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cami_stokes3859's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
emarlett11's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Transphobia
extraterrestrial_congregations's review
challenging
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I absolutely looooved this book! For the first 300 and so pages. I loved the way it was written, the characters were fascinating and I loved the pace of the writing! I was iffy about some things that happened, but the way the author described them made it great! The descriptions can be a bit detailed during the sex scenes, but there were plenty of other interesting descriptions during them that were not just about mere sex and lust but also about emotions, new experiences and ideas. Then came the last 100 pages and it all felt too rushed. I feel like the last 100 pages should have been just as long as the first 300, so much happened but I didn't quite have the time to take it all in. The thing that made the first part so great was how calmly it was paced and how interestingly described! The descriptions and writing was still fine in the last part but the pace just too fast, at least for me, and I felt I didn't care/understand the characters that well anymore by the end. But the book has a very unique premise and is surely a worthy read that is not easily forgotten, just be prepared to be let down by the ending~
I'd also like to add that although this book is very unusual, it is surprisingly relaxing and nice.
I'd also like to add that although this book is very unusual, it is surprisingly relaxing and nice.
qofdnz's review
4.0
There is a distinct style in most Japanese writing that I like. This was an unusual story which was wishy washy in places but was in the whole a decent read.
kasss's review
2.0
2.5 stars, I suppose. It wasn't a good book, but it wasn't too bad either. It could have been much better. One way or another, I will definitely remember it.
If you like weird books then this is one for your bucket list.
If you like weird books then this is one for your bucket list.
steffieg's review
3.0
This is a very bizarre novel!! But I really liked it!
It is about a young woman who wakes up one normal morning to find a penis instead of her big toe! From then on her normal mundane sex life as well as her whole life take out an abnormal path! Her life starts revolving around strange sexual encounters. She befriends the Flower Show which is made up of people who also suffer from sexual abnormalities. Although this book is about sex and penises it rarely does anything to get the reader in the mood! On the contrary it describes the sexual encounters and the thoughts clouding Kazumi's thoughts (the protagonist) in such a striking plain manner that it detaches the reader from the thrill of sex immediately. The novel is meant to place the reader in an unemotional position watching Kazumi's emergence from naivete to adulthood. Almost the whole book (except the Prologue & Epilogue) is written from Kazumi's point of view so as the book progresses the majority of Kazumi's thoughts and reflections start affecting the reader's thoughts about sexuality. Also the enlargement of sexual bodily abnormalities by the author place the reader in a position to reflect about ordinary sexuality. After finishing the book, the reader cannot just go on living with the same perspective, or lack of perspective, of sexuality as a normal mundane act.
It is about a young woman who wakes up one normal morning to find a penis instead of her big toe! From then on her normal mundane sex life as well as her whole life take out an abnormal path! Her life starts revolving around strange sexual encounters. She befriends the Flower Show which is made up of people who also suffer from sexual abnormalities. Although this book is about sex and penises it rarely does anything to get the reader in the mood! On the contrary it describes the sexual encounters and the thoughts clouding Kazumi's thoughts (the protagonist) in such a striking plain manner that it detaches the reader from the thrill of sex immediately. The novel is meant to place the reader in an unemotional position watching Kazumi's emergence from naivete to adulthood. Almost the whole book (except the Prologue & Epilogue) is written from Kazumi's point of view so as the book progresses the majority of Kazumi's thoughts and reflections start affecting the reader's thoughts about sexuality. Also the enlargement of sexual bodily abnormalities by the author place the reader in a position to reflect about ordinary sexuality. After finishing the book, the reader cannot just go on living with the same perspective, or lack of perspective, of sexuality as a normal mundane act.
valette's review
2.0
I grabbed this book at the library book sale, intrigued by the premise of waking up with a penis for a big toe. As one character puts it, "If you change your body, your state of mind changes." This theme is repeated through many characters: the main character with her new toe penis, a M-to-F transgender, a man with an extra penis, and a blind man. The story challenges traditional sexual and gender roles and preconceptions. But instead of demonstrating this through the story, the majority of the book takes place inside the main character's analytical brain as she compares her feelings about a situation (homosexual sex, for example) to how she might have felt without her toe penis, how a man might feel, and how she should feel. Her over-thinking every interaction was tiring.
The main character doesn't make any decisions on her own and merely goes with what others have decided for her, a trait that made me angry with her and the supporting characters, and a big reason I disliked the book so much. Her toe penis and her hospitality is repeatedly taken advantage of, yet she finds a way to analyze why she is or should be okay with the situations.
The main character doesn't make any decisions on her own and merely goes with what others have decided for her, a trait that made me angry with her and the supporting characters, and a big reason I disliked the book so much. Her toe penis and her hospitality is repeatedly taken advantage of, yet she finds a way to analyze why she is or should be okay with the situations.
chaoticbibliophile's review
3.0
Although the ending was a complete disaster (actually, the last 100 pages are kind of a trainwreck), this book was super interesting, and very fun as well. There are a lot of fascinating reflections about sex, gender, love, relationships and how our identity revolves around these issues, and the prose wasn't bad at all, often even witty and dynamic. Booktube review to come.
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