Gonin
Blue Sea Wordbook
About Gonin
“Gonin” is a Blue Sea Wordbook for the original Japanese book そして五人がいなくなる, which is described in detail below.
Bibliographic data for the Blue Sea Wordbook “Gonin” is as follows.
Many mid-level and upper-level vocabulary entries are given. Low level vocabulary may be excluded.
Most adverbs are excluded.
The Blue Sea Wordbook “Gonin” is available in the Shopping Cart.
Wordbook Format
The wordbook is an eBook (epub) that can be opened with a reader app. Typical eBook readers include the Books app for iOS devices and the Google Play Books app on Android devices.
About the Original Japanese Book 「そして五人がいなくなる」
The user must buy the corresponding original Japanese book separately.
Bibliographic data for the original Japanese book is as follows.
The star rating is decided by Blue Sea Press based on the factors such as interest, literary quality, and suitability for a second language learner. To better understand why the rating was given, see the review below.
An older Japanese book may be available only as a used book. However, a popular Japanese book may have been reprinted or published in a different version.
For an explanation of how to use the wordbook with a different version of the original Japanese book, see the section on this topic at Blue Sea Wordbooks.
Review of the Original Japanese Book 「そして五人がいなくなる」
The following review is by Todd Adkisson. He is also the editor of the Blue Sea Wordbook “Gonin”.
Genre
This is a mystery for adolescent readers. As is sometimes the case with mysteries, the story eventually reveals that every event can be explained by pure logic. The reader may not agree that every point could be deciphered along the way, but it is enjoyable to see how the story unfolds.
Level
While the original book was intended for Nihongo native adolescents, it is a pleasant challenge for adult language learners. The vocabulary is not too difficult, and the banter between the characters is especially encouraging. It is nice to see (through the reading experience) easygoing relationships that the reader may not often see in real life.
Synopsis
A reader new to this book must be very careful about the first thirty-three pages. This is an introduction to the characters done with amazing skill, yet it can seem confusing. It should: it is meant to be confusing, even for native language readers. When the dust settles at the end of the introduction, you are ready for the main story because you know you are in the hands of a wonderful storyteller.
From that point, you are launched into a crime drama with pleasant and unexpected details. An older intellectual man is best pals with three teenage sisters in the pursuit of a series of disappearances. It is a bridging of the generation gap in a respectable way.
The details provided by author Hayamine are pleasantly surprising. The intellectual is a beanpole overeater who by turns loves naps and roller coaster rides. Each sister has her own style. The police detective regularly overreacts to events.
While the details are wonderful, the direction of the story is even more satisfying. The farther you get, the more you realize that this is more than just an adventure story: it has a message for everyone in this busy world.
Style
The narration could be called straightforward were it not for all the twists and turns meant to spark the imagination.
The conversations of the characters are entirely believable. Hayamine is a very good writer.
A Nihongo second language learner should find the book very interesting and not too much of a burden. Subsequent rereadings are not boring even when the reader already knows what will happen.
That said, it would also be good to warn the reader that not every book by a single author hits the home run. Hayamine has written many books, but some are better than others. This is a good one.
Using the Blue Sea Wordbook
For a detailed explanation of how to use the wordbook, see Blue Sea Wordbooks.
Go to Blue Sea Wordbooks.