Reviews

A Silent Voice Vol. 5, by Yoshitoki Oima

mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition

3.0

Well that ended with a major cliffhanger - if I cared more about these books I'd have to immediately pick up the next one. This book was still okay, but still doesn't blow me away. I like the art, I wish I could tell the characters apart and remember their names. There are hints of characters actually being interested but there is just not enough depth. But not bad.

merniedee's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

yokai_garden's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective relaxing sad tense slow-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

4.75

oh_rachel's review against another edition

4.5

☹️☹️☹️

lynna_love's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.0

thesupermassive's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

sarahgayflint's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

thisbeereads's review against another edition

emotional sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dorinlazar's review against another edition

5.0

The focus now moves to Tomohiro's project - and choosing a location to film proves hard. One idea comes into play: the old school of Shoya's. So he and Satoshi visit the place talking to an old teacher, who proves to actually think that Shoko was the problem in that class, and that Shoko's disability was the problem all along.

What I loved about this volume is that it pulls no punches on Shoya. He's not perfect, he knows it, and he's failing on his friends. It's not a web of lies that holds him together, but a web of unspoken truths. Things he didn't want to mention. Things that people misunderstood looking at the current situation.

Two things caught my attention. The first one is how well done the overlap between Shoya and Shoko's fun date together and his remorse mental thread went. The second one is the way Shoko is permanently seen by everyone except Izuru as a mere object.

Now, in all honesty, Shoya's relationship with Shoko is fair although distant. It's explained at length in the book. He's hesitant all the time, and he's deeply ashamed, and he thinks he knows (despite Shoko's signaling of the contrary) that he could never be forgiven for his behavior. But all others treat Shoko like she's non-existent. The interactions with her are superficial at best. Her reactions are never checked, she's always the last one to matter in a discussion, despite being at the center of conflicts.

And, finally, this changes.

Spoiler

That stoic resolve of hers finally dissipates in a desperate act. Her decision to jump off the balcony is, I think, the first time she acts for real as a character. Now, now I can finally see some character development on her side as well. Now, I think, Shoko's part will finally start to make sense.

. I am so eager to read the next volume, I could barely take the break to write this review.

literarycat's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

4.0