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bookbrig's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Blood and Death of parent
alouette's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death
talonsontypewriters'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? No
4.5
Graphic: Death and Medical content
Moderate: Cancer, Terminal illness, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: War
Nonsexual nudity. Spiders.chortle's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
- was emotionally resonating and I kept thinking of in the strong (queer) elders and women in my life
Moderate: Death
mephistofelix's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer, Forced institutionalization, and Dementia
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Blood, and War
clarabooksit's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Terminal illness
bookmaddie's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Car accident
hflh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I loved every part of this book right down to the author's note. It's funny, tender, and wonderfully queer. This book delivers on what the blurb promises and then some and I would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for queer representation, likes more surrealist magical realism and maybe a bit of the supernatural, and loves a good lovable but flawed older woman main character. The narrative is tight (though fast-paced if that doesn't suit you) and the characters are well-defined in a short time.
The Art
The art is great, especially if you like a simple, flow-y style. I really enjoyed Ann Xu's paneling and the use of the colour black in and between panels. If you are like me, you will also appreciate the unapologetic and non-sexualized portrayal of women's bodies, particularly older ones.
An added bonus: Comments on aging and caring for aging relatives
My enjoyment and rating stand without this element, so I'd still recommend the book if this part doesn't speak to you.
Among the magical realism elements and the interactions between Kumiko and her daughter, Goto explores some of the mental and physical challenges with aging, including the desire to keep your independence in a body that is not always on your side. Goto also explores the frustrations for caretakers when trying to care for stubborn loved ones who can struggle to care for themselves, including the challenge of finding the balance between caretaking and leaving space for their autonomy. This really resonated with me as someone helping care for a grandmother with dementia who falls frequently but can't admit it or accept help. It was also a good reminder that this struggle is hard for both of us.
But what I really appreciated was that Goto explores these topics within the space of magical realism, allowing for things to still feel light and have an unambiguous happy ending. Kumiko still has physical autonomy and when she's forgetful or seeing supernatural things, it's not because she's losing her mental faculties. For me at least, this made these parts of the narrative cathartic without making me feel heavy or depressed.
-------------------------
Also the book is set in Vancouver, BC if that's something that interests you - but non-Vancouverites won't be missing anything without that background :)
Moderate: Death, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
paigieodo's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
*Story Graph doesn’t let me add any water/drowning related content warnings, but it’s there. It’s on the stronger side of moderate.
Moderate: Death and Medical content
Minor: Chronic illness, Blood, and Excrement
readingwithkt's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Medical content, and Car accident
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Forced institutionalization