katarina_kirishiki's reviews
154 reviews

Blue Lock - Band 17 by Muneyuki Kaneshiro, Yusuke Nomura

hopeful tense

4.5

3.0

I am so conflicted with this novel. On the one hand I liked the ideas and concepts it brought up but on the other hand it felt like such a long-winded drag to read.

The narration was also partly super interesting, I especially liked how the scene about

the car ride to the shelter during the airborne toxic event

presented the simplicity/normality of such a situation for people. However, simultaneously most dialogues and scenes appeared so unhuman that it kind of negated the things which showcased humans in their mordern habitat.

Also if I read "

my head between her breasts

" one more time in the next few days I will lose it.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

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challenging dark slow-paced

5.0

Whilst the beginning dragged a bit and I didn't think I'd like it so much at first; the middle parts of the book were truly amazing, in my opinion. At the start, I really didn't think I would enjoy this book and whilst the religious morale of everything did not fully surprise me, it did add a bit to my disdain for the Epilogue. However, the general way in which the story was presented really resonated with me.

Raskolnikov is a somewhat unlikable character, he thinks of himself partly as superior to others but simultaneously also knows he is not. He has sooo much pride yet also so much hate and bitterness towards himself, his situation and also others.
I think that the 3rd person narration also added to highlighting the human part in all of it. Seeing that there is no clear-cut way but more of a constant back and forth on what one wants to do, deciding on it and nevertheless then changing one's mind again and again. At times it was frustrating but simultaneously it made it so normal/real in a way.

Generally, whilst some scenes dragged on a bit, the way the scenery and things are described really helped in imagining the rooms or streets in the book, which I really enjoyed.

The Girl from the Other Side: Siúil, A Rún, Vol. 1 by Nagabe

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dark mysterious

4.75

- Read for a Bookclub -

I really like the art style in this manga, it is whimsical and eerie at the same time.
Same goes for the general story. It almost seems like a gothic fairytale.
The narration and plot are quite basic but the style in which it is done kinda makes up for it. Not much information is given in this volume on the background of either character or the world they live in, however, this adds to the dark and yet whimsical nature of the manga.

I will definitely continue reading it!

My Hero Academia, Vol. 40 by Kōhei Horikoshi

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4.0

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad

4.75

Smile Down the Runway, Volume 1 by Kotoba Inoya

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fast-paced

Loveable characters? It's complicated

1.75

- Read for a Manga Book Club -

The general idea of the story is amazing but the execution in the first volume is in my opinion lacking.
I usually like when the first few chapters of Manga tackle a lot of the main concepts but in this one, there was way too much stuff happening in just the first chapter alone. Additionally, many probably interesting scenes happened "off-camera" instead of being shown to readers directly.

I get that this was published in a shonen magazine and it very much has shonen vibes. I'd even go as far as to say this could have had the same vibes as any good shonen sports manga, but it just doesn't.
To me it seems there are sooo many tropes the author put in that everything seems "too much" and thus kinda lacking overall. From the characters and how they act and react to the plot points in the story.

Also, some points made in the Manga seem weird to me, like when

Shizuku said something along the lines of "models on the runway should compliment the clothes not the other way around" but Chiyuki then says "I think the outfit needs to look charming when I wear it..." and that's what gets her a spot at her dad's company. The first quote is right for the most part. Especially on runway shows, you want the clothes/designs to be presented and sold. So it was quite weird to then see that Chiyuki's notion of "the clothes need to fit me" is what get's her in. I get that it has a focus on her modelling journey but still.

Which brings me to my next point, in my opinion,

Chiyuki's journey was way too fastly abandoned for Ikuto's. I get that he is the second main character and there will probably be more focus on her later too but I would've liked to spend a bit more time in the first volume with Chiyuki's ambitions before focusing on him so fast.

I also would've liked for it to be more "fashiony" if that makes sense. Since it is about modelling and designing it would've been interesting to see some actual fashion designs. The outfits that "wowed" everyone just seem meh. They're ok, but nothing screams fashion. Maybe street fashion, but tbh even that would be a reach, in my opinion.

I will not continue or finish this series, since there are so many aspects that bother me.

Atelier of Witch Hat 05: Das Geheimnis der Hexen by Kamome Shirahama

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense