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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
4.5. I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this collection. I thought I'd be more annoyed by Soichi and his bratty behavior, but Junji Ito constructs the stories in such a way that they feel fresh and don't have too many repetitive elements. Some feature Soichi as an annoying little brother playing pranks (of note is big brother Koichi's exasperation with Soichi and how easily he dismisses/reprimands him); some have him spreading rumors at school and getting into other people's business; and some depict Soichi as having truly horrifying supernatural powers that allow him to inflict curses, construct golems, and more. The last story has some fun references to previous Junji Ito stories, which I loved.
4.5. I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this collection. I thought I'd be more annoyed by Soichi and his bratty behavior, but Junji Ito constructs the stories in such a way that they feel fresh and don't have too many repetitive elements. Some feature Soichi as an annoying little brother playing pranks (of note is big brother Koichi's exasperation with Soichi and how easily he dismisses/reprimands him); some have him spreading rumors at school and getting into other people's business; and some depict Soichi as having truly horrifying supernatural powers that allow him to inflict curses, construct golems, and more. The last story has some fun references to previous Junji Ito stories, which I loved.
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've read many of Junji Ito's books, and I found Soichi one of the more unsettling ones. Soichi, a child obsessed with curses and violence, creates cognitive dissonance that makes the entire read uncomfortable.
That being said, Ito's talent shines through as he balances this odd "protagonist" with traditional horror elements and humor.
Per usual with Ito's work, characterization was lacking. The setting of Soichi is lacking compared to Uzumaki. But Ito's skillful building of mood makes up for the elements he is lacking in.
That being said, Ito's talent shines through as he balances this odd "protagonist" with traditional horror elements and humor.
Per usual with Ito's work, characterization was lacking. The setting of Soichi is lacking compared to Uzumaki. But Ito's skillful building of mood makes up for the elements he is lacking in.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
Just a bugger of a boy being a menace to everyone around him, but funny all the same!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Violence, Blood
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Gore
Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing