★ ★
This book seemed perfect for me! A Japanese fiction novel with a lighthearted theme and premise? Gorgeous! Perfect for a night time read to wind down, I think.
However, you've no doubt noticed the mere two stars I've given this novel, which honestly pains me to do...
The novel primarily surrounds a taxi driver and the regular customers he meets during the hours of 1 and 4am, and their own life struggles and stories! A cosy premise if you ask me, and one I still generally enjoy despite the two stars! But here is where my dislike of this novel starts to show...
It's an anthology. Several short stories that are loosely tied to each other throughout the reading of the novel, and that all, thankfully, conclude rather neatly in the final chapter. This, however, was my first experience with the short story format, and one I've quickly realised that I just don't personally enjoy!
The short stories themselves were all very interesting, but as soon as I was finally getting into one of them, it'd switch to a new story with a new character. And I understand that this is to be expected with the genre and format of short stories, but this was my first time reading one, and I don't think I'll be reading another any time soon. It was just very frustrating for me. I wish I got to read each of these short stories in a more full and in depth format, because they were all genuinely so intruiging to me!
Instead, I found myself sighing and upset that I had to switch to something new.
If you enjoy short stories, then I 100% recommend this novel for a light and easy read! It's under 200 pages long and I finished it in an evening. I personally wish I had DNF'd it at the mid way point, but alas... I also didn't really enjoy the ending because it was rather boring to me. But sometimes that's real life!