Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids by Kenzaburo Oe

[Kalli.francis]

I selected this book because after reading the first few chapters on Amazon, it sounded intriguing and interesting. Boy was I wrong. This is, quite possibly, the worst book I have ever read. I am a fan of books that draw you in, sucking you into their own world. This book did none of that. It was like reading a mildly interesting history textbook. The book was originally written in Japanese, and I believe that this is its downfall. The translator for this book, in my opinion, did a terrible job. The translator chose awkward words that did not flow at all with the story. And, on top of everything else, the book was way too sad. I am NOT a fan of sad books; I like all my books to have a happy ending. This book just sort of ended; there was no tying of the loose knots or anything else usually present at the end of the book. Overall, I would NOT recommend this book to anyone. Life’s too short to read a bad book, and trust me: this was a bad book.

[Dramasylum]

This isn't for the faint of heart, but it's a fast-paced read. The suggestion of how humans can turn on each other out of fear is well presented. The author balances the horror with the hope provided by characters learning to bond together and accepting each other's differences.