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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
dark
dark
I need a lobotomy to forget I read this book because it was so disturbing.
DON’T be fooled by the innocence of the cover lol this is arguably the most disturbing story I’ve read, narrated in the coldest, most… pragmatic? observational voice. I leaned into it while I was reading but woof this was graphic & I don’t think even the curious social commentary was enough to keep me on board.
This has gotta be attempt #4 and I don’t think Japanese magical realism is for me
TW: child abuse, incest, sexual assault/molestation, murder, cannibalism
This has gotta be attempt #4 and I don’t think Japanese magical realism is for me
TW: child abuse, incest, sexual assault/molestation, murder, cannibalism
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Wow. Okay. I have so many things to say but at the same time I can't find the words to describe this book.
A history of trauma that spirals into something dark, grotesque, gore and many many more things. I must say it shook me inside, without any doubt the most surreal story I've ever read. I've particularly liked the first part of the book and the depiction of Natsuki's childhood, the style was fluent and captivating. It made me question things and our reality.. The last part is where everything really goes into madness. But I feel like this is the perfect ending for Natsuki and Yuu, maybe not for Tomoomi.
A history of trauma that spirals into something dark, grotesque, gore and many many more things. I must say it shook me inside, without any doubt the most surreal story I've ever read. I've particularly liked the first part of the book and the depiction of Natsuki's childhood, the style was fluent and captivating. It made me question things and our reality.. The last part is where everything really goes into madness. But I feel like this is the perfect ending for Natsuki and Yuu, maybe not for Tomoomi.
A story about coping with trauma that, well.. severely escalates.
About a week has passed since I finished this and I needed the time to recover from the experience of reading this book. Blurbs on the bookcover include "hilarious" and "funny" and "intoxicating" and I have to completely disagree with those descriptions.
It starts out innocently enough. Natsuki is the outsider in her family of four and her parents are mean and cruel to her and we really don't know why as she tries very hard to be obedient and to please them. She knows she doesn't fit in and begins to plan for a future where she won't have to participate in the "Baby Factory" - getting married, having kids, conforming to society.
Natsuki kind of puts her feelings into a stuffed hedgehog toy and she looks to him as guidance, like an oracle from outer space. She and her cousin connect in their feelings of not belonging and that gets a little weird for them and the family - and us readers - when they are caught consummating their pretend marriage ceremony.
Then her teacher does some absolutely despicable things to her and though she tells her mother, she is not believed. And now this is a full on disturbing book.
Natsuki marries a man who also doesn't want to participate in the norm and they have an agreement to pretend to be a typical husband and wife yet they live separate lives. And then it gets even weirder, culminating in cannibalism. My psyche needed a full on cleansing and just writing this review makes me want to scrub my brain.
It starts out innocently enough. Natsuki is the outsider in her family of four and her parents are mean and cruel to her and we really don't know why as she tries very hard to be obedient and to please them. She knows she doesn't fit in and begins to plan for a future where she won't have to participate in the "Baby Factory" - getting married, having kids, conforming to society.
Natsuki kind of puts her feelings into a stuffed hedgehog toy and she looks to him as guidance, like an oracle from outer space. She and her cousin connect in their feelings of not belonging and that gets a little weird for them and the family - and us readers - when they are caught consummating their pretend marriage ceremony.
Then her teacher does some absolutely despicable things to her and though she tells her mother, she is not believed. And now this is a full on disturbing book.
Natsuki marries a man who also doesn't want to participate in the norm and they have an agreement to pretend to be a typical husband and wife yet they live separate lives. And then it gets even weirder, culminating in cannibalism. My psyche needed a full on cleansing and just writing this review makes me want to scrub my brain.