Eto Mori has been a literary star in Japan for over thirty years. She has won numerous major awards in Japan including the Naoki Prize, one of Japan’s most prestigious awards for popular fiction. Colorful has been translated into seven different languages, and adapted into three films. Colorful is her first novel to be translated into English. She lives in Tokyo, Japan.
Surprisingly engrossing. It took you through Japanese cram school history and Japanese education philosophy from Showa Era to Heisei Era. Sometimes it read oddly like a semi-non-fiction. I didn't care much about the plots and characters. However, I ended up liking the unlikable Chiaki who reminded me of some strong women I've met in life.
Anyway, after reading this book, I looked back to our country's education system and can only sighed.