Bullet Train
Ratings35
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings35
Average rating3.8
A dark, satirical thriller by the bestselling Japanese author, following the perilous train ride of five highly motivated assassins--soon to be a major film from Sony Nanao, nicknamed Lady Bird--the self-proclaimed "unluckiest assassin in the world"--boards a bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka with one simple task: grab a suitcase and get off at the next stop. Unbeknownst to him, the deadly duo Tangerine and Lemon are also after the very same suitcase--and they are not the only dangerous passengers onboard. Satoshi, "the Prince," with the looks of an innocent schoolboy and the mind of a viciously cunning psychopath, is also in the mix and has history with some of the others. Risk fuels him as does a good philosophical debate . . . like, is killing really wrong? Chasing the Prince is another assassin with a score to settle for the time the Prince casually pushed a young boy off of a roof, leaving him comatose. When the five assassins discover they are all on the same train, they realize their missions are not as unrelated as they first appear. A massive bestseller in Japan, Bullet Train is an original and propulsive thriller that fizzes with an incredible energy and surprising humor as its complex net of double-crosses and twists unwind. Award-winning author Kotaro Isaka takes readers on a tension packed journey as the bullet train hurtles toward its final destination. Who will make it off the train alive--and what awaits them at the last stop?
Featured Series
4 primary books殺し屋 is a 4-book series with 4 primary works first released in 2004 with contributions by Kōtarō Isaka and Sam Malissa.
Featured Series
1 primary bookAssassins is a 1-book series first released in 2010 with contributions by Kōtarō Isaka.
Reviews with the most likes.
I listened to the audiobook and really loved the pace of this novel. The action was so quick it felt like a ride on the train in the title. The book received a 5 star rating because I didn't want the novel to end and rush to the conclusion in equal measure. I can't wait to read more from Isaka.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
I have mixed feelings about this book. I had high expectations, but I feel somehow disappointed. The plot is entertaining for sure. You don't have good guys in the story, all of them are bad and even evil. The initial problem grows bigger and bigger. The situations are ridiculous to an extent that become incredible, but the characters keep it going.
If it were just that, I'd give this book 5 stars. However, one thing that drove me crazy was the dumbness of some characters. They make some serious stupid decisions that made the reading experience exhausting and frustrating. Even though I know this probably was to add more humor to the story, to me it was unnecessary and annoying.
This book is soon to become a movie, and I have no idea how the adaptation will be. The plot is obviously not for everyone, so I'm quite skeptical about how this can be mainstream. But I really hope they change some of the characters' personalities, because I think that's the main flaw of this book.
I won this book through Goodreads and I thank to publishers for providing me this copy. My review isn't influenced by this fact.
I'm not sure if there is such a thing as reading a book pre-emptively, but that's what I did with this, when I heard that there is a big budget film adaption coming in August (starring Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock, amongst others).
It's probably not the kind of book I usually read, but it turned out to be absolutely glorious, violent fun. In reviews, I've often seen comparisons to Pulp Fiction, and it's easy to see why - a Shinkansen full of a collection of professional hit men of various levels of competence, and other assorted criminals and psychopaths with conflicting aims, all having random discussions covering a whole range of bizarre random philosophical questions and - more than anything else - Thomas the Tank Engine, while attempting to kill each other, or at least avoid being killed.
It's full of clever twists and turns, and towards the end there is one final particular twist that is so unbelievably delicious, if I told you I would have to kill you. But it's not really a spoiler to note that by the time the Shinkansen reaches its final destination, the number of dead bodies on the train vastly outnumbers those still alive.
I really enjoyed this book, especially the slice of japanese culture. The Prince gave Joffrey a run for his money in annoying-ness as well!
Looking forward to seeing the film now
