akira_outofthegravity's reviews
173 reviews

Malice by Keigo Higashino

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is pure genius. You’ve heard of a whodunnit, and a howdunnit (Higashino’s ‘Devotion of Suspect X’) this is a whydunnit. The murderer is glaringly obvious and actually revealed within the first 100 pages, but the story is so much more. It’s a fabulously written book of misdirection, with major themes of bullying. Not everything is as clean cut as it may seem. 

There are lots of twists, but there is one bit- more misdirection than a twist- that totally got me. I gasped out loud and immediately ran to tell someone the genius of this book. It’s such an incredible thing, but I absolutely was fooled, and that made this read all the more interesting. 

I’ve read a lot of crime, and eventually they all start to get boring. You guess the structure, you guess who did it based on stereotypes and build ups and where they are placed in a story. This kept me guessing throughout the whole story. Every time I thought I had something, it was disproved. Keigo Higashino is one of the best crime writers ever. Not even just in Japan, but I believe internationally. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into his other novels. (I loved Suspect X)

Spoilers below!
  The final twist is pure and utter genius. Having the cat, such a small detail only mentioned once, be such a huge defining factor of “Hidaka’s” personality is genius beyond belief. It truly worked on me. I was fooled because every reaction to any interaction, good or bad, from Hidaka hinged on the fact that he had killed this cat. Bad guys kill cats, but Hidaka is described as both a good and bad guy depending. How can a good guy kill an animal? Do these people know he does? I never even once suspected that he doesn’t, or wouldn’t. Higashino planted that seed of anger and disgust in me and it grew until it blocked my vision. I’m so amazed at how well it worked, even when I forgot about the cat, I was always thinking of it. Nonoguchi is a great villain, if not a pathetic one. But I suppose the great thing about crime novels is that they’re sad, no one wins. Definitely not in this one anyway. Not even Kaga.
 
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And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A fantastic book, a little hard to get into, but the way Christie manages to manipulate 10 very distinct and different people all at once is honestly incredible. The mystery is paced just right, and the final twist threw me for six. The "solution" totally blew my mind, but it made so much sense. 

An amazing mystery, the best yet, and possibly the best ever.
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Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

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dark emotional sad tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book is absolutely not for everyone. Most of the characters are bad people, all make dodgy decisions, and a lot of bad things happen to innocent people. I like this book as an analysis of generational trauma, neglect, and racism- as it's implied that Heathcliff is mixed race. But if you dislike books where the characters are extremely flawed I wouldn't try this one.
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Notes on a Scandal by Zoë Heller

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challenging dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I had to read this for school. I fair enjoyed it! All the characters are awful people so it’s not a pleasant read, but it’s an intriguing story. Barbra is a freak but I think she’s really interesting.

It’s great to analyse!
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In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Creepy, terrifying, gory, everything I like in a book! The second half is batshit insane, and the ending is a bit WTF? But I loved it. Surreal and spooky, and a short read. 
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Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A great book with an interesting twist! A bit slow but once you get into it, it’s amazing. Loooooved the “solution” 
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I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 02 by Okura

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

A very cute read! The adorable chapters mean that the difficult ones (a colleague of the MC describes a handsome man that they think is gay as “a waste” for women) are way more hard hitting. My heart actually panged. 

I can’t wait for vol 3! 
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After Hours, Vol. 1 by Yuhta Nishio

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funny hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Feels like it’ll be a slow burn, but I’m not sure if the story is for me. 
Awkward Silence, Vol. 1 by Hinako Takanaga

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

3.75

Kinda cheesy but I did enjoy it! Maybe as wish fulfilment lol, but the characters were all great and I liked the plot. There wasn’t a big case of the “yaoi hands” either which I liked, despite them having v triangle faces. 

It’s a pretty typical 2010-esque yaoi manga, so expect lots of kabedon, unusually proportioned guys, and pointy faces. But it’s good for what it is.
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Escape Journey, Vol. 01 by Ogeretsu Tanaka

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emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

When it’s good it’s good but when it’s bad it’s baaaaad.

The cute moments are adorable, but it’s tainted by a toxic relationship. This was lent by a friend, so I don’t know if I’ll continue it, but I feel a little icky after reading it. 
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