KOKORO – Keith Yatsuhashi | Looking For a Good Book

This will be a briefer review than normal for a number of reasons which I will currently keep to myself.

As with the first book in this series, Kojiki, I struggled to enjoy this book.

I felt like I understood the characters a little better this time around, but I really never cared about them. This still felt like I was reading an episode of an anime cartoon (though one of more serious bent) mixed with a touch of soap opera. Characters typically drive a story for me, no matter how strong the plot, so if I’m not engaged by the characters it’s an up-hill battle to keep me interested (though it’s happened – and recently).

The action was a bit uneven, but when it worked, it worked really well. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to really hold me.

This was one of those books that, when I was done I thought to myself. Well, that’s done. On to the next. No reflection on what I’d just read, no wishing it would go on. Nothing. It wasn’t horrible – not like those books I just wish would be over with – but not worth recommending either.

Looking for a good book? Kokoro by Keith Yatsuhashi is a follow-up to Kojiki. Fans of Kojiki will likely enjoy this. The rest of us, probably not so much.