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librasgroove 's review for:
Confessions
by Kanae Minato
Confessions focuses on mothers and their sons. Both Naoyi and Shūya are reflections of their mothers, in all their overbearing, self conscious, abusive and arrogant glory.
Every chapter reflects on Manami’s death and the aftermath. Each character’s perspective is trying to wrestle with how they became involved. Minato weaves each character’s emotions and own perspectives together. Everyone is desperately trying to justify their actions. Some more pathetically than others.
I did not like the ending chapter. The ending is fitting - in that you reap what you sow. But, I do think adding Moriguchi’s perspective back in detracted from earlier events. Clarification about the contaminated milk wasn’t necessarily needed. I think Moriguchi lying was more fitting to her contradicting feelings (love of a mother vs duty of a teacher) than having her partner replace the milk. Furthermore, the last chapter is heavy-handed in the moralization of the story. It feels like Minato didn’t trust the audience to come to conclusions themselves.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Murder
Minor: Animal death