A review by documentno_is
Astral Season, Beastly Season by Tahi Saihate

dark emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective 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

4.25

This book was so engrossing and interesting I was captivated from the beginning. Honestly, with a little guilt, this book made me feel everything I expected to when reading Sayaka Murata and didn't. 
 

This novel plays a lot with expectations and reality 

 

There’s the societal expectation 

The characters expectations 

The narrative/readers expectations and then, what actually happens which is occasionally a divergence from all of the above. 

The different perspectives and emotions surrounding horrific acts were intriguing, and the way that the characters felt differently about the role of an idol as well. In some ways it reminded me of perfect blue but it had a more detached feeling to it. 

 

One of my favorite aspects of Japanese contemporary literature is the tone, it’s so nonchalant about very impactful things. Theres an earnestness and a simplicity to these translations, that seem to try to convey some heir of brevity or passivity to the reader from the narrator. I think it reminds me a lot of the youthful apathy you can see in some french films as well.