasn't missing some big secret. I wasn't.
It was still a decent novel, and I don't regret reading it. The parallel healing process of the protagonist's family and the troubled young clerk he has a crush on was touching and cathartic. The friends and family of the protagonist were likable and interesting individuals.
But Miyabe-san's writing was at her best when she was describing the aging and depopulation of the local shopping area, or the support group for children with school avoidance issues. And I kept on wishing she'd delve further into these topics with the cool intensity I know she is capable of.
So in the end, I just wanted to tell her, "Miyabe-san, please, please don't go there. Literary novel is not your thing. Stick with what you're good at!"
August 22, 2016
One of my most favorite books.
November 28, 2010
読み終わりたくなった。ずっと読んでいたかった。
March 24, 2017
ほのぼのした表紙を見て、宮部さんの小説っぽくないなー。と思い読んでみたら、ほんと正に表紙のような話でした。
700ページだけどスイスイ読める。
ミステリーがかったドラマの話に、ほんと魅力的な登場人物の設定で一気に一章読めた。
ただ、いつもの宮部さんの小説っぽい本格推理小説ではなく、ちょっとその単調さに、1章読み終わったら数日休憩したくなった。
でも、最後の章は良かったなぁ。
読み終わった後、とってもあたたかい気持ちになった。
この章で体全身を包んでもらって、あたたかく幸せな気持ちにさせてもらった感じ。
ほのぼのさの中にも、宮部さんが書いて伝えたかったことが伝わってきて、心に響いた
700ページだけどスイスイ読める。
ミステリーがかったドラマの話に、ほんと魅力的な登場人物の設定で一気に一章読めた。
ただ、いつもの宮部さんの小説っぽい本格推理小説ではなく、ちょっとその単調さに、1章読み終わったら数日休憩したくなった。
でも、最後の章は良かったなぁ。
読み終わった後、とってもあたたかい気持ちになった。
この章で体全身を包んでもらって、あたたかく幸せな気持ちにさせてもらった感じ。
ほのぼのさの中にも、宮部さんが書いて伝えたかったことが伝わってきて、心に響いた
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews