Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I love short stories so I was really looking forward to this. I thought the writing was very good but I just couldn't connect to the characters or the stories. I definitely recommend it to people who like short stories and ones that are set in Japan.

TAKEOUT SUSHI
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Fiction, Short Stories

Thank you to NetGalley and Neem Tree books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. There’s two parts of this short story collections: stories that take part in modern day Japan and then elsewhere. The stories in Japan seem to primarily told from the perspective of a foreigner living in Japan. I felt like a book was trying to mimic the style of Before The Coffee Gets Cold and What You are Looking for is in the Library. However, the difference is all the stories are not interconnected and often times left me feeling empty instead of the comforting feeling the books gave me. I felt do not consider these short story collection to be on the cozy side - maybe introspective, but do not read thinking this is will give you a healing feeling.

I did not like this book. Short stories are tough as the quality is never all the same. These stories were written by a non-Japanese person who lived in Tokyo for a bit - for whatever reason that comes through. Japanese lit has really done the slice of life story telling well and this author tries to get in on that but fails.

no question this is as good as everyone keeps saying. Absolutely beautifully simply written, incredibly unique especially on such an over-used idea like japanese short stories. it absolutely tragic but also incredibly happy and dealing with some tough subjects almost everyone can empathize with, honestly one of the few books I can call INSPIRING.

absolutely loved this wow

This is a short story collection, with most of the stories set in modern Japan. I really enjoyed the first 4–5 stories—they were very entertaining. The characters and themes varied, and the events were dynamic. Some stories felt deeply human, while others incorporated sci-fi elements. A few were so funny that I laughed out loud. Overall, it was a good time. Each story had a clear message that was easy to understand. The writing was simple and accessible, making the main points easy to grasp.

However, not all the stories were equally engaging or enjoyable to read. Some felt flat and a bit boring. It was a bit of a mixed bag—sometimes a hit, but other times a miss.

Many thanks to Neem Tree Press for the review copy provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What a fantastic collection of short stories! Not one of these was skipped while reading this book. A wonderful reading experience. Every single tale is an amazingly crafted piece.

This was an interesting short story collection set in contemporary Japan. Some of them were witty and some were thought provoking and subtle. The illustrations for each story were so cute. The author does a great job of capturing Japanese culture in all of these stories.

This collection was worth a read and some of the stories can be reread too. Burned was the funniest story amongst all of them. I chuckled out loud. The writing is witty and easy to read and gets you from the start. Would recommend!

This was a really entertaining collection of short stories that came complete with some fun illustration. Really enjoyed the writing style and the different types of stories it portrayed!

"Takeout Sushi" by Christopher Green is a flavorful and engaging novel that beautifully blends the themes of culture, identity, and the unexpected connections that can arise from something as simple as a meal. Green's writing is both vivid and evocative, capturing the sensory delights of sushi and the rich tapestry of the characters' lives. The story revolves around a protagonist who finds comfort and meaning in the routine of ordering takeout sushi, only to discover that this seemingly mundane habit opens the door to new relationships, personal growth, and unexpected adventures.

Green skillfully explores the intersection of tradition and modernity, as well as the complexities of navigating life in a fast-paced world while seeking deeper connections. The novel is filled with moments of humor, reflection, and poignancy, making it a satisfying read for anyone who appreciates stories about food, culture, and the little things that bring people together. "Takeout Sushi" is a delightful and thought-provoking novel that serves up a perfect blend of light-heartedness and depth, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction.

This anthology of short stories presents a collection that is primarily set in Japan. However, the subtitle “Stories of Other Places and Times” indicates that the second half diverges from this geographical focus, which may be misleading given the book's title and cover design.

The first section features a range of narratives that I found mostly engaging—some are humorous, thought-provoking, whimsical, and truly fascinating. Among my favourites are:

The Choice: This story revolves around a man who adheres to a strict daily routine to escape the burdens of decision-making.
Crime for Dummies: Told from a first-person perspective, it explores the interrogation of various suspects involved in a crime.
Magpie Man: This tale follows an individual who collects items found on the floor of a train station, despite the expectation to turn lost belongings into the lost and found—underscoring the notion that keeping these objects is technically a violation of the law.
Bodies: This narrative exercises trying to find comfort in Hiking.

While I appreciated many of the short stories within the first half of the collection, my overall impression was one of mild disappointment. Nonetheless, for those considering this read, I am confident there will be at least a story or two that appeals to your tastes, as the anthology contains a diverse array of narratives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press Publishing for providing me with an E-ARC to review!
This does not in any way shape or form alter my opinions or rating of this book.
I found myself enjoying the 17 short stories in this book. I liked that there was a diverse range of emotions explored within these stories. Overall enjoyed it very much!

This short story collection is a captivating exploration of diverse themes and tones, primarily set in Japan. The stories range from humorous and nostalgic to somber and thought-provoking. What stands out is the author's nuanced portrayal of Japanese culture, offering a rich cultural backdrop without being overtly explicit. The variety within the collection keeps the reader engaged, and the author’s ability to evoke different emotions and reflections through each story makes this a compelling read.

Having lived in Japan for two years, I read any and every book that takes place there that I can. Some of these short stories had me laughing and really enjoying the book, but a few too many just did not have the same spark. I also believe I would have preferred for either all the stories to take place in Japan or all of them take place in different places, as opposed to the 60/40 split.

A interesting slice of life style short story collection, predominantly featuring Japan. A lot of the stories are very short focusing on the quieter emotions, from longing and familial sacrifice to general family dynamics. My personal favourite was Burned, which is quite comedic compared to the other stories and I wouldn't be surprised if it's based on a real event. I will say that because of the quiet nature of the stories, I didn't really think any of them were particularly memorable, and due to their very short nature I didn't feel all that engaged by the stories.

The "Takeout Sushi" lured me with it's cover, but just as a boxed sushi, it was kind of disappointing content-wise.

I think this short story collection poses an important question on to what extent being an immigrant gives the author right credentials to write local characters. The outsider's lens is always tinted and more often than not causes the exotisation of the culture, customs and people who are "not like me". There were interesting ideas that Green explored, but in my opinion they also strengthened certain stereotypes about Japanese culture.

3.5 Stars

I thought this was a lovely collection of short stories, though I did find it a bit uncomfortable at times hearing the pov of Japanese people through the writing of a Western person who has lived there for years. Some of the stories I feel would have been better to have come directly from the Japanese perspective or been more clear that they were from the perspective of a non0Japanese resident who has seen what the culture is like first hand. Everything here was really well written and some of the stories were absolutely fantastic- my stand out favourite had to be the unfortunate husband and his misadventure with the iron! This was a fantastically written book, I just wonder about the pov being shown at times.

Some of these short stories held my attention much more than others. I really enjoyed the length of the stories and the illustrations included throughout. Some of the stories were much stronger than others. The stories largely illustrate daily life in Japan, but a lot of the stories endings felt flat and like the stories held no purpose? the strongest section of this book is the stories from other places and times, however, they didn't really feel like they matched the theme of the collection.

This was a good read. It was a lot of “slices of life” primarily set in japan and also had some insightful moments. I will be honest I picked this up first for the cover and second for the blurb. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but this was a low steaks read for me and it was nice to return to a little story between my other heavier reads

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Neem Tree Press in exchange for a free and honest review.

This book consists of short stories that take place in Japan (first half) and other countries. The author takes Japanese customs and work culture and mixes that with the experience of being a foreigner in some stories, he also explores the experience of being from a small town and working in Tokyo ("Bodies"), he also explores loneliness, deception and desire. Overall, an interesting collection. I enjoyed "spinning wheels" which tackles the question 'can robots manage human beings?'. I would recommend

Round of applause for the cover for a book of short stories that take on the mundaneness of life and add in the humor, oddities, and kaleidoscope of feelings of it all. I like how the collection circles around a sense of place (Japan) and comes off as eccentric and ordinary at the same time. While some stories were more captivating than others, such is life.