jasperusual's reviews
10 reviews

Tokyo Ueno Station by Yu Miri
Did not finish book. Stopped at 45%.

Not what I needed at the time, will be back to this !

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

“Because that’s what mothers do. They wait. They stand still until their children belong to someone else.”

Snapdragon by Kat Leyh

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

one of the loveliest graphic novels i've read yet! particularly loved how all of the relationships came across as so deep even in so few pages. snap’s halloween costume ATE. 

All My Mothers by Joanna Glen

emotional inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

picked this up because i thought it would hit and i was totally right. the first third was my favourite simply because of blue mother, she felt so real and filled with comfort. i loved the concept of different coloured mothers, and at particular sections i felt as though i could have written exactly what other characters were thinking simply because of how tangible and familiar they felt. 
i do however hate

that bridget never faced any consequences for secretly planning to have a child, even when explicitly told throughout by her boyfriend he did not want children, and barnaby’s treatment of eva in general

 
i was surprised by just how emotional i felt by the end. my inner child feels healed :(

Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Vol. 2 by Inio Asano

dark funny tense slow-paced

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

4.0

anxiety inducing sort of atmosphere, and feels very, horribly politically relevant. this volume picks up towards the end. humans are shit. 

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
Did not finish book. Stopped at 83%.

I thought the first half was comforting, however stopped about 3/4 of the way through as it turned less into a quiet comfy story and more of a history of leprosy, which is lovely but not what i was looking for at the time; may go back to this book though! 

My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Nagata Kabi

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.5

so so incredibly honest and sincere. felt really important and I cannot wait to read the second. 

Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, Vol. 1 by Inio Asano

dark funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

overall a really solid and engaging first volume, this is my first experience reading Asano’s work and it feels so distinct. lovely artwork, not yet sure what to think about the characters. 

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

i don’t know what to think abt this novel, but i am intrigued and want to read his other work. the guy is so unlikable, i feel like kiki would like him. 

The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this book gave me the feeling that i am always searching for, so simple, quiet and beautiful- the kind of story i will treasure in my heart forever.