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gustnbones's review
dark
funny
hopeful
sad
fast-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
4.5
nahiyan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
floppytelex's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hedjet's review
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia and Sexual content
vitangelo's review
5.0
The ending was very touching. I was going to compare the light novel with the anime but I didn't finish it yet.
hexijosh's review
3.0
I have trouble thinking of the right way to express how I feel about this book. I definitely enjoyed it, which is apparent by the fact that I read it pretty fast. But it's not something I would go back and make an effort to read again.
This book is also another example of why TokyoPop's Light Novel line didn't succeed. They slap a manga-style image on the front and shelve it with other manga titles. Not only that, but the synopsis on the back of the book doesn't even come close to mentioning what the story is really about; the events over the course of a year of a shut-in's life. His fears, drug abuse, and social struggles are clearly defined as a girl takes him on as a rehabilitation project.
But marketing qualms aside, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to a few others. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you like things like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you might consider this one.
This book is also another example of why TokyoPop's Light Novel line didn't succeed. They slap a manga-style image on the front and shelve it with other manga titles. Not only that, but the synopsis on the back of the book doesn't even come close to mentioning what the story is really about; the events over the course of a year of a shut-in's life. His fears, drug abuse, and social struggles are clearly defined as a girl takes him on as a rehabilitation project.
But marketing qualms aside, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to a few others. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you like things like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you might consider this one.
vanlir's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
3.0
mightyena's review
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
caramels's review
3.0
"We're people, so it's painful."
The subjects of this book weren’t really joyful, still I wouldn’t say the atmosphere was gloomy, so it wasn’t one of those books you shouldn’t be reading if you’re depressed because it could make you even more depressed. In fact, it could even give you some insight on your situation (or rather, on life in general).
"Who in the world are we, anyway? If I could answer that question, maybe our destination would change."
I don’t think the characters really come to terms with that question, they seem more interested in how to survive it, which is what makes them look more real than ever: their feelings are raw and sharp, when they’re suffering, they’re stuck and there’s nowhere else to go.
At first, the ending left me somewhat unsatisfied, and I realized it would have been interesting to read Misaki’s POV, but I know now that this wasn’t the point of the book. The point was: how on earth, among all the suffering and the despair, can you make the word “hope” not look so empty? Well, you can dwell in drug-induced epiphanies, you can obsess over the creation of an erotic RPG, or you can find relief in another person. But what if that other person is hurting more than you? Well, I guess that when you’re lost, even their despair would look like a good enough anchor. So if you don’t know where you’re going, at least now you know where to start.
The subjects of this book weren’t really joyful, still I wouldn’t say the atmosphere was gloomy, so it wasn’t one of those books you shouldn’t be reading if you’re depressed because it could make you even more depressed. In fact, it could even give you some insight on your situation (or rather, on life in general).
"Who in the world are we, anyway? If I could answer that question, maybe our destination would change."
I don’t think the characters really come to terms with that question, they seem more interested in how to survive it, which is what makes them look more real than ever: their feelings are raw and sharp, when they’re suffering, they’re stuck and there’s nowhere else to go.
At first, the ending left me somewhat unsatisfied, and I realized it would have been interesting to read Misaki’s POV, but I know now that this wasn’t the point of the book. The point was: how on earth, among all the suffering and the despair, can you make the word “hope” not look so empty? Well, you can dwell in drug-induced epiphanies, you can obsess over the creation of an erotic RPG, or you can find relief in another person. But what if that other person is hurting more than you? Well, I guess that when you’re lost, even their despair would look like a good enough anchor. So if you don’t know where you’re going, at least now you know where to start.