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Monogatari #6
HANAMONOGATARI: Flower Tale
Our sorry hero, his reformed girlfriend, and the amnesiac class president have all graduated from their high school out in the boondocks, and self-described Sapphist and ex-basketball ace Kanbaru, retired by reason of an “injury,” is starting her senior year and the narrator of this volume—her voice far more introspectivethan the smutty jock’s we thought we knew.
Bereft of the company of her beloved mentors, the only other person around her with any working knowledge of aberrations the junior Ogi Oshino, apparently a relative of the Hawaiian-shirted folklorist, she feels a bit alone and blue, and sick with dread that the devil residing in her left arm courtesy of the Monkey’s Paw might act up again while she sleeps.
Investigating a rumor that she fears might lead back to her, the former star ends up peering into an abyss of negativity called Roka—a “wax flower” to take the characters’ meaning. Trapped in a pit the like of which could only be escaped by the one girl who was able to pull off slam-dunks in her basketball nationals, can the penitent Kanbaru, however, still be aggressive?
Bereft of the company of her beloved mentors, the only other person around her with any working knowledge of aberrations the junior Ogi Oshino, apparently a relative of the Hawaiian-shirted folklorist, she feels a bit alone and blue, and sick with dread that the devil residing in her left arm courtesy of the Monkey’s Paw might act up again while she sleeps.
Investigating a rumor that she fears might lead back to her, the former star ends up peering into an abyss of negativity called Roka—a “wax flower” to take the characters’ meaning. Trapped in a pit the like of which could only be escaped by the one girl who was able to pull off slam-dunks in her basketball nationals, can the penitent Kanbaru, however, still be aggressive?
292 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2011
33 people are currently reading
648 people want to read
About the author
NisiOisiN
289 books975 followersNisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.
He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.
In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.
He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.
In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 23, 2019
NISIOISIN’s Hanamonogatari (花物語) is a book that I would love to carry with me everywhere, all the time. It’s a book that I would love to share with every single one of my friends. In fact, even with the next stranger I meet.
As with many books in the author’s Monogatari franchise/universe, 花物語deals with people whose sharp edges make them hurt each other even as they strive for honest connection - with others or with themselves. However, in every Monogatari novel, those sharp edges, flaws or outright neuroses are allowed to take on a visible presence. They become aberrations and oddities. Turning these stories into both compelling spirit-hunting narratives with aspects of urban legends and character studies that dig deep into the souls of their central characters (and ultimately that of the reader).
Usually, in these books, we follow Koyomi Araragi as he deals with the oddities clinging - no … with the oddities several girls he encounters or even himself cling to and can’t let go. In 花物語 though, as with several books from the Second Season, we follow one of the girls, in this case, Suruga Kanbaru.
At the beginning of this book, Kanbaru is struggling with herself. Struggling to know where she has left to go, what she should do now that her seniors have all left town, all the while still struggling with the mark of her past errors still gracing her left arm. An arm in the shape of a devilish ape. The one constant she has left now that everyone is gone and where everything seems to run towards change.
As it is the case for many of us, there were once things typical of her: she used to be the basketball star heading towards stardom till her ape arm put an end to it; she knew where she was and where she was running to. But now, her fixed track has turned into an open field with no clues whatsoever.
Her past gives her no direction anymore, her future even less. All that’s left now are hard incoming choices to make and insistent, contradictory advice from friends, teachers, and family.
In 花物語, Kanbaru constantly receives advice. Advice she remembers her dead mother giving her, telling her to be either medicine or poison, nothing in between. Ougi Oshino, who says she should not worry about her mistakes. Numachi, once a sports rival, proclaiming that if you run away from your worries eventually they will just cease to be worries. Advice from her kinda uncle Kaiki, who just tells her to eat lots of meat and to engage with her problems.
Unsurprisingly, none of that really helps to make her choices, her steps any easier - making choices is, after all, frightening. A choice implies denying whole other realities while embracing entirely different ones. Choices are indirectly tied to your own identity.
NISIOISIN knows that very well.
花物語 is a frightening book in that aspect. When we follow Suruga’s thoughts throughout these pages, she does not remain the only person who has to face the choices that inspire regrets and prompt future anxieties. At some point, Kanbaru even starts worrying that the past may really just be a collection of mistakes and one can’t help but start to wonder if she’s right. It doesn’t help that Numachi adds fuel to the fire by adding the equally disconcerting “all worries are just anxieties about the future”.
If the past at some point becomes just a collection of mistakes and the future is nothing but anxieties, what can possibly guide our actions in the present?
I don’t want to spoil anything more about the book, so I’m not answering this question. I think it would even run counter to NISIOISIN’s intentions. The Monogatari novels are books that allow a lot of personal feelings to run and flow through the pages. Even if at first it doesn’t seem like it; the conversations are long-winded (but always extremely enjoyable), sometimes absurdist, sometimes even hilarious, most of the time its points seem roundabout and confusing to decipher, but once those ideas within said points are deciphered by the characters they suddenly seem ridiculously simple, obvious … and true.
So unbelievably true, that you can’t help and wonder about how your messy feelings could lead you so off the mark of something so painfully, evidently true. But the best thing is it never looks down on you, in fact, it makes you believe that even if you haven’t formulated that conclusion yet, maybe not even actively thought about it, somewhere deep inside you have always known that what the characters have come to realize was something you were realizing as well … beneath the surface of all these messy, very human emotions.
So 花物語 is a powerful, frightening but also tender book about identity.
And, if you really commit to it, it can even be about the person reading it.
------------
Sidenote: In Japanese, reading a NISIOISIN book is an absolute smooth delight and reads like a stream of consciousness, so much you even forget you’re reading an actual book. He knows how to naturally place the reader directly inside someone’s head. Unfortunately, the English translation isn’t as smooth, sometimes even just a tiny bit clumsy, but, unlike the very early Bakemonogatari translations, 花物語 does a really great job to bring NISIOISIN’s witty, often funny prose to English life.
As with many books in the author’s Monogatari franchise/universe, 花物語deals with people whose sharp edges make them hurt each other even as they strive for honest connection - with others or with themselves. However, in every Monogatari novel, those sharp edges, flaws or outright neuroses are allowed to take on a visible presence. They become aberrations and oddities. Turning these stories into both compelling spirit-hunting narratives with aspects of urban legends and character studies that dig deep into the souls of their central characters (and ultimately that of the reader).
Usually, in these books, we follow Koyomi Araragi as he deals with the oddities clinging - no … with the oddities several girls he encounters or even himself cling to and can’t let go. In 花物語 though, as with several books from the Second Season, we follow one of the girls, in this case, Suruga Kanbaru.
At the beginning of this book, Kanbaru is struggling with herself. Struggling to know where she has left to go, what she should do now that her seniors have all left town, all the while still struggling with the mark of her past errors still gracing her left arm. An arm in the shape of a devilish ape. The one constant she has left now that everyone is gone and where everything seems to run towards change.
As it is the case for many of us, there were once things typical of her: she used to be the basketball star heading towards stardom till her ape arm put an end to it; she knew where she was and where she was running to. But now, her fixed track has turned into an open field with no clues whatsoever.
Her past gives her no direction anymore, her future even less. All that’s left now are hard incoming choices to make and insistent, contradictory advice from friends, teachers, and family.
In 花物語, Kanbaru constantly receives advice. Advice she remembers her dead mother giving her, telling her to be either medicine or poison, nothing in between. Ougi Oshino, who says she should not worry about her mistakes. Numachi, once a sports rival, proclaiming that if you run away from your worries eventually they will just cease to be worries. Advice from her kinda uncle Kaiki, who just tells her to eat lots of meat and to engage with her problems.
Unsurprisingly, none of that really helps to make her choices, her steps any easier - making choices is, after all, frightening. A choice implies denying whole other realities while embracing entirely different ones. Choices are indirectly tied to your own identity.
NISIOISIN knows that very well.
花物語 is a frightening book in that aspect. When we follow Suruga’s thoughts throughout these pages, she does not remain the only person who has to face the choices that inspire regrets and prompt future anxieties. At some point, Kanbaru even starts worrying that the past may really just be a collection of mistakes and one can’t help but start to wonder if she’s right. It doesn’t help that Numachi adds fuel to the fire by adding the equally disconcerting “all worries are just anxieties about the future”.
If the past at some point becomes just a collection of mistakes and the future is nothing but anxieties, what can possibly guide our actions in the present?
I don’t want to spoil anything more about the book, so I’m not answering this question. I think it would even run counter to NISIOISIN’s intentions. The Monogatari novels are books that allow a lot of personal feelings to run and flow through the pages. Even if at first it doesn’t seem like it; the conversations are long-winded (but always extremely enjoyable), sometimes absurdist, sometimes even hilarious, most of the time its points seem roundabout and confusing to decipher, but once those ideas within said points are deciphered by the characters they suddenly seem ridiculously simple, obvious … and true.
So unbelievably true, that you can’t help and wonder about how your messy feelings could lead you so off the mark of something so painfully, evidently true. But the best thing is it never looks down on you, in fact, it makes you believe that even if you haven’t formulated that conclusion yet, maybe not even actively thought about it, somewhere deep inside you have always known that what the characters have come to realize was something you were realizing as well … beneath the surface of all these messy, very human emotions.
So 花物語 is a powerful, frightening but also tender book about identity.
And, if you really commit to it, it can even be about the person reading it.
------------
Sidenote: In Japanese, reading a NISIOISIN book is an absolute smooth delight and reads like a stream of consciousness, so much you even forget you’re reading an actual book. He knows how to naturally place the reader directly inside someone’s head. Unfortunately, the English translation isn’t as smooth, sometimes even just a tiny bit clumsy, but, unlike the very early Bakemonogatari translations, 花物語 does a really great job to bring NISIOISIN’s witty, often funny prose to English life.
July 8, 2018
This ended up being one of my favorites so far. I really enjoyed how the theme of "graduation" was carried throughout the book, and the ways Suruga deals with ambivalence. I quoted the bit about "Even your enemies have friends, and people who love them" to someone the other day, forgetting that it came from Hanamonogatari.
August 21, 2022
2/5 Stars: ‘Hanamonogatari: Flower Tale’ (Book #6 of ‘Monogatari’) by NisiOisiN.
→ Age Range: Young Adult.
→ Genre: Comedy, Urban Fantasy.
→ Book Type: Light Novel.
Favourite Quote: ‘Just like love isn’t always requited, hating someone doesn’t mean they’ll hate you in turn. Sometimes, they won’t even let you hate them in peace. People aren’t comic book characters, you know. No human being is made completely of malice, nobody is evil through and through, no character looks the same from all angles, and hell, no character stays consistent at all times.’
In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★
→ Character Development: ★★
→ Setting: ★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★
→ Writing: ★★
General Comments: Another instalment told from a perspective other than Araragi. The problem is that the sidekick is in the centre-seat: someone to play off of comedically and act as a self-insert for complicated explanations. Unfortunately, and most notably, Kanbaru does not work in the role of a protagonist; her personality is quite dull and doesn't lend well to the quirky humour of the series. It isn’t a particular interesting plot either; it doesn’t add anything to the universe. A slight let-down.
Time Read: Six Days.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -
Re-Read: No.
→ -:
→ -:
Trigger Warnings:
→ Self-Harm.
→ Suicide.
→ Mental Health.
→ Age Range: Young Adult.
→ Genre: Comedy, Urban Fantasy.
→ Book Type: Light Novel.
Favourite Quote: ‘Just like love isn’t always requited, hating someone doesn’t mean they’ll hate you in turn. Sometimes, they won’t even let you hate them in peace. People aren’t comic book characters, you know. No human being is made completely of malice, nobody is evil through and through, no character looks the same from all angles, and hell, no character stays consistent at all times.’
In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★
→ Character Development: ★★
→ Setting: ★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★
→ Writing: ★★
General Comments: Another instalment told from a perspective other than Araragi. The problem is that the sidekick is in the centre-seat: someone to play off of comedically and act as a self-insert for complicated explanations. Unfortunately, and most notably, Kanbaru does not work in the role of a protagonist; her personality is quite dull and doesn't lend well to the quirky humour of the series. It isn’t a particular interesting plot either; it doesn’t add anything to the universe. A slight let-down.
Time Read: Six Days.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -
Re-Read: No.
→ -:
→ -:
Trigger Warnings:
→ Self-Harm.
→ Suicide.
→ Mental Health.
March 18, 2024
‘From now on I’d prefer all social cues to have subtitles.’ I haven’t related to a single line in a novel, or any other form of fiction, so thoroughly before. The books in this series are dominated by dialogue in such a way that it would be annoying if the characters weren’t invented by Nisioisin himself. Each and every character in this book series can narrate their own story, showing us their unique perspectives and because they’re so fleshed out, it’s a pleasure to join them on each of their journeys. A twist delivered by phone call is always interesting but to make me feel goosebumps when it’s happening is a skill few writers can achieve. Praise for Nisioisin and his amazing characters.
March 20, 2022
3.5 or a 4. Not sure. Has a great start but It kinda starts dragging on towards the end. Having Kanbaru as the narrator this volume changes up things and has a very fresh view just like the first volume of this season. But the absence (mostly) of our main cast does affect the book a lot.
February 21, 2023
Imagine losing in basketball so hard you cease your prolonged existence as a ghost that would suck i think
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2022
Really really good volume with some of the best narration coming out of Kanbaru. This arc in general have always been really under appreciated imo which is crazy because of how good of an antagonist Numachi is. She’s his sort of morally ambiguous antagonist with a perceived negative intention that doesn’t actually harm anyone. Really compelling tale and amazing for Kanbaru’s growth at this point in the story.
June 29, 2021
I didn’t know how rate it because of how convoluted the last thirty pages were, however it seemed unfair to give something less than five stars. I loved Kanbaru as narrator, she had a good sense of humor and it was cool to know this serious and sort of judgmental side of her. Here we were introduced to Roka Numachi, one of the most interesting and flamboyant characters from the series. Besides the main characters, the plot was very engaging. Overall, I see Hanamonogatari as a successful attempt in merge interesting characters with good interactions on a mystery setting. NisioIsin did the same with Nisemonogatari, which didn’t work for me while reading.
July 18, 2020
I hate myself for giving a two-star rating to a book by Nisioisin, but that is simply how I feel about this book.
Monogatari, for me, has always been a character drama, meaning that several characters with different viewpoints come together, interact, and propel the story forward through their interaction. So where does that leave a Monogatari novel that has relatively little interesting interaction between characters? Kanbaru, the heroine and narrator of this novel, interacts with about 6 other characters throughout this novel, 3 of which we know from previous instalments of the series. The issue I had with this novel was just that the interactions with these three characters took up maybe 10% of the novel, the rest of it being left for Kanbaru's inner monologue and her interactions with new characters, especially Numachi. Numachi made a troubling side character, as she definitely HAS some reason to interact that much with Kanbaru and is fairly important for the story, BUT her importance is only revealed in a punchline at the very end of the story. This made all of the dialogue with her that I had to read a real slog to get through, as I wasn't sure for most of the novel who that person is and why she would be that terribly important to the story.
I have to admit, I don't read Monogatari primarily for themes and motifs - I read it to spend some time with characters that I have grown to love and want to learn more about their relationships and personalities. And while I learned a lot about Kanbaru's personality, I am still as oblivious to her relationship to new and old characters as I had been before starting into this novel. This leaves me with a story about Kanabaru's character, which often felt stretched to the point where I couldn't take it any more and wanted to quit the novel. While the plot in all of Nisioisin's books is more an afterthought, this was the very first time that I felt like I was reading a short story stretched into book-length.
I don't enjoy writing negative reviews but I really had to get all of this off my chest. But this doesn't have to mean that this book isn't for you. Mind you, this book has an incredibly high score here on Goodreads, so there has to be something about this book that people enjoy. I would advise you to try it out yourself - if you have made it until this far into the Monogatari series, there is really no point in starting to skip books now, is there? - but keep in mind that this book is very different from all other books in the series and is potentially the weakest when it comes to the plot.
Monogatari, for me, has always been a character drama, meaning that several characters with different viewpoints come together, interact, and propel the story forward through their interaction. So where does that leave a Monogatari novel that has relatively little interesting interaction between characters? Kanbaru, the heroine and narrator of this novel, interacts with about 6 other characters throughout this novel, 3 of which we know from previous instalments of the series. The issue I had with this novel was just that the interactions with these three characters took up maybe 10% of the novel, the rest of it being left for Kanbaru's inner monologue and her interactions with new characters, especially Numachi. Numachi made a troubling side character, as she definitely HAS some reason to interact that much with Kanbaru and is fairly important for the story, BUT her importance is only revealed in a punchline at the very end of the story. This made all of the dialogue with her that I had to read a real slog to get through, as I wasn't sure for most of the novel who that person is and why she would be that terribly important to the story.
I have to admit, I don't read Monogatari primarily for themes and motifs - I read it to spend some time with characters that I have grown to love and want to learn more about their relationships and personalities. And while I learned a lot about Kanbaru's personality, I am still as oblivious to her relationship to new and old characters as I had been before starting into this novel. This leaves me with a story about Kanabaru's character, which often felt stretched to the point where I couldn't take it any more and wanted to quit the novel. While the plot in all of Nisioisin's books is more an afterthought, this was the very first time that I felt like I was reading a short story stretched into book-length.
I don't enjoy writing negative reviews but I really had to get all of this off my chest. But this doesn't have to mean that this book isn't for you. Mind you, this book has an incredibly high score here on Goodreads, so there has to be something about this book that people enjoy. I would advise you to try it out yourself - if you have made it until this far into the Monogatari series, there is really no point in starting to skip books now, is there? - but keep in mind that this book is very different from all other books in the series and is potentially the weakest when it comes to the plot.
November 19, 2023
I am a little of a monkey lesbian myself
May 26, 2024
Unfortunately, Kanbaru as a narrator was a bit difficult for me
I'm already at risk of being misunderstood because of the title. First of all: I love the character of Suruga Kanbaru and her funny, often ill-advised interactions with the other characters.
However, unlike Hanekawa and Nadeko (who is the protagonist of Otorimonogatari, which I'm reading at the moment), I wasn't convinced by her serious tone here, intentional, of course, but too dry when what only comes to mind are the moments that make her a comic character.
What's more, in practice, -I- felt identical to Araragi as a narrator: only without his sexual oddities and now depressed. There's a lack of a distinctive narrative style that's better at distancing itself, even when all we have are words.
I didn't feel the same in the anime, probably because this difference is explicit when each character has a different voice. In other words, there are more resources to be able to distinguish, by nature.
Well, I have to admit that this could also be caused by the difficulty of translating from Japanese to English, which possibly even affected the narrative here. We know that ~monogatari is always accompanied by word games that get lost in translation. However, some of what we have here isn't just a joke - it's a narrative element.
I recommend looking at This comment on Reddit (forgive me, I don't know Japanese and have no idea of a better source) explaining this. It will be a lot less confusing when you see the comparisons with "mud" several times, which before seemed to make no sense.
Despite everything, that's the only major complaint I have. Numachi's character is a positive addition, intriguing and challenging our protagonist. Kanbaru, on the other hand, is developed immensely over the course of the story and Kaiki's appearance was one of the best things for me.
I'm already at risk of being misunderstood because of the title. First of all: I love the character of Suruga Kanbaru and her funny, often ill-advised interactions with the other characters.
However, unlike Hanekawa and Nadeko (who is the protagonist of Otorimonogatari, which I'm reading at the moment), I wasn't convinced by her serious tone here, intentional, of course, but too dry when what only comes to mind are the moments that make her a comic character.
What's more, in practice, -I- felt identical to Araragi as a narrator: only without his sexual oddities and now depressed. There's a lack of a distinctive narrative style that's better at distancing itself, even when all we have are words.
I didn't feel the same in the anime, probably because this difference is explicit when each character has a different voice. In other words, there are more resources to be able to distinguish, by nature.
Well, I have to admit that this could also be caused by the difficulty of translating from Japanese to English, which possibly even affected the narrative here. We know that ~monogatari is always accompanied by word games that get lost in translation. However, some of what we have here isn't just a joke - it's a narrative element.
I recommend looking at This comment on Reddit (forgive me, I don't know Japanese and have no idea of a better source) explaining this. It will be a lot less confusing when you see the comparisons with "mud" several times, which before seemed to make no sense.
Despite everything, that's the only major complaint I have. Numachi's character is a positive addition, intriguing and challenging our protagonist. Kanbaru, on the other hand, is developed immensely over the course of the story and Kaiki's appearance was one of the best things for me.
February 12, 2025
This installment fast-forwards us a bit into the future and shows us Kanbaru as she grapples with important questions of identity, spurred by an experience with an ex-acquaintance Roka Numachi. With Kanbaru narrating most of the story we get a glimpse of her interior world filled with anxiety, dread, and guilt. She dreams of her dead mother, hears her voice in her head frequently. Though it seems they didn't have a great relationship, she nonetheless carries her voice with her at all times; accosting her post-mortem. Seeing how Kanbaru restrains herself with tape each night to sleep and reads the newspaper each morning looking for evidence of her hurting people is heartbreaking. It says a lot about her perception of herself; that she's a devil, a sinner, a coward, any number of pejorative words she may use to describe herself. And in the end seeing her reclaim her self-image and assert her identity not as a sinner but as someone who does something kind because she wishes to, not because she's trying to be herself or because someone told her to. Her mom tells her 'If you can't be medicine, be poison. Otherwise you're nothing but water.' Kanbaru's declaration for herself in the end that she is 'Muddy Water' is a moving affirmation of the identity she chooses to forge for herself. A journey to see the good in herself and not just the bad, to learn that people contain multitudes and no one is all good or all bad, and that even truth itself isn't as simple as right and wrong. Great stuff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2020
The least Monogatari book I've read so far. Here Kanbaru is, strangely enough, a pretty boring POV (even if that's precisely what she thinks of herself, that doesn't make the actual story good).
The "girl-of-the-installment", Rōka Numachi, is... even more boring? Her character doesn't stand out, she seems too out of place, and her two stream of consciousness chapters are a SLOG to get through.
Still, there are some interesting bits of information (about the Gaen family mostly), a tiny secondhand introduction of Ōgi, a brief encounter with a graduated Ararararagi.
...and chapter 15 and 16. That's when Hanamonogatari actually reverts to the weird and funny narration the series is known for, thanks to his Majesty Kaiki Deishū, who totally steals the show (and that's quite poetic in itself).
The "girl-of-the-installment", Rōka Numachi, is... even more boring? Her character doesn't stand out, she seems too out of place, and her two stream of consciousness chapters are a SLOG to get through.
Still, there are some interesting bits of information (about the Gaen family mostly), a tiny secondhand introduction of Ōgi, a brief encounter with a graduated Ararararagi.
...and chapter 15 and 16. That's when Hanamonogatari actually reverts to the weird and funny narration the series is known for, thanks to his Majesty Kaiki Deishū, who totally steals the show (and that's quite poetic in itself).
December 30, 2021
An amazing and thought provoking turn around towards the second half of the book, although with a slow start I can't rightfully give a full 5/5. Although some of my lackluster impression may be because I took a few months break halfway through.
This story is narrated by Suruga Kanbaru, the quirky, exhobitionist, monkey arm wielding highschool basketball retiree. The story talks about themes of graduation, or to put it another way of moving on, and how we as humans try to model ourselves on what we think others want to see. What even is 'me'? Am I truly me or just something fitting a mould?
Slow start and a change in cast makes the getting into this novel a tad more difficult for those following the series. But by the halfway mark you'll feel right at home with Suruga. Another great piece of writing by Nisioisin, I look forward to the next!
This story is narrated by Suruga Kanbaru, the quirky, exhobitionist, monkey arm wielding highschool basketball retiree. The story talks about themes of graduation, or to put it another way of moving on, and how we as humans try to model ourselves on what we think others want to see. What even is 'me'? Am I truly me or just something fitting a mould?
Slow start and a change in cast makes the getting into this novel a tad more difficult for those following the series. But by the halfway mark you'll feel right at home with Suruga. Another great piece of writing by Nisioisin, I look forward to the next!
June 1, 2022
No es uno de mis libros favoritos de la saga, por algún motivo lo encontré difícil de leer, ya sea por el cambio de narrador o la aventura que te narra en sí. No negare que esta interesante y te explica varias cosas del los personajes pero, siento que lo hace a un paso muy, pero muy lento. Pero también esta el factor de que deje de leer la historia por un gran periodo de tiempo, lo que solo logro que me confundiera más al retomar la lectura.
Sin embargo el final de la historia de Kanbaru es aceptable, el como el encuentro con una vieja amiga, le hace ver las cosas de manera diferente y afrontar sus problemas en lugar de evitarlos. En si la puntuación la dejo entre el 3.7 y 3.8 (Puedes leer otra obra y dejar esta al final posiblemente o así lo veo yo).
Sin embargo el final de la historia de Kanbaru es aceptable, el como el encuentro con una vieja amiga, le hace ver las cosas de manera diferente y afrontar sus problemas en lugar de evitarlos. En si la puntuación la dejo entre el 3.7 y 3.8 (Puedes leer otra obra y dejar esta al final posiblemente o así lo veo yo).
August 5, 2022
This felt like one of the most unique books in this series so far, partly because of the time placement and partly because of the narration coming from Kanbaru. Despite the unique and different feel, I very much loved reading this one. You definitely get a much deeper and slightly different view of Kanbaru, as well as a pretty unique and investing interaction between her and a girl from her past. And, as with the rest of this series so far, it’s beautifully written and the dialogue is fantastic.
January 6, 2022
Azt hiszem lassan kezdek hozzászokni, hogy a kötetek első harmada inkább csak amolyan ráhangolódás.
Kanbaru számomra szintén nem túl izgalmas narrátor. Valahogy Araragi szemén keresztül sokkal érdekesebb személyiség volt, ugyanez volt számomra a helyzet Hanekawa-val is. A közepétől azért van egy határozottan jó rész, de ez sem tart ki végig. Sajnos számomra kicsit ellaposodott a sorozat, talán ideje lenne hosszabb időre parkolópályára küldenem.
Kanbaru számomra szintén nem túl izgalmas narrátor. Valahogy Araragi szemén keresztül sokkal érdekesebb személyiség volt, ugyanez volt számomra a helyzet Hanekawa-val is. A közepétől azért van egy határozottan jó rész, de ez sem tart ki végig. Sajnos számomra kicsit ellaposodott a sorozat, talán ideje lenne hosszabb időre parkolópályára küldenem.
October 29, 2023
Had to pick this one up a few times to finish it. This entry feels very cold, lonely and distant. Probably what the narrator herself is also feeling, after being stuck 'left behind'. There were some great scenes (Kaiki running/Araragi with the car) but otherwise I think I just couldn't get into it, especially the first half. Roka as character did not interest me too much, sadly, as this is often regarded as an underrated entry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2018
The latest in the Monogatari series released in the West is told from Kanbaru's perspective, and NISIOISIN nails it again. You learn quite a bit about Kanbaru's past and how she views her self as she deals with an old basketball rival that is suddenly back in town. I hate the months between releases, but happy they are coming out at a faster rate. I need the next book ASAP.
December 14, 2020
Sigue la tendencia: los mejores de la saga son los que no están narrados por Koyomi. Este plantea un concepto bastante interesante: graduarte de cosas que no son educativas. Graduarte de situaciones y de personas que dejas atrás. Entre eso y que el misterio está bien llevado, pues muy bien
January 28, 2024
One of my favorite books ever, I've gone through it (and its adaptation) something like six times collectively. The theming and tone are completely on point, and its narrator, Kanbaru, is extremely relatable. Objectively on the lower end of the series, but a personal favorite of mine
February 18, 2019
Kanbaru was a narrator quite different from what I expected, but I was happy to get more details about Roka Numachi compared to the anime.
March 30, 2019
To be honest, this was a disappointing book. The story is super simple, the narrator is boring and uninteresting, predictable... struggled to read this one :S
November 24, 2021
Generally I’m not the biggest fan of Kanbaru but despite that this was a really good read. By the end I really felt sorry for both Kanbaru and especially Numaichi.
February 9, 2022
just a bliss to read through
July 15, 2022
Slower build, but a lovely read
June 11, 2023
This was not one of my favorite books in the monogatari series but definitely worth reading. Interesting story and plenty of story content about Suruga.
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August 25, 20245:21
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