Loved this little adventure of a story! I didn’t realize it was an anime as well, so I’ve begun to watch that too. I found this translated version easy to follow, and to be honest there were times where I got some Holden Caulfield vibes from our unnamed narrator. While the writing could get a little redundant at times, I thought that was part of the main overarching point it was trying to make. Overall, I liked the message it conveyed (or at least the one I took away from it, I’m sure others could/may walk away with a slightly different interpretation), in that while we can all obsess about the “should’ve/would’ve/could’ve”s in life, it doesn’t always do us much good. Similar to the book Appointment In Samara, sometimes fighting so hard against our path in life may only lead us there faster. So instead, try to live in the moment instead, and have every choice you make be deliberated. Make every choice you make mean something.

I selected "The Tatami Galaxy" out of curiosity. My son watched the anime some years back and enjoyed it. The novel by Tomihiko Morimi is an interesting. I am still on fence on whether I liked it or not. I definitely didn't dislike it but it was a little difficult to stay with. The narrative is in first person and told in a collection of brief details that add up to a plot. It is like reading a lot of vignettes that build on each other. The style calls for patience and I'm not exactly great on patience. That said, once I got used to it, it made for a smoother read.

I typically have a difficult time reading translations but this one was far easier for me to follow. There were some phrases and cultural references that I didn’t fully understand, but I cannot fault the author or translator for something that I have little knowledge of, so this didn’t factor into my rating. The overall idea of someone living in four different universes but still having a largely unchanged fate in each of those is interesting. I struggled a bit during the first half of the book. I practically had to force myself to get to the second half and not DNF it, but I’m glad I kept reading because the second half was much easier to read and much more enjoyable for me. The repetition of certain phrases and paragraphs in each section made it tedious, but I understand why it was necessary to set the stage for each universe. The scattered sort of storytelling isn’t something I typically enjoy reading, but I felt that this book benefited from it. It’s a wonderfully complex book with an intriguing premise, but it was just one of those books that wasn’t the most enjoyable for me. I can see it being a favorite for readers who typically reach for this kind of book, though.

*This review has been scheduled to be published on my blog 11/10/2022*

Translating a book into English is hard. Translating one that has the characteristics that make Tatami’s narrator so unique must’ve been challenging yet so fun for the translator. As someone who saw the anime, directed by the excellent Masaki Yuasa, before reading The Tatami Galaxy, I was worried about how it would stand up.

I needn’t have worried though because Emily Balistrieri captures the charm of Tomihiko Morimi's words effortlessly. A good translator really adds to the book and makes sure that the spirit of the original work stays within its pages for the reader. So, much thanks to Balistrieri because I felt very nostalgic reading this book. It has the same wit and zaniness that I love in the anime and while there are definitely a couple of downsides to it, I enjoyed The Tatami Galaxy.

First of all, I just adore the humor in this book. The protagonist’s brand of sarcasm and the events in the novel have an ironic humor to them that made the pages speed by.

I also enjoyed the bizarre adventures and landscapes I was introduced to (the clubs, the building where the protagonist lived, etc.) and the casual way the book approached the unreliable narrator. One moment, his ego is as tall as the hills then it plummets as he realizes he isn’t special.

Many times, you’ll find the protagonist exaggerating the events in his life and the characters around him. It captures how we as teenagers and young adults exaggerate the events in our lives. Everything is so much bigger than it actually is. What’s interesting is that he’s sometimes very aware that he’s doing this, but loses all sense of rationality at other times, especially when it concerns his arch-nemesis and comrade Ozu. At one point, Ozu says:

"Not that it’s any consolation, but I think you would have met me no matter what. I just know it. No matter what happened, I would have done everything in my power to corrupt you. You can struggle against fate all you want, but it’s futile […] We’re connected by the black thread of fate."

This is absolutely true. Their relationship is my favorite one in the book as it feels much more developed as the two spend time together, tease, and support each other in the strangest ways sometimes.

Another character I loved was Akashi, the raven-haired maiden fated to be with Ozu or the protagonist. I like that she's very much her own person who's afraid of moths, is blunt to the point of having no friends, and with a good heart. Every time she came onto the page, I cheered. It would've been nice to have more development on her side, but this book isn't really about her or any of the other supporting characters because it's very stuck in the protagonist's mind. What changes is not Akashi, but the protagonist's view of Akashi, which I appreciate.

One thing that people may despise about The Tatami Galaxy is its repetition. At the start of every section, every new universe/reality, certain events and paragraphs repeat themselves. While it does get tedious, it has the same purpose as repetition in books such as American Psycho. I ended up skimming many of these parts and I will say that it felt like the book could’ve been shortened more. At the same time, would this have taken away some of the book’s charm? Probably.

Overall, The Tatami Galaxy is a book with a strange narrative formula that it uses to create depth for its protagonist. It's a story about nostalgia, regret, the anxiety of growing up and "losing out," and is ultimately hopeful. There are so many things people can be, the book seems to say, and they're all strangely wonderful in their own ways.

Thank you HarperVia and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I think I just wasn't quite in the mood to read this book, and I made the mistake of trying too hard to push through it, so I didn't have a very good time. I also generally have a hard time with books that don't really have chapters (I like to feel accomplished, what can I say), and because many of the sections started with similar phrases, I often felt deja vu while reading. All of this combined, I found myself at about 70% with very little memory or idea of what took place in the book before. I will hopefully pick this one up and have another go at it in the future (I think I would do best with an audiobook on this one), but for now, it was not a favorite.

I didn't read all of this. Got a little too complicated for me. I don't enjoy time travel novels very much. The writing was not bad in any way, I just couldn't get into the story. Also, I'm not usually into YA.

I think the comparison to Groundhog Day and The Midnight Library is misleading and may disappoint readers who expect a read-alike to The Midnight Library. That said, I loved this book and would suggest it for those who enjoyed Morimi's other books, or the movie adaptation of The Night is Long Girl, Keep Walking, or similar authors. The time-travel plot is complex and detailed, so its not for those looking for a light or easy read, but the depth feels satisfying and the world feel strange but real. Not a book for everyone, but for those who enjoy this type of novel, it would be one that I highly recommend.

I DNF’d this book about 30% in. I realized pretty early on that this book just wasn’t for me. It wasn’t bad writing in any way, shape, or form, it simply wasn’t my style. I think this book will be a major hit for fans of Haruki Murakami as the premise is incredibly interesting. The reader follows an unnamed protagonist who describes their life and the choices that lead them down certain paths. They meet a god who claims they are a matchmaker. It delves into alternate realities as well. I wanted to love this book, but I just couldn’t get through it. The art throughout the book is spectacular!

I have to submit a Star review as part of the reviewing process. I want to make a note that because I DNF’d this book the star rating isn’t fully accurate. Based off of the premise and the portion of the book I read I give this book 3 stars.