amandahaydock's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Murder, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Suicide
sspaghettiboness's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
First of all, this book is beautifully written. I don’t read female authors as often as I’d like, but I felt such a deep kinship with this book as it explored things like female rivalry, ageing, and a culture which commodifies sex and youth.
The diary sections are, by far, the most fun and interesting to read. Kirino does such a fantastic job of maintaining her high level writing while also giving each character a distinctiveness it’s impossible to doubt who is who.
Overall it was a great read, there are some slow patches which I found less than engaging, but this is a book worth sticking with! Very thought provoking about some heavy subject matter while unfolding at a true crime pace.
The diary sections are, by far, the most fun and interesting to read. Kirino does such a fantastic job of maintaining her high level writing while also giving each character a distinctiveness it’s impossible to doubt who is who.
Overall it was a great read, there are some slow patches which I found less than engaging, but this is a book worth sticking with! Very thought provoking about some heavy subject matter while unfolding at a true crime pace.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Eating disorder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, and Misogyny
Minor: Incest, Fatphobia, Murder, and Excrement
emudds's review against another edition
dark
3.0
some poignant observations on the constrictive nature of femininity and feeling defined by your relationships to men ("for a girl, appearance can be a powerful form of oppression." or "that was the first time i noticed that the men who embrace me, every single one of them, end up with an expression of emptiness when they are done, as if they have lost something.") but feels unfair to take that out on and possibly misrepresent the sex work industry (with the recognition that i have limited knowledge of the cultural context around it in japan specifically). also very invested in the constant refrain to "be good to me" throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Murder, Sexual violence, and Incest
ceciliabereadin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book needed to be 100 pages shorter but other than that, I found it so interesting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexism, Violence, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Misogyny, Bullying, Classism, Death, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Incest, Murder, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, and Toxic friendship
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