I went into this book cold; I got it entirely based on the absolutely incredible cover and a short blurb, and by the time it got to me, I had completely forgotten even the outline. The first chapter really should be read that way, it's an absolute masterstroke in terms of setting up the story and dripping out background instead of dumping it. The rest of the book held up the good writing.
And the plot turned just out of this world. The more you just go along for the ride and don't think about the absurdity, the better it gets. I love a good YA horror/fantasy crossover, and this is it in spades. If you do too, pick it up straightaway.
"Inspired as a boy by the multiple meanings to be found for a single word …
Review of 'The Great Passage' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
I liked the beginning of this book, and I slowly liked it less as it progressed, until I simply wanted to be done with it and make it go away. It was almost as if the 'hell month' of the climax took over the entire book too, as the writing and plot narrowed into a singular focus around the work, and the rarer outside stories and characters became increasingly banal. If the intent was to make finishing the book as much of a chore as finishing the dictionary at the center of the story, it sure succeeded. Unfortunately, I didn't have the same jubilation when it was over.
Another big part of what turned me off is that there's just so much feel-good, everything goes right for everyone every time, Hallmark original plotting. The charmed lives of everyone in this book never seem to face rejection or failure. There are …
I liked the beginning of this book, and I slowly liked it less as it progressed, until I simply wanted to be done with it and make it go away. It was almost as if the 'hell month' of the climax took over the entire book too, as the writing and plot narrowed into a singular focus around the work, and the rarer outside stories and characters became increasingly banal. If the intent was to make finishing the book as much of a chore as finishing the dictionary at the center of the story, it sure succeeded. Unfortunately, I didn't have the same jubilation when it was over.
Another big part of what turned me off is that there's just so much feel-good, everything goes right for everyone every time, Hallmark original plotting. The charmed lives of everyone in this book never seem to face rejection or failure. There are extra-pithy quotes dropped from time to time that stand out as seeming tailor-made to appeal to bibliophiles, to make up for the rest.
The gimmick of switching characters every chapter would have worked better if they actually had truly different voices. Instead, they kind of swam together... and granted, that kind of is what starts to happen in a long-term work environment, but it doesn't make for interesting storytelling. Oddly, the long chapter featuring Kishibe, a young woman, is probably the least interesting of all, as she has no real personality or history and nothing to give to the story but a can-do attitude, and with the time-skip everyone else has become dull as well. Kaguya would have been much more interesting to feature, even if she's only on the periphery of the dictionary.
Since the beginning was the only part I liked, it's harder to remember, but I should say that the first third was a real page-turner. There was a lot of good backstory, Araki and Majime are real people, a lot of struggles, and everyone else was fresh and entertaining, in their quirky little lives. Leaning into that would have kept the story going, or simply cutting it off before the characters had all of their rough edges completely sanded off.
Review of 'I Am a Cat Barista Vol. 2' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Like the last volume, this collection of little stories is as sweet as cotton candy, with just as much substance. A new character is introduced, who only serves as comic relief. (Pupper really is cute, though.) Again, all problems people have are solved with a snack and a pep talk by the end of each chapter.
Hachi's backstory was longer and had a little more depth, compared to any of the customers' stories, and is the only remotely interesting part of the series so far for me. It was nice to have some kind of arc more than 20 pages long.
Review of 'I Am a Cat Barista Vol. 1' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Quite possibly the fluffiest little collection of vignettes I've ever read, it could be cute and a little heartwarming if you're in the right mood. Lacks any kind of depth whatsoever; each story is far too short for the concept of "comforting and advising customers in emotional pain" to come across with any gravitas. It's just a series of samey one-page pep talks that invigorate people, with some striking art to make up for it.
Review of 'Rabbit Man Tiger Man Volume 1 Yaoi' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
A silly but surprisingly good yaoi that went in unexpected directions over and over, with a handful of extremely striking art panels, most notably when it gets steamy and goes anthropomorphic. The silly factor keeps any real depth out of the characters, and the yakuza plot isn't fully baked either, but both do get better in the next two volumes. It just felt fresh and interesting compared to a lot of what's out there, particularly given that no one is entirely one-note; Nonami is prone to creating meditative stillness and controls his more rapey tendencies with games, and Uzuki is increasingly torn between the one-sided attraction and day-to-day work.
The only thing I'm really not a fan of at all is the included side story, "If You Write A Lie, I Will Read It As The Truth," which is a complete 180 from the story and very, very rapey and …
A silly but surprisingly good yaoi that went in unexpected directions over and over, with a handful of extremely striking art panels, most notably when it gets steamy and goes anthropomorphic. The silly factor keeps any real depth out of the characters, and the yakuza plot isn't fully baked either, but both do get better in the next two volumes. It just felt fresh and interesting compared to a lot of what's out there, particularly given that no one is entirely one-note; Nonami is prone to creating meditative stillness and controls his more rapey tendencies with games, and Uzuki is increasingly torn between the one-sided attraction and day-to-day work.
The only thing I'm really not a fan of at all is the included side story, "If You Write A Lie, I Will Read It As The Truth," which is a complete 180 from the story and very, very rapey and squicky all around.
