Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting and thought-provoking read, 23 Oct 2007
I read this book after seeing the film, and reading some of the manga, so I came to it expecting more of the same - I was pleasantly surprised.
The book has the luxury of being able to explore each character in depth, something that the film was unable to do. You get a more rounded portrait of the class, although don't assume that this is just the book of the film - the characters here are more like the ones in the manga, but they're subtly different again from their graphic-novel counterparts. These are characters that we half-know, and it's interesting to find out more about them - how friendships developed, what's going on inside their heads as they go through their ordeal.
Shuuya, our hero, is likeable and capable of calling up our affection. Noriko remains a bit of a drip, but that's only to be expected in a book which offers up only one or two strong, interesting female characters. As a reader, you honestly start to wonder what you would do in that situation.
However, I can't skate over the fact that this is an awkward book to read. The name of the translator is Japanese, not European, and it's an inescapable fact that this book isn't perfectly translated. Sentences can be shaky and repetitive, with word-choices that seem strange to a Westerner. The introduction at the beginning could do with some explaining. Some metaphors are very strange and come across as either inappropriate or just plain weird, and you do get the sense that this novel could have done with a bit more editing before it was published in the English language - and maybe another translator for good measure.
That's not to say that it's a bad book. Although some of the characters can be confusing and difficult to keep track of (why the author gives some of the 42 characters the same first names or last names is beyond me), it's a good story, and you'll keep reading it right to the end. Just ignore the strange errors in grammar if you're a nit-picker like me, and sit back to enjoy the interplay of teenage personalities as they try to deal with an impossible situation.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Battle Royale, 12 Aug 2008
'Battle Royale' is an excellent Japanese novel that is both gripping and original. I won't describe the storyline as the amazon page has a pretty good synopsis. I will say that from the first page you will be hooked and you will find yourself returning to this book at every free moment to see how the story develops. It is a simple premise, superbly executed (excuse the pun!) and you will become completely immersed in the mindsets of the various characters and how they behave. This book, like the film, is deemed controversial and yet I can't see any real reason why. It is a violent novel, but no more so than others out there, and it has a great many redeeming qualities compared to those other pulp fiction horror books. The translation is very good, so much so that you barely realise you are reading a translation at all, the ultimate goal I would have thought. This book is so easy to read that the 613 pages will fly by in no time at all. The ending, considering the subject matter, manages to leave you satisfied and with an adrenaline rush as well. One of the better modern fiction books i've read in a while and well worth a read.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best I've read in a long time!!, 20 May 2007
A friend of mine told me about the film which, before reading the book I must've seen 10 - 15+ times. I now wish I hadn't seen the film before reading the book as the film gave away so much of the book but the book was actually better than the film.
"Battle Royle" has to be one of the best books I've read in a long tie, it was the type tht makes you think "One more chapter" but when you've read that chapter you just want to carry on reading. I was reading this book til 2am most nights totally engrossed in it.
The beginning is pretty much the same as the film. The students are on the bus thinking they're going on a field trip but they end up being assed then waking up in a class room with collars round their necks (You'll find out wht these are for in the book and film).
As the book goes on it becomes more engrossing and you won't want to put it down. It switches from person-to-person who are in each of ther spots or working with other students.
Each student is given a day bag with water, food and a weapon. These weapons range from shotguns and grenades to kitchen forks and trash can lids.
Unlike the film everyone's favourite student Kiriyama speaks. Not as much as the other students but he has about 5 or 6 lines in the whole book.
Each student is killed in a gruesome way some which will make you cringe (But only if you're the type who pictures the hapenings whilst reading). There's heads geting blown off and hatchets slammed into students' skulls.
There are multiple killing "scenes" in which 5 or 6 people will be killed by one person.
In the film you will wonder how Shuya and Noriko got their collars off - you will find out in the book.
There are also some film scenes which are different in the book. Same person killed but in a different way or area. Also, conversations between students and techers go on for longer and you find out more about each student.
I would recommend that unless you have already seen the fim read the book first or the film will have spoilt some of it and you know what's gonna happen next.
As I said above this has to be one of the best books I've read and I could probably read it again in the near future.
An interesting fact: If you look at the gap between the students on the front (Noriko and Shuya) you can make out the outline of a weapon.
I would recommend this book to people who can read for longer than 10 - 20 minutes at a time as this is a large book (650) pages and can take quite long for a slow reader. I read it in a week or so.
I wouldn't recommend anyne with a weak stomach should read tis as in some parts it can be gory with plenty of killings and blod.
All in all though it is an excellent book and well worth a read.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
![Battle Royale [DVD] [2001]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31G6JBV6DSL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Tatsuya Fujiwara
by Koushun Takami
![Battle Royale 2 - Requiem [DVD] [2003]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HBXTVSTVL._SL500_SS90_.jpg)
DVD ~ Fujiwara Tatsuya
by Koushun Takami
by Koushun Takami
