Part III & Appendices

[Jenni]

Final thoughts on Part II & the Appendices live here.

[Hollie]

I finished the book and gave it 3 stars. I have to say, I was a little disappointed overall. Admittedly it was a very hyped book and that probably didn't help. All of the quantum physics talk was honesty over my head and completely took away from the story for me. I loved Nao's story, but Ruth's whole storyline was distracting. I know there was supposed to be depth there, but it just wasn't for me.

[vanessa]

I finished earlier today! I think I enjoyed it more than you, Hollie, but I get your criticisms of it.

These characters are going to stay with me, esp. Nao. The questions it posed were also thoughtful and worthwhile for me. I really liked how world events were important to the story.

I enjoyed the audiobook (I read both the physical & audiobook) and I didn't even realize Ozeki narrated it herself until the end!

[Jenni]

I ended up enjoying it a lot more that I thought I would at first. I ADORED Jiko! And definitely am glad I switched over to the audiobook, the experience was so much better for me that way. And i found it really interesting when Ozeki pointed out that the audiobook and the physical book are designed to be two different reading experiences and she recommends both. Apparently when she writes she reads it out loud to herself, so that audiobook version is how she experiences her own stories. SO interesting.

I did find the end felt a bit rushed and muddled though. All that stuff about the words disappearing made me roll my eyes a bit.

The parts where it was describing 9/11 from each of their perspectives really got to me, though. That was really well written.