Strange Houses: A Novel | 
so-soI really liked the beginning. Then, it fell off for me. #japaneseliterature #translated #review
ju.ca.no I felt the same way! 2d
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so-soI really liked the beginning. Then, it fell off for me. #japaneseliterature #translated #review
so-soI feel the same way about this one as I felt about the fist one, Strange Pictures. The idea is cool, the way it is done, with the pictures and such is cool, but the writing style is a bit weak, as well as the elaboration of the story. It‘s very far fetched at times. But the idea is very unique and the story is still gripping- I liked this one a bit more than the first so 3/5 ⭐️ (Kirby gives 5/5 for Pillow-qualities)
pickThis is an enjoyable little horror/mystery. It requires a fair bit of suspension of disbelief, but the visuals are really fun.
pickSuch an odd read. The plot is a bit over the top for me but the twists and turns based on weird house maps make up for that and kept me reading on. A light pick.
#FictionalTraveler #Asia
Sounds familiar 😇
so-soPicked this one up on a whim and finished it the same day. It was just as formulaic as the first one, and the characters did make similar bizarre conclusions that ended up to be true, which wasn't very interesting to read.
The third half become very convoluted and could have used some trimming down.
pickThis eerie tale starts off with a floor plan, which at first glance, seems like any other house. But a closer look hints at something bizarre. The MC is a writer who focuses on dark mysteries and the macabre, and this floor plan caught his interest. Soon he manages to unravel an incredibly creepy reason for the strange house, and he makes a bigger discovery than he could have ever imagined. A great read that kept me on edge and turning the page.
so-soNot quite sure how I felt about this one. It was a fast read and the conceit was interesting, but everything felt just too over the top for my liking. I have the author‘s first book, Strange Pictures, which I will read but if it is more of the same, I‘m unlikely to continue with the author.
pickI ended up reading this in one sitting, it was mesmerising! I found it a bit clearer to try and guess what the secrets were than in Strange Pictures, and each chapter is more clearly connected from the outset, which I found a bit more fun.
July had extreme reads, 1 5* & 1 1*. Loved Strange Houses by Uketsu. I've read 2 of his books this year & loved them. It looks like his next one will be released in March.
As for the 1*, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Absolutely loathed the book. I know it's considered a classic but can't understand why. I mean I guess there weren't as many books written back then, so no real choices. The racism is disgusting. Read it before getting to James.
135/100🎧📖🔖
Strange Houses🏘️
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Finally caved in and binged read Uketsu. I enjoyed the manga version more than the ebook/audiobook version.
#strangehouses #uketsu #ebook #audiobook #goodreads #goodreadsreadingchallenge #crossstitch #totefairie
so-soThis was a quick read and very odd. The premise isn't the oddest thing; the oddest thing is how the characters jump to bizarre conclusions as though they're not just plausible but the only rational explanation and get essentially no pushback. It feels a little like the author is a kid coming up with weird stories while playing with his action figures. I don't love Uketsu's books, but I'll keep reading them.
pickStrange Houses is not particularly well-written in the conventional sense, dialogue can be clunky, pacing uneven, and the prose occasionally veers into the unintentionally surreal. Yet, despite its flaws, it‘s oddly compelling.
Building tension through architectural oddities and visual storytelling. What makes Strange Houses work is its atmosphere. The horror here is slow, methodical, and deeply psychological.
pickA short book that packs a punch. I had a great time not joining a single dot - I read it in one sitting and I can't say that I even had a theory which is very unusual for me. Strange Buildings is being translated and will release in March 2026 and i'm ready to be bamboozled again! Thanks for the buddy read @julesG
pickAnd I've finished.
I'm leaving a few thoughts in the comments under spoiler tags.
#buddyread @thegirlwiththelibrarybag @BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ @AllDebooks
#BuddyRead
Started the audiobook this morning.
Should anyone want to join us, we're also discussing the book on StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/buddy_reads/2a0342c8-7d83-4120-b3b6-3f632132978d?l...
@thegirlwiththelibrarybag @BarbaraBB @ImperfectCJ @AllDebooks
Ooh! Arrived earlier than anticipated (it‘s the Libby way)
Are you up for a buddy read this weekend @julesG ?
pickStrange Houses, by Uketsu (2021, transl. 2025)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Premise: The discovery of an unmarked space on the floor plan of a house for sale piques the curiosity of a writer and his architect friend, to creepy effect.
Review: Like so many others, I was totally taken by Uketsu‘s Strange Pictures earlier this year. This one doesn‘t quite hit the same highs, but was still a delicious dose of the author‘s macabre and mysterious sensibilities.
so-so“Can you uncover the dark secret of these strange houses? When you do, an unforgettable truth will be revealed.“
This is one of the strangest books I've ever read. It's fairly short, I read it in a couple of hours, & it's based around the floorplans of three houses. It's difficult to give a synopsis without giving anything away - I will say that it is dark in tone. (continued)
