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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not Your Idol is a complex story about a former girl idol trying to reclaim her agency after being attacked by a male fan. She leaves the spotlight and presents herself as a boy to protect herself from being hurt by men for being a girl. She blames herself for the attack because as an idol she willingly made herself a "toy," an unfeeling thing that everyone could have access to. Instead of blaming the system, she internalizes the shame of being such a girly-girl.
Nina, the main character, has PTSD from the violent assault, is being stalked by the assailant, and she and her female classmates are being targeted on crowded subways by a serial groper. There's victim blaming and slut shaming from the male and female characters. The students think that groping and rape happens to only pretty girls. In the story, there's a girl who gets groped every day on the train because she doesn't want to be labelled as the ugly girl who rides the women only car of the subway. The messaging in the book is wild. I'm hoping that as the story moves along, the author and illustrator does a better job of dispelling these troubling ways of thinking. There's not enough of an opposition to these stereotypes in the book. The story is just very triggering, and there is a mystery being set up that Nina's love interest may even be her stalker/attacker and she's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Nina, the main character, has PTSD from the violent assault, is being stalked by the assailant, and she and her female classmates are being targeted on crowded subways by a serial groper. There's victim blaming and slut shaming from the male and female characters. The students think that groping and rape happens to only pretty girls. In the story, there's a girl who gets groped every day on the train because she doesn't want to be labelled as the ugly girl who rides the women only car of the subway. The messaging in the book is wild. I'm hoping that as the story moves along, the author and illustrator does a better job of dispelling these troubling ways of thinking. There's not enough of an opposition to these stereotypes in the book. The story is just very triggering, and there is a mystery being set up that Nina's love interest may even be her stalker/attacker and she's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion, which I am providing voluntarily.
This was a fast read, and while the concept was a good one, the execution wasn't as strong as it could have been.
I found that the flow was off. While I don't have an issue with flashbacks, there would be some that were clearly labels and others would just randomly appear. I had difficulty with figuring out who was speaking throughout the story. Discussing difficult topics like physical assault, harassment, sexual assault, and stalking are so relevant, but there was also a lot of reinforcement of rape culture, and I felt that the "she's asking for it" trope was overused. The main character doesn't seem to have anyone around who is invested in her well-being, and I was curious where her family was, especially seeing that she was in her first year of high school. I struggled with identifying with any of the characters, and while it ended on a cliffhanger, I wasn't curious enough to find out what happens next to want to read the next one.
The drawings were beautiful, but ultimately the story fell short of the mark for me.
This was a fast read, and while the concept was a good one, the execution wasn't as strong as it could have been.
I found that the flow was off. While I don't have an issue with flashbacks, there would be some that were clearly labels and others would just randomly appear. I had difficulty with figuring out who was speaking throughout the story. Discussing difficult topics like physical assault, harassment, sexual assault, and stalking are so relevant, but there was also a lot of reinforcement of rape culture, and I felt that the "she's asking for it" trope was overused. The main character doesn't seem to have anyone around who is invested in her well-being, and I was curious where her family was, especially seeing that she was in her first year of high school. I struggled with identifying with any of the characters, and while it ended on a cliffhanger, I wasn't curious enough to find out what happens next to want to read the next one.
The drawings were beautiful, but ultimately the story fell short of the mark for me.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
OKAY. OKAY LOOK. This manga was EXCELLENT. If it was an anime I would watch that shit so fast, let me tell you.
I like the concept of this, especially. If you liked Ouran High School Host Club, then you'll definitely like this!!! The manga is about a girl that had a traumatic experience as a Japanese idol, quit, and wanted to live as a normal girl. She cut her hair and now dresses like a boy at her new school.
I would hesitate to call this feminist, but it's on its way there for sure!! It does that thing where everyone is super sexist or says sexist things and the main character is the one to speak out about why what they're saying is wrong. So if that bothers you, you might get frustrated with this manga.
It does have its big moments where the main character sticks up for the women around her when they're put down by men. That did make me want to continue with this manga, and I also got hooked on the story when they showed you what happened to the main character in the past. I totally recommend!! I listed trigger warnings below if you want to check those out before you read this. Happy Reading!!
TW: there's a lot of discussion of sexual assault in this manga, this is just forewarning. (You also see public groping in public transportation, so if that's triggering to you then be careful with this manga!!)
I like the concept of this, especially. If you liked Ouran High School Host Club, then you'll definitely like this!!! The manga is about a girl that had a traumatic experience as a Japanese idol, quit, and wanted to live as a normal girl. She cut her hair and now dresses like a boy at her new school.
I would hesitate to call this feminist, but it's on its way there for sure!! It does that thing where everyone is super sexist or says sexist things and the main character is the one to speak out about why what they're saying is wrong. So if that bothers you, you might get frustrated with this manga.
It does have its big moments where the main character sticks up for the women around her when they're put down by men. That did make me want to continue with this manga, and I also got hooked on the story when they showed you what happened to the main character in the past. I totally recommend!! I listed trigger warnings below if you want to check those out before you read this. Happy Reading!!
TW: there's a lot of discussion of sexual assault in this manga, this is just forewarning. (You also see public groping in public transportation, so if that's triggering to you then be careful with this manga!!)
*Thank you to Viz and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
When I began reading this I wasn't sure what to expect. We begin with a former centre of an idol group gives up her position and goes into hiding after being assaulted by a fan at a handshake event.
What unfolded was a story of femininity and feminism and gives an insight into the objectification of women as sexual objects all woven into a story about dealing with the aftermath of assault.
The artwork is wonderful and really adds to the story, the combination of the art style with the delicate yet thought-provoking way in which the assaults, both physical and sexual made this a great manga.
I'm looking forward to the next volume.
When I began reading this I wasn't sure what to expect. We begin with a former centre of an idol group gives up her position and goes into hiding after being assaulted by a fan at a handshake event.
What unfolded was a story of femininity and feminism and gives an insight into the objectification of women as sexual objects all woven into a story about dealing with the aftermath of assault.
The artwork is wonderful and really adds to the story, the combination of the art style with the delicate yet thought-provoking way in which the assaults, both physical and sexual made this a great manga.
I'm looking forward to the next volume.
CW: sexual assault (mentioned of past happenings and on page adult men touching high school girls), physical assault (recounted on page), victim blaming, misogyny
This was a lot of triggering language that I was not expecting at all. The rampant sexualization of high school girls and then blaming them for when they get unwanted touches from both peers and grown ass adults not only from the boys they are in class with but their fellow girls and older women. It was a lot to get through. From the synopsis, I was expecting more focus on Nina's assault and her dealing with Hikaru, who figured out her secret. I wasn't expecting this subplot heavily exploring sexual assault on teen girls.
I'm honestly not sure if I can continue on with the rest of the series.
This was a lot of triggering language that I was not expecting at all. The rampant sexualization of high school girls and then blaming them for when they get unwanted touches from both peers and grown ass adults not only from the boys they are in class with but their fellow girls and older women. It was a lot to get through. From the synopsis, I was expecting more focus on Nina's assault and her dealing with Hikaru, who figured out her secret. I wasn't expecting this subplot heavily exploring sexual assault on teen girls.
I'm honestly not sure if I can continue on with the rest of the series.