An unfulfilled college student hurtles through four parallel realities to explore the what-might've-been and the what-should-never-be in this Groundhog Day meets The Midnight Library–esque novel from one of Japan’s most popular authors.
Our protagonist, an unnamed junior at a prestigious university in Kyoto, is on the verge of dropping out. After rebelling against the dictatorial jock president of the film club, he and his worst and only friend, the diabolical creep Ozu, are personas non grata on campus. For two years, our protagonist has made all the wrong decisions, and now he's about to make another mistake. He and Ozu are preparing for revenge—a fireworks attack at the film club's welcoming party for new members. Then, a chance encounter with a self-proclaimed god sets the confused and distraught young man on a new course. Destiny will bring him together with Akashi, the blunt but charming sophomore he has a crush …
An unfulfilled college student hurtles through four parallel realities to explore the what-might've-been and the what-should-never-be in this Groundhog Day meets The Midnight Library–esque novel from one of Japan’s most popular authors.
Our protagonist, an unnamed junior at a prestigious university in Kyoto, is on the verge of dropping out. After rebelling against the dictatorial jock president of the film club, he and his worst and only friend, the diabolical creep Ozu, are personas non grata on campus. For two years, our protagonist has made all the wrong decisions, and now he's about to make another mistake. He and Ozu are preparing for revenge—a fireworks attack at the film club's welcoming party for new members. Then, a chance encounter with a self-proclaimed god sets the confused and distraught young man on a new course. Destiny will bring him together with Akashi, the blunt but charming sophomore he has a crush on—if he’s brave enough to make a move. Yet our protagonist cannot get beyond his profound disillusionment and the moment is lost. But what if there's a universe where he did join the club of his dreams, ditched Ozu for good, and was confident enough to get the girl? A realm of possibility opens up for our protagonist as time rewinds, and from the four-and-a-half-mat tatami floor of his dorm room, he is plunged into a series of adventures that will take him to four parallel universes. In each universe, he is given the opportunity to start over as a freshman, in search of a rose-colored campus life.
The inspiration behind the much-loved anime series, Tomihiko Morimi's contemporary classic is a fantastic journey through time and space, where a half-eaten castella cake, a photograph from Rome, and a giant cavity in a wisdom tooth hold the keys to self-discovery. A time-traveling romp that speaks to everyone who has wondered what if, The Tatami Galaxy will win readers’ hearts over . . . and over . . . and over again.
If you can penetrate the thick layer of irony that the protagonist's self-aggrandizing narration is coated with, it's an amusing book. I often like familiar things more, so the repetitive structure worked to its advantage – I grew fond of these characters, as dubious as most of them were.
Actually, I can't give a general recommendation for this book. It's the sort of work that makes me wonder what kind of person the author is. It's perhaps a book for someone who wants to examine a particular Type of Guy under a microscope.
I could write a lot on this one but I don’t think I have the energy. It was good, and I feel like it’s likely polarizing, which is why I think I feel so strongly in two directions yet settle for three stars.
The Bad: MC is an insufferable nice guy, but reading the translators note it seems that’s the point and a theme in the author’s work. The journey of a creep that has the potential to be an actually good guy if he grows up a little. Still hard to read and relate and care for me, but maybe different for someone more in the coming of age campus life time of their life. Love interest was a manic pixie girl vibe.
The Mixed: The repetition is awful at times when it’s an obvious two page copy-paste, for the third time. Other times it’s a whimsical touch because …
I could write a lot on this one but I don’t think I have the energy. It was good, and I feel like it’s likely polarizing, which is why I think I feel so strongly in two directions yet settle for three stars.
The Bad: MC is an insufferable nice guy, but reading the translators note it seems that’s the point and a theme in the author’s work. The journey of a creep that has the potential to be an actually good guy if he grows up a little. Still hard to read and relate and care for me, but maybe different for someone more in the coming of age campus life time of their life. Love interest was a manic pixie girl vibe.
The Mixed: The repetition is awful at times when it’s an obvious two page copy-paste, for the third time. Other times it’s a whimsical touch because things are slightly different. I wish there was more of the latter and less of the former. I struggled with the comedy for more than half the book, because I just kept reading it as an insufferable nice guy blaming his problems on others. Once I viewed it from an absurd satire perspective, I was able to loosen up on this, but it took too long for me to find the charm.
The Good: Sense of place, especially googling the locations, was fantastic. I felt like I was really in this neighborhood and especially after four trips through it, it was the most memorable character to me. I love a strong sense of space. Each part of the book got better, with the tipping point into good being the third, and the fourth actually feeling like a good time. Even the most obnoxious characters had their own charm by this point.
I’m conflicted on whether or not to read the second. I may place a hold at the library and give myself a very generous threshold to DNF it. If I do read it I’ll update this review, if I remember…
