Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
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Book Reviews of Battle Royale
Book Review: A modern literary classic that is a must-read.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have just received my copy yesterday and I couldn't place the book down. It was that good! I'm already on page 277 and the book is pure genius.At first I thought the translations were going to be boring and lame. I was dead wrong. Instead of being boring like Homer's the Odyssey or Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Battle Royale was amazing! It is written with many descriptions of emotions that are in a frenzy! You actually feel what it's like to be stuck on a deserted island killing fellow classmates! Gruesome, I know.
This book is violent... But I think that factor is what makes the book what it is. The kids are my age (I'm 16. But I think they might be 15...) and the emotions are raw and constantly changing! One moment a character is crying; the next moment the character kills a fellow classmate! But that's how the game goes.
I was inspired to buy this novel after watching the movie. I thought the movie was great; but the novel is better! I'm grateful I watched the movie first because the novel takes the story a step higher. (I think I'd be let down if I read the novel first and then watched the movie. Happens in other movies I've seen before.)
I read the back of the book and it said Battle Royale was like a modern "Lord of the Flies". That's so true. I read that book last year for English class, and, man, did I enjoy it!
You won't be let down by this book. Koushun Takami is a brilliant author and Yuji Oniki is an awesome translator! If you purchase this book you'll be mighty happy.
Book Review: Its a crime not to read this book.
Summary: 5 Stars
I would have to say that Battle Royale is one of the greatest books of our time. Koushun Takami weaves an enchanting tale of violence, love, hate, drama, and mistrust better than any other author. He puts authors like Dean Koontz and Stephen King to shame.Battle Royale's characters are very real. They show fear, hurt, and ruthlessness as they are forced to play this horible game of kill or be killed. Some hide out until the end when they are slain, while others go out and play. The main characters (Shuya, Noriko, Shogo, Kazou, and Mitsuko) are all very diffrent and add variety to the book.
Shuya is a popular boy who doesn't want to hurt anyone, but does want to get off the island. Noriko is a quite girl who follows Shuya around, trying not to get shot in the process. Shogo is a mysterious exchange student who wants to help Shuya and Noriko escape. Kazou is a ruthless killer who has no heart of emotions. And Mitsuko is a child prostitute/porn star who will do anything to win, including shooting her friends, manipulating people, and even suducing people. (she's my favorite character :p, so evil)
With a deverse cast of characters and a well spun story with plenty of action, and drama I would give Battle Royale 10 out of 5 stars. No one should not read this book, it is simply a crime.
Book Review: Best Novel Ever Written
Summary: 5 Stars
Simply amazing, EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS!!!!!!! Even if you don't like books from this genre you have to read this. I think this book should be a required read for any American citizen. It has really given me a great idea of who to trust in life and why our world is so corrupt. This has left a HUGE impact on my life and I will read this book once every single year. Has outstanding character, plot, and setting. But whatever you do, DON'T READ THE MANGA VERSION FIRST!!!!! I believe that it completely destroys what the story is about and leads people to believe the wrong things this book is trying to teach. If you do read the book and enjoy it, give the movie a try before touching the manga, the movie has left out a lot of details, and has some flaws, but is still a good watch and brings the characters to life even more. The movie is a Japanese made and directed film and you may have to do some searching to find it. I suggest going onto www.watchmovies.net because you can just type in the name BATTLE ROYALE in the search box and you can watch the whole thing on there. If you have a Netflix account they have it on their DVD list and I would definently check it out. I sincerely hope you enjoy this and hope it leaves as much of an impact on you as it has left on me.Book Review: A nice surprise my students led me to!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a high school teacher who noticed a book some of my students were reading when they finished their work in class. I picked up a copy of Battle Royale and got quite a surprise. After some reflection, I think it's the best book I've read in years. But it's probably not for everyone.Battle Royale is very violent. The violence, however, is an integral part of the impact of the book. As someone who works with and cares about young people, my growing sense of outrage at the cruelties being inflicted on the characters propelled me through the book. Also, the romances portrayed in the book are generally immature, but they fit the characters ages. While the book seems to be leading one to a rather dim view of human nature, the plot twist at the end is actually hopeful.
I was impressed enough by the book to go to eBay (BR is not available on DVD in the States as I write this) and buy a copy of the DVD from Hong Kong. I was a bit disappointed by the movie, but probably my hopes were too high. If you've only seen the movie, by all means read the book.
All in all, BR is a nice, fast read, and it is surprisingly thought provoking. The book sticks with you. Thanks to Mohammad and Chris for pointing this book out to me.
Book Review: Battle Royale
Summary: 5 Stars
'Battle Royale' is an excellent Japanese novel that is both gripping and original. I won't describe the storyline as the amazon page has a pretty good synopsis. I will say that from the first page you will be hooked and you will find yourself returning to this book at every free moment to see how the story develops. It is a simple premise, superbly executed (excuse the pun!) and you will become completely immersed in the mindsets of the various characters and how they behave. This book, like the film, is deemed controversial and yet I can't see any real reason why. It is a violent novel, but no more so than others out there, and it has a great many redeeming qualities compared to those other pulp fiction horror books. The translation is very good, so much so that you barely realise you are reading a translation at all, the ultimate goal I would have thought. This book is so easy to read that the 613 pages will fly by in no time at all. The ending, considering the subject matter, manages to leave you satisfied and with an adrenaline rush as well. One of the better modern fiction books i've read in a while and well worth a read.
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