I don't remember how I came to this book; I haven't yet seen "Your Name" though it's been highly recommended. But I'm glad I found Shinkai's recent work, because this is a gem. It expertly blends magic - a girl who can control the weather - with realism. You see relationships evolve across generations, genders, cities, and professions. It's a story about seeking and finding, on so many levels. And ultimately, a story of love, which is so delicate as to be a backdrop for the otherwise tangible plot.

One thing that didn't work for me was the change in narrator; and yet I was pleased the sections weren't named for the characters, so once I got the hang of it, it was a welcome mystery to solve. I wonder if this was a technique that didn't translate well.

Either way, the accompanying film is at the top of my list. That they were written simultaneously is a brilliant nugget I'm proud to explore. Shinkai's afterward, discussing what the different styles require and what he added for the novel, was fascinating. It opened my mind on many literary levels.