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Takeout Sushi
Takeout Sushi is a collection of 17 illustrated short stories set mostly in contemporary Japan that explore feelings of belonging, displacement, and the strangeness of everyday human interaction.
In an innovative, fast-paced company, a man’s job comes under threat when a team of robots are brought in to replace the HR department. A husband’s search for shortcuts to his domestic tasks goes painfully wrong. Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, a foreigner takes a weekend break and discovers something other than solitude in the mountains.
Marking Christopher Green’s debut adult fiction and inspired by his own experiences, these whimsical slice-of-life tales are full of heart and humour—perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Before the Coffee Gets Cold
In an innovative, fast-paced company, a man’s job comes under threat when a team of robots are brought in to replace the HR department. A husband’s search for shortcuts to his domestic tasks goes painfully wrong. Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, a foreigner takes a weekend break and discovers something other than solitude in the mountains.
Marking Christopher Green’s debut adult fiction and inspired by his own experiences, these whimsical slice-of-life tales are full of heart and humour—perfect for fans of Convenience Store Woman and Before the Coffee Gets Cold
272 pages, Paperback
Published May 2, 2024
8 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Green
1 book8 followersChristopher writes short stories and children's stories. His first collection of short stories Takeout Sushi was published by Neem Tree Press in May 2024. He lives near Tokyo with his wife and daughter.
For a little more about Christopher and his books, please visit
www.greeninjapan.com.
For Christopher's goodreads page for his children's books, please visit
Chris Green.
Thank you for reading!
For a little more about Christopher and his books, please visit
www.greeninjapan.com.
For Christopher's goodreads page for his children's books, please visit
Chris Green.
Thank you for reading!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
April 25, 2024
In a Nutshell: An interesting collection of stories, with most of them set in Japan. Loved the writing style and enjoyed the diverse emotions. Much recommended!
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This story collection has, as the title suggests, a strong Japanese flavour. So let me begin by confessing that I am not a fan of Japanese literature. Most Japanese fiction that I tried hasn’t suited my reading tastes, so I generally keep away from this genre. The reason I picked this collection up is... No, no, the sushi had no role to play in my decision; I can’t stand even the thought of sushi! The reason I wanted to read this is that the author is NOT a Japanese! 😁 I know this sounds quite silly to declare, but had the author been Japanese, I would have resisted opting for this. But by virtue of his being an “outsider”, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at Japan without risking the writing style’s not working for me yet again.
Usually, I avoid cultural fiction by non-OwnVoices writers as they often tend to be stereotypical. However, author Christopher Green has been a long-time resident of Japan, so his view of Japan has to be somewhat genuine. This factor also worked in favour of my interest.
“Takeout Sushi” is Green’s debut adult fiction collection, with some of the stories being inspired from his own experiences. The tales offer a memorable medley of both nihon-jin (Japanese resident) as well as gaijin (non-Japanese outsider) points of view, possibly due to the author’s dual perspective into the country of his residence.
The seventeen stories in this book are divided across two sections: “Stories of Japan, today”, which has thirteen stories, and “Stories of Other Places and Times”, which has the remaining four stories coming from non-Japanese settings. While I enjoyed most of the tales, the Japanese ones were superior to the rest.
Most of the Japan-centric stories in this collection have the main character as a non-Japanese settled in the country. They are ordinary characters living ordinary lives until one decision of theirs takes a turn for the extraordinary. The stories thus evoke a variety of emotions, ranging from hope to panic to fear to laughter. Each of them impacts the head and the heart!
It would have been easy to write every Japan-based story as a set of experiences of immigrant settlers. However, the stories in this book are absolutely varied in theme, never feeling repetitive or stereotypical, and none of them are about adjusting to the Japanese way of living i.e. the immigrant perspective. I appreciate this writing choice because it gives the book a far widespread range of topics and emotions to explore, and also makes it stand out in the plethora of similar-sounding immigrant narratives.
The stories in the second section offer a slightly different experience. Though these also had variety in content and intriguing characters, somehow they left me wanting more. Again, they aren’t bad stories at all. But in comparison with the outstanding Japanese set, the non-Japanese ones don’t leave as much of an impact. I wouldn’t even have minded if these stories had been skipped in favour of more Japanese experience tales.
Regardless, the writing in both sections is impeccable. Most stories have a clear flow, and whether written in first person or third person, you actually *feel* the narrator’s emotions. The author’s writing seems almost effortless, whether he is penning something funny or serious. The emotions spring genuinely from the situation and don’t feel shovelled into the narrative.
The endings of some of the tales felt a little abrupt. Thankfully, a majority of the stories reach a more realistic finish, if not a perfectly happy one. I like such endings better, but those who want a short story to seal off neatly might be dissatisfied.
Every story is introduced with a little illustration that represents the upcoming tale nicely. These add to the allure.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the seventeen stories, nine stories reached or crossed the 4 star mark. All the remaining stories got between 3-3.5 stars. In other words, not a single bad story for me; all were either good or great. My top favourites were:
All in all, I loved this unusual story collection. While the setting is primarily Japanese, the stories are more about the people than the place, and the human emotions are universal.
Heartily recommended to all lovers of short fiction and East Asian fiction, and to those who enjoy the journey more than the destination. This is one sushi (and the only sushi) that I’d love to try again!
3.9 stars, based on the average of my rating for each tale.
My thanks to TheWriteReads, Neem Tree Press, author Christopher Green, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of “Takeout Sushi”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story collection has, as the title suggests, a strong Japanese flavour. So let me begin by confessing that I am not a fan of Japanese literature. Most Japanese fiction that I tried hasn’t suited my reading tastes, so I generally keep away from this genre. The reason I picked this collection up is... No, no, the sushi had no role to play in my decision; I can’t stand even the thought of sushi! The reason I wanted to read this is that the author is NOT a Japanese! 😁 I know this sounds quite silly to declare, but had the author been Japanese, I would have resisted opting for this. But by virtue of his being an “outsider”, I thought it was a great opportunity to get a look at Japan without risking the writing style’s not working for me yet again.
Usually, I avoid cultural fiction by non-OwnVoices writers as they often tend to be stereotypical. However, author Christopher Green has been a long-time resident of Japan, so his view of Japan has to be somewhat genuine. This factor also worked in favour of my interest.
“Takeout Sushi” is Green’s debut adult fiction collection, with some of the stories being inspired from his own experiences. The tales offer a memorable medley of both nihon-jin (Japanese resident) as well as gaijin (non-Japanese outsider) points of view, possibly due to the author’s dual perspective into the country of his residence.
The seventeen stories in this book are divided across two sections: “Stories of Japan, today”, which has thirteen stories, and “Stories of Other Places and Times”, which has the remaining four stories coming from non-Japanese settings. While I enjoyed most of the tales, the Japanese ones were superior to the rest.
Most of the Japan-centric stories in this collection have the main character as a non-Japanese settled in the country. They are ordinary characters living ordinary lives until one decision of theirs takes a turn for the extraordinary. The stories thus evoke a variety of emotions, ranging from hope to panic to fear to laughter. Each of them impacts the head and the heart!
It would have been easy to write every Japan-based story as a set of experiences of immigrant settlers. However, the stories in this book are absolutely varied in theme, never feeling repetitive or stereotypical, and none of them are about adjusting to the Japanese way of living i.e. the immigrant perspective. I appreciate this writing choice because it gives the book a far widespread range of topics and emotions to explore, and also makes it stand out in the plethora of similar-sounding immigrant narratives.
The stories in the second section offer a slightly different experience. Though these also had variety in content and intriguing characters, somehow they left me wanting more. Again, they aren’t bad stories at all. But in comparison with the outstanding Japanese set, the non-Japanese ones don’t leave as much of an impact. I wouldn’t even have minded if these stories had been skipped in favour of more Japanese experience tales.
Regardless, the writing in both sections is impeccable. Most stories have a clear flow, and whether written in first person or third person, you actually *feel* the narrator’s emotions. The author’s writing seems almost effortless, whether he is penning something funny or serious. The emotions spring genuinely from the situation and don’t feel shovelled into the narrative.
The endings of some of the tales felt a little abrupt. Thankfully, a majority of the stories reach a more realistic finish, if not a perfectly happy one. I like such endings better, but those who want a short story to seal off neatly might be dissatisfied.
Every story is introduced with a little illustration that represents the upcoming tale nicely. These add to the allure.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the seventeen stories, nine stories reached or crossed the 4 star mark. All the remaining stories got between 3-3.5 stars. In other words, not a single bad story for me; all were either good or great. My top favourites were:
🌸 Swallows - The emotions in this tale are stunning. It has a subtle kind of frustration and a hope that stems from nature. I have rarely seen male writers capture women’s feelings so well. (Sorry, that’s gender-biased, I know! But still…) - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🌸 Burned - Easily, the best story of the book. The title made me assume that it might be a story of a disaster. Well, there was a disaster, but a man-made one. A MAN-made one! 😉 I laughed harder than I should have at this tale. My female-identifying friends, you will have a blast reading this. My male-identifying friends, this might be painful to read, but I hope you will learn a lifesaving lesson from this story. 😂 Fingers crossed that ‘Burned’ wasn't one of the stories inspired by the author's experiences! 😬🤭 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌸 Spinning Wheels - Corporate culture at its best, and worst. Loved how well this incorporates Japanese work ethic into a futuristic premise. All those worried about AI and its repercussions might enjoy this story. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🌸 The Jogger - Another story that didn't go the way I expected it to, and ended in an even more memorable way! The ending elevated my rating. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌸 Plastic Irises - This one really took me by surprise because I just didn’t figure out where it was going. The titular plastic irises are a nice metaphor to the content. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
All in all, I loved this unusual story collection. While the setting is primarily Japanese, the stories are more about the people than the place, and the human emotions are universal.
Heartily recommended to all lovers of short fiction and East Asian fiction, and to those who enjoy the journey more than the destination. This is one sushi (and the only sushi) that I’d love to try again!
3.9 stars, based on the average of my rating for each tale.
My thanks to TheWriteReads, Neem Tree Press, author Christopher Green, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of “Takeout Sushi”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
April 20, 2024
Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green
3.5 out of 5 stars
Takeout Sushi is an entertaining short story collection mainly set in Japan. The last few stories take place in other parts of the world.
I find it quite hard to put my thoughts into words. Like with all short story collections, some resonate more with a reader than others. And I definitely experienced that as well.
Burned was a story that actually made me laugh. It's about a couple and Naomi, the wife, goes on a work trip. The last time she went on a work trip she came back home to a mess of a house. And she clearly instructs her husband to keep things neat, do the laundry and buy groceries. When she leaves he is more than willing to do a good job around the house this time. And when he decides to iron some shirts after a shower nakedly, things go wrong. He burns his penis and it hurts like hell. He needs to go to the hospital. That conversation with the doctor had me in stitches. And what happens the same night with a hot cup of noodles. My lord. And the ending of the story when the wife comes home! Haha, it was such a wonderful and outstanding story. Loved it from start to finish.
And some stories had a great start. Bodies is an example of that. I got really excited. But it ended rather flatly. And that was a shame. A few stories showed a lot of potential. But the crux of the story just wasn't for me.
Spinning Wheels was such a good one! That one was a 5 star read. It starts with a man doing a great job. But a young employee is gunning for his place in the company and he gets replaced. The young employee implements robots in the company and everyone needs to report to the robots.
I love how that story evolved and I loved the ending.
The Choice is probably my favorite story out of all of them. It's about a man who has a hard time making choices. His life is ruled by indecision and the fear that comes with it. What happens to him is one of the most awful things I can imagine for a man dealing with those kinda fears. But that end. Oh that end was amazing! I felt his shout reverberate through my bones and right into my soul. Definitely the strongest story in the book.
The Pool is a story that really makes you think about every letter and word that is written down. I love how cryptic it was. And how open to interpretation it was. My head certainly went one way. And I am kinda dying to ask the author what he truly meant.
Another 5 star story in this collection.
But like I said, some stories didn't resonate with me. Swallows, Henry Sparkles, Magpie Man and Swirl had some amazing elements. But they weren't really for me in the way they ended. Though I must admit that Swirl's ending said a lot about the couple's marriage. And I loved that confession in the end.
So I find it really hard to rate this collection. So I'll settle on 3.5 stars overall! Still an enjoyable read. And I do recommend it because some stories are truly brilliant.
I also want to thank The Write Reads and Neem Tree Press for gifting me a copy of Takeout Sushi in exchange for an honest review. I am forever grateful.
I wasn't forced to write this review, and all opinions are mine and mine alone.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Takeout Sushi is an entertaining short story collection mainly set in Japan. The last few stories take place in other parts of the world.
I find it quite hard to put my thoughts into words. Like with all short story collections, some resonate more with a reader than others. And I definitely experienced that as well.
Burned was a story that actually made me laugh. It's about a couple and Naomi, the wife, goes on a work trip. The last time she went on a work trip she came back home to a mess of a house. And she clearly instructs her husband to keep things neat, do the laundry and buy groceries. When she leaves he is more than willing to do a good job around the house this time. And when he decides to iron some shirts after a shower nakedly, things go wrong. He burns his penis and it hurts like hell. He needs to go to the hospital. That conversation with the doctor had me in stitches. And what happens the same night with a hot cup of noodles. My lord. And the ending of the story when the wife comes home! Haha, it was such a wonderful and outstanding story. Loved it from start to finish.
And some stories had a great start. Bodies is an example of that. I got really excited. But it ended rather flatly. And that was a shame. A few stories showed a lot of potential. But the crux of the story just wasn't for me.
Spinning Wheels was such a good one! That one was a 5 star read. It starts with a man doing a great job. But a young employee is gunning for his place in the company and he gets replaced. The young employee implements robots in the company and everyone needs to report to the robots.
I love how that story evolved and I loved the ending.
The Choice is probably my favorite story out of all of them. It's about a man who has a hard time making choices. His life is ruled by indecision and the fear that comes with it. What happens to him is one of the most awful things I can imagine for a man dealing with those kinda fears. But that end. Oh that end was amazing! I felt his shout reverberate through my bones and right into my soul. Definitely the strongest story in the book.
The Pool is a story that really makes you think about every letter and word that is written down. I love how cryptic it was. And how open to interpretation it was. My head certainly went one way. And I am kinda dying to ask the author what he truly meant.
Another 5 star story in this collection.
But like I said, some stories didn't resonate with me. Swallows, Henry Sparkles, Magpie Man and Swirl had some amazing elements. But they weren't really for me in the way they ended. Though I must admit that Swirl's ending said a lot about the couple's marriage. And I loved that confession in the end.
So I find it really hard to rate this collection. So I'll settle on 3.5 stars overall! Still an enjoyable read. And I do recommend it because some stories are truly brilliant.
I also want to thank The Write Reads and Neem Tree Press for gifting me a copy of Takeout Sushi in exchange for an honest review. I am forever grateful.
I wasn't forced to write this review, and all opinions are mine and mine alone.
April 9, 2024
I’m afraid that this collection of short stories really wasn’t for me, and I left it unfinished 60% of the way through (11 of the 17 stories).
These stories are small slices of life, mostly from the perspective of a foreigner living in Japan. Each little vignette nicely captures a mood, but, while there was a charm in many of them, the mood that was mostly captured seemed to be that of a mundane daily life. The world being painted felt quite grey. Unfortunately, I simply wasn’t engaged by any of the stories, and I found the outcome of most of them to be unremarkable. There were a few times when the author teased me with a what seemed to be a tantalising moment of insight - for example, the subjective nature of “under budget, and on time” in ‘Spinning Wheels’, or ignoring the roots while being captivated by the leaves in ‘The Tree’ - but these were unsatisfyingly underdeveloped.
Maybe I’m missing the point. Maybe the point is to immerse oneself in the grey mundanity of daily life, and enjoy these gentle fables of regret, hubris, and growth.
I did laugh out loud in ‘Burned’, though. And the illustrations are nice.
Thank you #NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for the free review copy of #TakeoutSushi in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
These stories are small slices of life, mostly from the perspective of a foreigner living in Japan. Each little vignette nicely captures a mood, but, while there was a charm in many of them, the mood that was mostly captured seemed to be that of a mundane daily life. The world being painted felt quite grey. Unfortunately, I simply wasn’t engaged by any of the stories, and I found the outcome of most of them to be unremarkable. There were a few times when the author teased me with a what seemed to be a tantalising moment of insight - for example, the subjective nature of “under budget, and on time” in ‘Spinning Wheels’, or ignoring the roots while being captivated by the leaves in ‘The Tree’ - but these were unsatisfyingly underdeveloped.
Maybe I’m missing the point. Maybe the point is to immerse oneself in the grey mundanity of daily life, and enjoy these gentle fables of regret, hubris, and growth.
I did laugh out loud in ‘Burned’, though. And the illustrations are nice.
Thank you #NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for the free review copy of #TakeoutSushi in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 31, 2024
I read this collection of short stories in one sitting and liked it, and I love my books with a little illustration here and there!!🥹✋🏼
!!𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!!
!!𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 & 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!!
April 27, 2024
My son has always had a fascination with Japan, it started at a very early age and it’s never gone away. With him in mind I decided to join the blog tour for this.
Takeout Sushi is a collection of 17 illustrated short stories set mostly in contemporary Japan that explore feelings of belonging, displacement, and the strangeness of everyday human interaction.
In an innovative, fast-paced company, a man’s job comes under threat when a team of robots are brought in to replace the HR department. A husband’s search for shortcuts to his domestic tasks goes painfully wrong. Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, a foreigner takes a weekend break and discovers something other than solitude in the mountains.
What I love about a collection of short stories is there is always going to be something for everyone.
Each story will be someone that loves it.
I have a feeling that my favourite story will be the most popular one.
My favourite story had to be Burned, the title kinda gives you an idea of what the story is going to be about, I’m sorry to say that I have no self control and I laughed all the way through this book, mainly due to the stupidity of one man.
I truly hope that this wasn’t a true story…
Burned tells the story of an average/normal married couple. When the wife goes away for a work trip she tells her husband to keep the house tidy.
So he understands this instruction to do the ironing naked straight after a shower. We all know where this is going to go. Yep he does burn his privates, and the scenes in the hospital are so of the funniest I’ve ever read.
All in all this is a great book and I look forward to reading this author again.
Many thanks to The Write Reads and Neem Tree Press for my part on the tour.
Takeout Sushi is a collection of 17 illustrated short stories set mostly in contemporary Japan that explore feelings of belonging, displacement, and the strangeness of everyday human interaction.
In an innovative, fast-paced company, a man’s job comes under threat when a team of robots are brought in to replace the HR department. A husband’s search for shortcuts to his domestic tasks goes painfully wrong. Overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, a foreigner takes a weekend break and discovers something other than solitude in the mountains.
What I love about a collection of short stories is there is always going to be something for everyone.
Each story will be someone that loves it.
I have a feeling that my favourite story will be the most popular one.
My favourite story had to be Burned, the title kinda gives you an idea of what the story is going to be about, I’m sorry to say that I have no self control and I laughed all the way through this book, mainly due to the stupidity of one man.
I truly hope that this wasn’t a true story…
Burned tells the story of an average/normal married couple. When the wife goes away for a work trip she tells her husband to keep the house tidy.
So he understands this instruction to do the ironing naked straight after a shower. We all know where this is going to go. Yep he does burn his privates, and the scenes in the hospital are so of the funniest I’ve ever read.
All in all this is a great book and I look forward to reading this author again.
Many thanks to The Write Reads and Neem Tree Press for my part on the tour.
April 26, 2024
An unusual short story collection which is mostly set in Japan and which contains a set of very short stories which vary immensely in topic and tone. Some are funny, sombre though provoking, some will make you nostalgic. What drew me to it was the fact that most of the stories are set in Japan and I think the author does a great job of capturing the Japanese culture, without being too overt about it.
I must give a nod to the artist too. I loved the illustrations that came with each story, they really help add to the atmosphere. The collection contains 17 stories in all, 13 of which are set in Japan with the others being in ‘other times and places’. I don’t know if the latter really fitted in with the rest and the overall theme of the book, but they were pretty good stories in their own right.
Of all the stories I feel like Burned was the best. Definitely chuckle worthy. But I also liked many of the others especially Swallows, which I think is one of the most emotional stories in the collection.
Many thanks to Neem tree press and the write reads for my copy!
I must give a nod to the artist too. I loved the illustrations that came with each story, they really help add to the atmosphere. The collection contains 17 stories in all, 13 of which are set in Japan with the others being in ‘other times and places’. I don’t know if the latter really fitted in with the rest and the overall theme of the book, but they were pretty good stories in their own right.
Of all the stories I feel like Burned was the best. Definitely chuckle worthy. But I also liked many of the others especially Swallows, which I think is one of the most emotional stories in the collection.
Many thanks to Neem tree press and the write reads for my copy!
dnf
September 7, 2025It's a lottery with collections of short stories. Although there were a couple that intrigued me, unfortunately Takeout Sushi ended up not for me. My favourite story was the one about computers within office workspaces - this one felt like it could be an episode of Black Mirror! While I ultimately DNF'ed it @52%, I encourage others to give it a go if they like such format, or stories that take place in Japan.
Thank you to Christopher Green, NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Christopher Green, NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 26, 2024
This is one of the best short story collections I’ve read. Each story has its charm and the range of viewpoints we get are fascinating. Some are in the first person, some are third person; some from a foreigner’s perspective, some from a Japanese perspective. The robot managers story is a masterclass in black humour and the criminal “confessions” are hilarious (particularly as we only get one side of the story). The ironing story, well, just read it and chortle! The illustrations at the start of each story are very well done and set up the story without giving away the twists. Well worth a read then a re-read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 4, 2024
I enjoyed a lot this collection of short stories. As always with short stories, there were a few good ones, there were others I enjoyed only on the moment but there were also a lot I reread because I didn't want them to be finished.
For me, the stories set in Japan were more interesting and entertaining then the ones from other places and times.
The writing style is captivating. The author managed to teleporte me into each story from the first phrases.
For me, the stories set in Japan were more interesting and entertaining then the ones from other places and times.
The writing style is captivating. The author managed to teleporte me into each story from the first phrases.
March 20, 2024
4.75/5 stars!
A collection of short, illustrated stories from the country I most want to visit, Japan? YES PLEASE. To say that I ate this up was a complete understatement. I really, really enjoyed these short stories. And it would have been a solid 5 stars if this book had of actually teleported me to Japan. The authors writing is quick, witty, and it fully traps you in all the right ways! I cannot wait to read more by this author.
A massive thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley UK for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A collection of short, illustrated stories from the country I most want to visit, Japan? YES PLEASE. To say that I ate this up was a complete understatement. I really, really enjoyed these short stories. And it would have been a solid 5 stars if this book had of actually teleported me to Japan. The authors writing is quick, witty, and it fully traps you in all the right ways! I cannot wait to read more by this author.
A massive thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley UK for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 21, 2024
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories a lot. As is always the case with these collections I preferred some stories to others. But overall they were all very entertaining and especially the last ones were very different in tone and setting. I also adored the illustrations.
April 1, 2024
"Takeout Sushi" is quite a neat composition I must say. It's brilliantly written with a solemn atmosphere. It portrays a diverse and unique array of narrative, each invoking a different set of emotions. What's particularly striking is the impeccable craftsmanship evident in every story. Each storyline is meticulously infused with a palpable creative consistency. The juxtaposition of various human experiences lends the collection a sense of poignancy.
Thank you NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for the ARC
Thank you NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for the ARC
March 13, 2024
Bird nests, company robots, haiku competitions, a bungled heist, and much, much more! It’s all in this wonderful collection of short stories by Christopher Green. I especially enjoyed those that were set in Japan. They didn’t fall into the category of explaining Japan, but they highlighted the day-to-day (and sometimes the extraordinary) experiences of Japanese and non-Japanese people who just happen to live there.
The author, a long-term resident of Japan, hits the nail on the head with descriptions and sensory details, but they never get in the way of the stories. Each story was unique, but they all exhibited a deep understanding of a wide range of human emotions, including jealousy, love, isolation, and pride. Some of the had me laughing out loud (particularly the one with the husband who never should have been left alone in the house with an iron or the one where criminals barge into a house—but automatically take off their shoes off first).
Highly recommended for readers of short stories!
The author, a long-term resident of Japan, hits the nail on the head with descriptions and sensory details, but they never get in the way of the stories. Each story was unique, but they all exhibited a deep understanding of a wide range of human emotions, including jealousy, love, isolation, and pride. Some of the had me laughing out loud (particularly the one with the husband who never should have been left alone in the house with an iron or the one where criminals barge into a house—but automatically take off their shoes off first).
Highly recommended for readers of short stories!
April 29, 2024
Generally speaking, I am not a lover of short stories. However, every now and again I discover a collection which entices me to read them. When I was offered an advanced reader's copy of this book I was sufficiently interested to try it.
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
If you would like to read my full review please visit my blog at:
https://leftontheshelfbookblog.blogsp...
May 11, 2024
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S TAKEOUT SUSHI ABOUT?
This is a collection of 17 stories—13 taking place in contemporary Japan, and 4 in other parts of the world and other times.
It's difficult to describe a common theme or anything with this collection—you've got one crime story, one thing that straddles Science Fiction and Contemporary Fiction, and then a few that fall under slice-of-life kind of things. I'd compare them to the shorter works of Raymond Carver, John Cheever, or John Updike—at least in the kind of stories he's telling, I'm not equipped to talk about literary quality. I will say that I liked most of these better than almost everything I read by those guys.
CHARACTERS IN THE STORIES
Speaking generally, these stories focus on one person, with 1-3 other characters. I guess that's frequently the case for short stories in general, but as I read it, this collection felt more focused on an individual or two rather than the outside world.
With several of these, I have the impression I got to know the protagonist as well as I do some characters in 400-page novels—Green has a real gift for getting us up close and personal to his characters. And, I guess, we really don't get to know these people all that well—but in the moment, you'll be convinced you know them better than their own mothers or psychiatrists.*
* That's a joke, I can't imagine any of these people seeing a psychiatrist. Most should, however.
MAWAGE
There's probably an entire post to be written about the marriages depicted in the book—and, on the whole, the institution doesn't come out looking to good. There are a couple of exceptions—and one promises to be better soon after the story's events (thanks to an oddly sympathetic police officer). But, particularly early on, my notes are full of comments about the strange and (often) strained relationships between husband and wife depicted here.
I will say this—Green is fairly even-handed in what partner is "the problem." Too many collections like this would tend to paint the wife negatively—or the husband—but Green bounced back and forth between the two.
Basically, don't give this as a Valentine's Day gift.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT TAKEOUT SUSHI?
Almost every time I talk about a short-story collection, I end up saying something like, "there were some real winners, and some that didn't do much for me, I expect you'll find the same (just with a different list of stories in each category)." I hate to repeat myself, buuuuuut...
Now, those that were real winners were just amazingly good. "Laugh out loud from surprise because you didn't expect to read something that skillfully done and imaginative" good (and occasionally laugh out loud because of the conclusion). Those that didn't rise to that level (in my estimation, I stress), did absolutely nothing for me. I even re-read a couple of them to see if I could figure out what I missed—I just didn't understand the point of them. There was one exception to that—the penultimate story, "The Pool." It was effective and affective—and completely not for me—but at least I got it.
A few years ago, I read a short story by Russell Day called "Not Talking Italics." It blew me away and started a years-long obsession with Day and his shorter and longer pieces. Green's "Crimes for Dummies" hit me in almost the same way. My note at the end was just one word: Fantastic. A few others were almost as good ("The Choice")—or better ("Spinning Wheels").
I'm not going to say any more about them because it would rid those stories of their punch. But those three more than justify the purchase price of the book—whatever you end up spending on it.
As usual, I'm more than prepared for people to come along and tell me that "The Pool" was brilliant (and explain why), or that "Spinning Wheels" was silly or derivative of something. Because tastes differ—as they should.
In any case, I expect that whoever picks up this collection are going to frequently have a real blast with it—and a couple of things to shrug at before diving into the next one that will get them giddy with excitement.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Neem Tree Press and The Write Reads via NetGalley.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S TAKEOUT SUSHI ABOUT?
This is a collection of 17 stories—13 taking place in contemporary Japan, and 4 in other parts of the world and other times.
It's difficult to describe a common theme or anything with this collection—you've got one crime story, one thing that straddles Science Fiction and Contemporary Fiction, and then a few that fall under slice-of-life kind of things. I'd compare them to the shorter works of Raymond Carver, John Cheever, or John Updike—at least in the kind of stories he's telling, I'm not equipped to talk about literary quality. I will say that I liked most of these better than almost everything I read by those guys.
CHARACTERS IN THE STORIES
Speaking generally, these stories focus on one person, with 1-3 other characters. I guess that's frequently the case for short stories in general, but as I read it, this collection felt more focused on an individual or two rather than the outside world.
With several of these, I have the impression I got to know the protagonist as well as I do some characters in 400-page novels—Green has a real gift for getting us up close and personal to his characters. And, I guess, we really don't get to know these people all that well—but in the moment, you'll be convinced you know them better than their own mothers or psychiatrists.*
* That's a joke, I can't imagine any of these people seeing a psychiatrist. Most should, however.
MAWAGE
There's probably an entire post to be written about the marriages depicted in the book—and, on the whole, the institution doesn't come out looking to good. There are a couple of exceptions—and one promises to be better soon after the story's events (thanks to an oddly sympathetic police officer). But, particularly early on, my notes are full of comments about the strange and (often) strained relationships between husband and wife depicted here.
I will say this—Green is fairly even-handed in what partner is "the problem." Too many collections like this would tend to paint the wife negatively—or the husband—but Green bounced back and forth between the two.
Basically, don't give this as a Valentine's Day gift.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT TAKEOUT SUSHI?
Almost every time I talk about a short-story collection, I end up saying something like, "there were some real winners, and some that didn't do much for me, I expect you'll find the same (just with a different list of stories in each category)." I hate to repeat myself, buuuuuut...
Now, those that were real winners were just amazingly good. "Laugh out loud from surprise because you didn't expect to read something that skillfully done and imaginative" good (and occasionally laugh out loud because of the conclusion). Those that didn't rise to that level (in my estimation, I stress), did absolutely nothing for me. I even re-read a couple of them to see if I could figure out what I missed—I just didn't understand the point of them. There was one exception to that—the penultimate story, "The Pool." It was effective and affective—and completely not for me—but at least I got it.
A few years ago, I read a short story by Russell Day called "Not Talking Italics." It blew me away and started a years-long obsession with Day and his shorter and longer pieces. Green's "Crimes for Dummies" hit me in almost the same way. My note at the end was just one word: Fantastic. A few others were almost as good ("The Choice")—or better ("Spinning Wheels").
I'm not going to say any more about them because it would rid those stories of their punch. But those three more than justify the purchase price of the book—whatever you end up spending on it.
As usual, I'm more than prepared for people to come along and tell me that "The Pool" was brilliant (and explain why), or that "Spinning Wheels" was silly or derivative of something. Because tastes differ—as they should.
In any case, I expect that whoever picks up this collection are going to frequently have a real blast with it—and a couple of things to shrug at before diving into the next one that will get them giddy with excitement.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Neem Tree Press and The Write Reads via NetGalley.
April 23, 2024
The stories:
Across 17 short stories, many set in his adopted homeland of Japan, author Christopher Green explores life and emotions in tales spanning a range of human interactions, told with humour and understanding.
My thoughts:
“Takeout Sushi” by Christopher Green is a collection of short stories divided into two parts — ‘Stories of Japan, Today’, with 13 tales of life in modern Japan, and ‘Stories of Other Places and Times’, with four additional stories in settings ranging from Renaissance Italy to the Great War.
I enjoy short story collections and find them great to dip into whenever I fancy. This collection also really appealed to me, as I enjoyed seeing Japan through the eyes of the author — a place I’d love to visit one day.
Author Christopher Green has lived in Japan for 30 years, and his experiences there are infused throughout the book, with tales of everyday life, marriages and frustrations, some told with humour and others more poignant. Some feel particularly personal, and I’m sure many of the author’s own experiences of moving to and making a home in Japan are played out by his characters. Interestingly, the final story of the first part, ‘The Jogger’, was the first Green wrote, back in 1998, not long after moving to the country — so this collection has been a long time in the making!
Each story is also illustrated by Rebecca Purton, and the delicate black and white images added to my appreciation of each of them.
I enjoyed all the stories in this collection, but on this first read some of my favourites included ‘Burned’, ‘Bodies’ and ‘Henry Sparkles’ — all very different, but for whatever reason particularly stuck in my mind. I’d highly recommend this collection to lovers of short fiction and especially books set in Japan. I look forward to reading more of the author’s work in the future!
Across 17 short stories, many set in his adopted homeland of Japan, author Christopher Green explores life and emotions in tales spanning a range of human interactions, told with humour and understanding.
My thoughts:
“Takeout Sushi” by Christopher Green is a collection of short stories divided into two parts — ‘Stories of Japan, Today’, with 13 tales of life in modern Japan, and ‘Stories of Other Places and Times’, with four additional stories in settings ranging from Renaissance Italy to the Great War.
I enjoy short story collections and find them great to dip into whenever I fancy. This collection also really appealed to me, as I enjoyed seeing Japan through the eyes of the author — a place I’d love to visit one day.
Author Christopher Green has lived in Japan for 30 years, and his experiences there are infused throughout the book, with tales of everyday life, marriages and frustrations, some told with humour and others more poignant. Some feel particularly personal, and I’m sure many of the author’s own experiences of moving to and making a home in Japan are played out by his characters. Interestingly, the final story of the first part, ‘The Jogger’, was the first Green wrote, back in 1998, not long after moving to the country — so this collection has been a long time in the making!
Each story is also illustrated by Rebecca Purton, and the delicate black and white images added to my appreciation of each of them.
I enjoyed all the stories in this collection, but on this first read some of my favourites included ‘Burned’, ‘Bodies’ and ‘Henry Sparkles’ — all very different, but for whatever reason particularly stuck in my mind. I’d highly recommend this collection to lovers of short fiction and especially books set in Japan. I look forward to reading more of the author’s work in the future!
April 22, 2024
I don't know if it's just because I've been to Japan (Tokyo at least) and I grew up watching anime, but I really liked this collection. It had the right mix of slice of life with not quite common perspectives, and stories more along the lines of science fiction or even magical realism. "Whimsical slice-of-life tales" per the blurb is an accurate description, actually.
I liked the writing style as well as the accompanying illustrations. They evoked memories of my time in Japan, which I thought was great and even made me feel a little nostalgic. The humor also had a very Japanese touch. It's hard for me to describe, but it really felt different from British/American short stories I read in recent years.
I highly recommend this book and I'm already looking forward to Christopher Green's next stories!
(Incidentally, in the days I read this I was also watching The Grimm Variations, a Netflix anime anthology that retold fairytales with a very Japanese flavor. It went very well with this book, and together they've inspired me to write something Filipino-flavored too!)
I liked the writing style as well as the accompanying illustrations. They evoked memories of my time in Japan, which I thought was great and even made me feel a little nostalgic. The humor also had a very Japanese touch. It's hard for me to describe, but it really felt different from British/American short stories I read in recent years.
I highly recommend this book and I'm already looking forward to Christopher Green's next stories!
(Incidentally, in the days I read this I was also watching The Grimm Variations, a Netflix anime anthology that retold fairytales with a very Japanese flavor. It went very well with this book, and together they've inspired me to write something Filipino-flavored too!)
May 1, 2024
3.5 - Reviewing short story collections can be tricky due to the varying reactions each story can provoke. Takeout Sushi presents a range of slice-of-life tales that delve into amusing, relatable, and intriguing aspects of human behavior. The standout stories are both shocking and humorous, although some lack compelling points or plots.
Most narratives are set in Japan, offering perspectives from both natives and visitors. The writing style is direct yet engaging, effectively bringing scenes to life.
Each of the 17 stories is accompanied by an illustration, enhancing the reading experience. The cover art particularly caught my eye and drew me to the collection. Overall, I enjoyed my time with these stories and am grateful for the opportunity to review them, courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
Most narratives are set in Japan, offering perspectives from both natives and visitors. The writing style is direct yet engaging, effectively bringing scenes to life.
Each of the 17 stories is accompanied by an illustration, enhancing the reading experience. The cover art particularly caught my eye and drew me to the collection. Overall, I enjoyed my time with these stories and am grateful for the opportunity to review them, courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
April 2, 2024
Thank you, Neem Tree Press, for the ARC!
A collection of slice-of-life short stories, predominantly set in Japan, and blending cultures in a reflection of the author's own experiences. My favourites were Spinning Wheels, Bodies, and Magpie Man, with an honourable mention to Misdirection.
Green is great at setting an emotional tone, the humour in these stories feels so natural, and at times he manages to build suspense and made me question whether the story was going to take a sinister or paranormal turn. The crippling second-hand embarrassment I got from The Jogger really shows the talent that Green has when bringing these emotions to life with mere words.
I do feel as though a lot of the stories end quite abruptly, though. Only a few have a real 'end' and offer closure. Also, while I enjoyed the last four stories, I wonder if it would have been more appropriate to only have stories centred around Japan for this book, and release another book with UK centred stories?
I liked Anywhere but Nice because I live in Dorset and I always love seeing the tiny seaside town mentioned, but-! The train she gets is mentioned as leaving the New Forest, and then she catches a glimpse of the Channel. I'm sure Green already knows this and is just being creative for the sake of the story, but for anyone getting their hopes up of a picturesque seaside train journey, this isn't actually possible.
3.5/5
A collection of slice-of-life short stories, predominantly set in Japan, and blending cultures in a reflection of the author's own experiences. My favourites were Spinning Wheels, Bodies, and Magpie Man, with an honourable mention to Misdirection.
Green is great at setting an emotional tone, the humour in these stories feels so natural, and at times he manages to build suspense and made me question whether the story was going to take a sinister or paranormal turn. The crippling second-hand embarrassment I got from The Jogger really shows the talent that Green has when bringing these emotions to life with mere words.
I do feel as though a lot of the stories end quite abruptly, though. Only a few have a real 'end' and offer closure. Also, while I enjoyed the last four stories, I wonder if it would have been more appropriate to only have stories centred around Japan for this book, and release another book with UK centred stories?
I liked Anywhere but Nice because I live in Dorset and I always love seeing the tiny seaside town mentioned, but-! The train she gets is mentioned as leaving the New Forest, and then she catches a glimpse of the Channel. I'm sure Green already knows this and is just being creative for the sake of the story, but for anyone getting their hopes up of a picturesque seaside train journey, this isn't actually possible.
3.5/5
September 9, 2024
This was an interesting short story collection set in contemporary Japan. Some of them were witty and some were thought provoking and subtle. The illustrations for each story were so cute. The author does a great job of capturing Japanese culture in all of these stories.
This collection was worth a read and some of the stories can be reread too. Burned was the funniest story amongst all of them. I chuckled out loud. The writing is witty and easy to read and gets you from the start.
Thanks to Neem Tree Press, the author and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This collection was worth a read and some of the stories can be reread too. Burned was the funniest story amongst all of them. I chuckled out loud. The writing is witty and easy to read and gets you from the start.
Thanks to Neem Tree Press, the author and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2024
4.5 stars.
With thanks to Netgalley for the early copy of this short story collection.
Unfortunately the first story wasn't for me but I raced through the rest and loved them. Such skill to write short stories that tell you everything you need in just a few pages. Many of these stories will stay with me for a long time to come.
With thanks to Netgalley for the early copy of this short story collection.
Unfortunately the first story wasn't for me but I raced through the rest and loved them. Such skill to write short stories that tell you everything you need in just a few pages. Many of these stories will stay with me for a long time to come.
March 29, 2024
3.5 stars! A charming collection of domestic stories taking place all over the world (mainly Tokyo and the UK) exploring casual interactions and commonplace experiences that cause us to feel isolated, displaced, seen, and loved. A small but frustrating dispute between a married couple about a bird nest. A manager witnessing and being subjected to a rollout of robotic managers that dehumanise him. A complacent worker from Scotland outstation in Tokyo finally finds comfort in new friendships after getting lost hiking down a mountain post-sunset. A man seeking the comfort of his childhood pool. In all these stories, we're reminded of how stubborn, silly, irrational, passionate and empathetic we, people, can be. We crave predictability for comfort. We crave variety for growth. The array of stories in this collection does a lovely job depicting little slices of these facets of humanity.
Thanks to Netgalley and Neem Tree Press for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Neem Tree Press for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.
April 19, 2024
The beautiful, bright blue cover of this book was so eye-catching that I couldn't resist requesting it. At the time, though, I wasn't expecting much beyond a few short stories set in Japan. However, as I delved into each story, I was glad I had made the right move in requesting it.
Takeout Sushi is a collection of 13 short stories showcasing the complexity of the city and interactions of an humans day-to-day life in Japan. The author, having lived in Japan for some time now, has precisely captured the essence of contemporary Japan and its people, penning each story in a witty manner along with a range of emotions. Each story was meaningful and carries a moral of some kind. The stories mainly focus on a variety of dynamics such as the relationship between husband and wife, boss and employee, the city and its citizens, etc. Additionally, the book includes 4 bonus stories from a different time and setting. This book also showcases some simple illustrations.
Though, I liked most of the stories, here is a glimpse into some of my favourites:
Swallow tells the story of a childless husband and wife who move into a new apartment, where swallows have built their nest. The wife finds comfort in seeing the swallows hatch and grow, but resistance from the husband brings the story to a practical end.
Burned was the most funniest story in the whole book and one of my favourites.This story teaches us never to iron clothes naked. Specially, if you're a man.
Spinning Wheels tells the story of a hardworking employee stripped of his managerial position and transferred to another department when the company decides to hire robots to improve efficiency. What happens next is a disaster, highlighting that robots can never truly replace humans.
Magpie Man is the story of a common office-goer who begins finding unique small lost objects on the road fallen from the pockets on commuters on their way to the station. Instead of returning the objects to the lost and found department, he ends up keeping it in a cookie box in his apartment, which eventually grows into a habit. But what happens in the end forces him to reflect on breaking this habit for good.
Henry Sparkles is another heart-touching story where an artist is called to serve at the Western Front and finds comfort in a sparrowhawk amidst the war.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more from the author in future. Highly recommended if you like short stories and Japanese Lit.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers at Neem Tree Press and Author Christopher Green for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Takeout Sushi is a collection of 13 short stories showcasing the complexity of the city and interactions of an humans day-to-day life in Japan. The author, having lived in Japan for some time now, has precisely captured the essence of contemporary Japan and its people, penning each story in a witty manner along with a range of emotions. Each story was meaningful and carries a moral of some kind. The stories mainly focus on a variety of dynamics such as the relationship between husband and wife, boss and employee, the city and its citizens, etc. Additionally, the book includes 4 bonus stories from a different time and setting. This book also showcases some simple illustrations.
Though, I liked most of the stories, here is a glimpse into some of my favourites:
Swallow tells the story of a childless husband and wife who move into a new apartment, where swallows have built their nest. The wife finds comfort in seeing the swallows hatch and grow, but resistance from the husband brings the story to a practical end.
Burned was the most funniest story in the whole book and one of my favourites.This story teaches us never to iron clothes naked. Specially, if you're a man.
Spinning Wheels tells the story of a hardworking employee stripped of his managerial position and transferred to another department when the company decides to hire robots to improve efficiency. What happens next is a disaster, highlighting that robots can never truly replace humans.
Magpie Man is the story of a common office-goer who begins finding unique small lost objects on the road fallen from the pockets on commuters on their way to the station. Instead of returning the objects to the lost and found department, he ends up keeping it in a cookie box in his apartment, which eventually grows into a habit. But what happens in the end forces him to reflect on breaking this habit for good.
Henry Sparkles is another heart-touching story where an artist is called to serve at the Western Front and finds comfort in a sparrowhawk amidst the war.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more from the author in future. Highly recommended if you like short stories and Japanese Lit.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers at Neem Tree Press and Author Christopher Green for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 26, 2024
A thought-provoking collection of stories that will spark conversation, warm your heart, take you down memory lane, surprise you, incite your emotions, and at times make you laugh .The majority of the stories are set in modern Japan and have a large number of protagonists as outsiders, mainly English speaking, who have made Japan their home, either temporarily or permanently., much like the author. There is a real sense of culture shock, as the protagonists wrangle with the hustle and bustle of the bodies jam-packed into the city, then experiencing the joy of the countryside or the peoples they encounter, such as in the story Bodies. It is a diverse collection and it is so easy to blast through the stories as they are so engaging. I love the poignant illustrations that match each of the stories. The potential takeover by AI technology in Spinninh Wheels is such a great talking point, the Magpie Man and the morality questions over finding seemingly useless detritus on the ground and keeping it, the return to The Pool for one man after an incident as a child. So many wonderful stories. I am onve again in love with the short story. #takeoutsushi #ChristopherGreen #rebeccapurton #neemtreepress #TheWriteReads
April 14, 2024
Takeout Sushi is an unexpectedly fun collection of short stories with a twist.
The blurb attracted me with the comparison to Before The Coffee Gets Cold. I am a big fan of contemporary Japanese literature, especially slice-of-life cozy stories, and this book didn't disappoint. The topics of the stories range from robots to car enthusiasts to personal relationships. They're all well written and can stand on their own as compelling little slices of life in Japan from the point of view of an immigrant.
What I didn't expect was for the book to actually feature two parts - the one set in contemporary Japan spans about 75% of the book, and there's a shorter collection of assorted stories from various places around the world and across time. It initially felt a bit jarring to move from one section to the other because I enjoyed the first part so much, but that soon stopped when I realized this second part is equally well written and somehow even more enthralling than the first. It's like discovering a hidden bonus chapter at the end of your favorite author's book that gives you more of what you loved before you even knew you wanted it.
Overall, you get 2 themed collections bundled in one enjoyable book that is sure to serve as a nice palate cleanser in between longer reads. This is great for fans of Japanese literature and short stories as a format.
✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
The blurb attracted me with the comparison to Before The Coffee Gets Cold. I am a big fan of contemporary Japanese literature, especially slice-of-life cozy stories, and this book didn't disappoint. The topics of the stories range from robots to car enthusiasts to personal relationships. They're all well written and can stand on their own as compelling little slices of life in Japan from the point of view of an immigrant.
What I didn't expect was for the book to actually feature two parts - the one set in contemporary Japan spans about 75% of the book, and there's a shorter collection of assorted stories from various places around the world and across time. It initially felt a bit jarring to move from one section to the other because I enjoyed the first part so much, but that soon stopped when I realized this second part is equally well written and somehow even more enthralling than the first. It's like discovering a hidden bonus chapter at the end of your favorite author's book that gives you more of what you loved before you even knew you wanted it.
Overall, you get 2 themed collections bundled in one enjoyable book that is sure to serve as a nice palate cleanser in between longer reads. This is great for fans of Japanese literature and short stories as a format.
✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
May 6, 2024
Takeout Sushi by Christopher Green is a collection of 17 illustrated short stories set mostly in contemporary Japan. These whimsical slice-of-life tales explore feelings of belonging, displacement, and the strangeness of everyday human interaction. Here's a brief review:
In this story collection, Green delves into the lives of characters in Japan, capturing ordinary moments and turning them into unexpected and entertaining tales. The author's ability to find intrigue in seemingly mundane situations—such as a salaryman ironing his pants or a commuter picking up objects dropped on the train floor—adds depth to the stories. What makes this collection particularly interesting is that Christopher Green, despite not being Japanese, has been a long-time resident of Japan. His unique perspective offers readers a genuine glimpse into Japanese culture and human experiences.
The writing style is sharp, and the emotions portrayed are diverse. Whether you're a fan of Japanese literature or not, Takeout Sushi provides an engaging and heartfelt exploration of life in contemporary Japan.
My favorite story was Burned and Spinning Wheels. I liked the illustrations this book had. My only complaint was that it felt as if some stories did end abruptly.
Overall, I recommend Takeout Sushi for its fresh perspective, humor, and heart.
Thank you The Write Reads for this book.
In this story collection, Green delves into the lives of characters in Japan, capturing ordinary moments and turning them into unexpected and entertaining tales. The author's ability to find intrigue in seemingly mundane situations—such as a salaryman ironing his pants or a commuter picking up objects dropped on the train floor—adds depth to the stories. What makes this collection particularly interesting is that Christopher Green, despite not being Japanese, has been a long-time resident of Japan. His unique perspective offers readers a genuine glimpse into Japanese culture and human experiences.
The writing style is sharp, and the emotions portrayed are diverse. Whether you're a fan of Japanese literature or not, Takeout Sushi provides an engaging and heartfelt exploration of life in contemporary Japan.
My favorite story was Burned and Spinning Wheels. I liked the illustrations this book had. My only complaint was that it felt as if some stories did end abruptly.
Overall, I recommend Takeout Sushi for its fresh perspective, humor, and heart.
Thank you The Write Reads for this book.
May 5, 2024
This book is a collection of short stories each exploring a slice of life set in modern day Japan. I requested this book on Netgalley as it was something really out of my usual genres and I thought it sounded like it would be really interesting and I’m so pleased that it was. Each story followed a different person and situation, which made for quite a reflective read where I was thinking about not only my own life but the people that surround me every day and what a slice of their life may look life.
Some stories were more speculative such as following a worker whose company introduces robot’s as team leaders to help make the workplace more efficient. Whereas others were more realistic and looked at the mundanity of life but each with a twist such as humour or the empowerment of a character to make a change to their life.
I thought that the wirting was excellent, each story was really well crafted and they made for a really thought provoking read. As with most collections I found some stories more engaging than others, but overall I was pleasantly surprised by this book and how much I enjoyed it.
Some stories were more speculative such as following a worker whose company introduces robot’s as team leaders to help make the workplace more efficient. Whereas others were more realistic and looked at the mundanity of life but each with a twist such as humour or the empowerment of a character to make a change to their life.
I thought that the wirting was excellent, each story was really well crafted and they made for a really thought provoking read. As with most collections I found some stories more engaging than others, but overall I was pleasantly surprised by this book and how much I enjoyed it.
May 1, 2024
Book source ~ TWR Tour
This is a collection of short stories that are just the right length, so you can easily pick it up and put it down as life dictates. I read it pretty much in two sittings, but I happened to have some time to do so. Well-written and fine-tuned, the stories are varied, but they all have one thing in common: they are entertaining.
I’m sitting here trying to decide which one I like the best and which the least. It’s a difficult choice. Apartment 601 intrigues me the most and the ending to The Tree makes me wonder about what the wife means. I don’t like the main characters in a couple of the stories since I think they are a bit mean-spirited or idiotic. I think I like Henry Sparkles the most even though the subject and tone is at times horrifying and sad. The most humorous in my eyes is Burned. I admit to a few chortle-snorts while reading it. As for my least liked, I believe that would be Crime for Dummies.
There’s something for everyone in this collection so I suggest giving it a go!
This is a collection of short stories that are just the right length, so you can easily pick it up and put it down as life dictates. I read it pretty much in two sittings, but I happened to have some time to do so. Well-written and fine-tuned, the stories are varied, but they all have one thing in common: they are entertaining.
I’m sitting here trying to decide which one I like the best and which the least. It’s a difficult choice. Apartment 601 intrigues me the most and the ending to The Tree makes me wonder about what the wife means. I don’t like the main characters in a couple of the stories since I think they are a bit mean-spirited or idiotic. I think I like Henry Sparkles the most even though the subject and tone is at times horrifying and sad. The most humorous in my eyes is Burned. I admit to a few chortle-snorts while reading it. As for my least liked, I believe that would be Crime for Dummies.
There’s something for everyone in this collection so I suggest giving it a go!
May 8, 2024
This is a collection of short stories, most set in Japan, with a few set elsewhere.
There are a range of themes across the stories, with family relationships at the heart of many, as well as moral dilemmas that make the reader wonder if they would make the same decisions if it were them.
A couple of the stories left me thinking deeply about revenge. Not planned revenge but the feeling when something bad happens to someone and their significant other decides, on reflection, that they got what was coming to them after all, now they think about it. A sort of unintended consequence revenge.
Thanks to Neem Tree Press and @The_WriteReads for the eARC for this review.
There are a range of themes across the stories, with family relationships at the heart of many, as well as moral dilemmas that make the reader wonder if they would make the same decisions if it were them.
A couple of the stories left me thinking deeply about revenge. Not planned revenge but the feeling when something bad happens to someone and their significant other decides, on reflection, that they got what was coming to them after all, now they think about it. A sort of unintended consequence revenge.
Thanks to Neem Tree Press and @The_WriteReads for the eARC for this review.
December 27, 2024
This is a short story collection, with most of the stories set in modern Japan. I really enjoyed the first 4–5 stories—they were very entertaining. The characters and themes varied, and the events were dynamic. Some stories felt deeply human, while others incorporated sci-fi elements. A few were so funny that I laughed out loud. Overall, it was a good time. Each story had a clear message that was easy to understand. The writing was simple and accessible, making the main points easy to grasp.
However, not all the stories were equally engaging or enjoyable to read. Some felt flat and a bit boring. It was a bit of a mixed bag—sometimes a hit, but other times a miss.
Many thanks to Neem Tree Press for the review copy provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
However, not all the stories were equally engaging or enjoyable to read. Some felt flat and a bit boring. It was a bit of a mixed bag—sometimes a hit, but other times a miss.
Many thanks to Neem Tree Press for the review copy provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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