The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
sleepyriv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Mental illness
Moderate: Vomit and Car accident
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
calydr's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
rachill's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
I would have liked Fuyuko to have addressed her sexual assault from her teen years with more clarity for reader education/sake but this in itself is representative of our societyâs rape myths that disregard assaults as assault unless itâs violent involving strangers.Â
Very interesting read. Totally agree with the ending. Poetic!Â
Moderate: Sexual assault, Addiction, and Alcoholism
falltumn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy, Fatphobia, and Car accident
sovexedtofind's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
But I asked myself: Havenât you always done your best with whatever you were up against? Havenât you given it your all whatever came your way? Unfortunately, no. Thatâs not how things had been for me. I had faked it the whole way. In all those years of doing whatever I was told to do, I had convinced myself that I was doing something consequential, in order to make excused for myself, as I was doing right now, and perpetually dismissed the fact that Iâd done nothing with my life, nothing. I was so scared of failing, of being hurt, that I chose nothing. I did nothing.Â
This excerpt is a good representation of what the book is about. It's a reflective insight into the life of a loner going through the motions. We learn about Fuyuko, the narrator/main character, through her interactions with people. She's kind of a blank slate and we really only know what she's like through how her acquaintances respond to her. It seems like the other characters only like her because her "emptiness" makes her a good sounding board for their frustrations...at least, until they don't have anything more to share:
I have no idea what you're thinking...I guess maybe you aren't thinking at all. It's like there's nothing in there. Just being around you really pisses me off.
It's not all one-sided either. Because of Fuyuko's lack of sense of self, she mirrors those who stick around long enough in an attempt to absorb bits and pieces to form a personality she thinks she should have. Because she thinks those parts are good, she believes it would also look good on her until someone confronts her. And it's like the mirror shatters. In the end, it still takes other people's words or actions directly about her to compel her to reflect on herself.
Not much happens in terms of a plot or a story, but I still think it's a well-written reflection on this type of person that does exist in the real world.
Minor: Sexual assault
dee_dee_dee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Alcoholism and Sexual assault
Moderate: Mental illness
julesjb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, and Mental illness
mromie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The main character Fuyuko is stuck in an endless loop of isolation and passivity. I understood the feeling of wanting decisions to be made for you and to numbingly move through day to day. Fuyuko could even withstand being completely alone with no one to really talk to for a month or so.
Fuyuko reminded me of a quote from Fleabag where the titular character says, âI want someone to tell me what to wear every morning. I want someone to tell me what to eat. What to like, what to hate, what to rage about. What to listen to, what band to likeâŚwho to love and how to tell them.â There can be freedom in passivity, letting go of control and seeing where the waves of life take you. But, as we see with Fuyuko, there is also great damage as she numbs and blurs life through alcohol and struggles to build meaningful relationships.
I appreciated how the book ended without the resolution of a grand love story, rather with Fuyuko recognizing how bright and full of energy life can be, how striking it is to have felt something even if it is pain or hardship. It was wonderful to see the differences in how Hijiri and Fuyuko interacted with each other in the end. Instead of thoughtlessly nodding through Hijiriâs rambling, Fuyuko was now an active participant. Made me proud of the MC
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Mental illness
nrb2020's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
lesliekate's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Rape, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, and Mental illness
Moderate: Body shaming and Fatphobia
Minor: Sexism, Pregnancy, and Vomit