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petepilgrim 's review for:
Our Colors
by Gengoroh Tagame
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Largely a very sweet queer coming of age, slice of life.
Normally coming of age stories are off-putting to me now. As a man in my thirties, it's harder to relate to them now. I appreciate their place, but unless they're stories I enjoyed at the time it was relevant, I mostly try to avoid them. I picked up this because I really enjoyed My Brother's Husband, and there's not a lot of Gengoroh Tagame's work that isn't erotica.
I think the afterwards contextualized a lot of what I liked about the book. This was an older gay man reflecting on the story he would tell his younger self. I think that's why I found a lot of Sora's story quite nostalgic in a weird way. It reminded me of what it was like to be that teenager, and to feel those emotions.
Now, the very end leaves me very conflicted, as a lot of reviews seem to be.
Sora asking for a kiss from Mr Amamiya. I can understand Sora, he's young, he's gone through a roller coaster of emotions. But Mr Amamiya agreeing and kissing him. OH BOY. I mean, the book has raised it from multiple characters the inter-generational friendship between an older man, and two high school students is weird. Throughout the story we see it from the view of Sora and Nao: He's a supportive older guardian figure to them both. The kiss left a bad taste that ended a sweet story ona sour note.
From the author's afterword, I think I understand what this was supposed to be about. Some connection between his own older perspective as author, and the person he was growing up. BUT, it's still a very yikes presentation.
Normally coming of age stories are off-putting to me now. As a man in my thirties, it's harder to relate to them now. I appreciate their place, but unless they're stories I enjoyed at the time it was relevant, I mostly try to avoid them. I picked up this because I really enjoyed My Brother's Husband, and there's not a lot of Gengoroh Tagame's work that isn't erotica.
I think the afterwards contextualized a lot of what I liked about the book. This was an older gay man reflecting on the story he would tell his younger self. I think that's why I found a lot of Sora's story quite nostalgic in a weird way. It reminded me of what it was like to be that teenager, and to feel those emotions.
Now, the very end leaves me very conflicted, as a lot of reviews seem to be.
From the author's afterword, I think I understand what this was supposed to be about. Some connection between his own older perspective as author, and the person he was growing up. BUT, it's still a very yikes presentation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Homophobia