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akira_outofthegravity's reviews
179 reviews
In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
Creepy, terrifying, gory, everything I like in a book! The second half is batshit insane, and the ending is a bit WTF? But I loved it. Surreal and spooky, and a short read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A great book with an interesting twist! A bit slow but once you get into it, it’s amazing. Loooooved the “solution”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
I Think Our Son Is Gay, Vol. 02 by Okura
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.5
A very cute read! The adorable chapters mean that the difficult ones (a colleague of the MC describes a handsome man that they think is gay as “a waste” for women) are way more hard hitting. My heart actually panged.
I can’t wait for vol 3!
I can’t wait for vol 3!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
After Hours, Vol. 1 by Yuhta Nishio
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Feels like it’ll be a slow burn, but I’m not sure if the story is for me.
Awkward Silence, Vol. 1 by Hinako Takanaga
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.75
Kinda cheesy but I did enjoy it! Maybe as wish fulfilment lol, but the characters were all great and I liked the plot. There wasn’t a big case of the “yaoi hands” either which I liked, despite them having v triangle faces.
It’s a pretty typical 2010-esque yaoi manga, so expect lots of kabedon, unusually proportioned guys, and pointy faces. But it’s good for what it is.
It’s a pretty typical 2010-esque yaoi manga, so expect lots of kabedon, unusually proportioned guys, and pointy faces. But it’s good for what it is.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Escape Journey, Vol. 01 by Ogeretsu Tanaka
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.0
When it’s good it’s good but when it’s bad it’s baaaaad.
The cute moments are adorable, but it’s tainted by a toxic relationship. This was lent by a friend, so I don’t know if I’ll continue it, but I feel a little icky after reading it.
The cute moments are adorable, but it’s tainted by a toxic relationship. This was lent by a friend, so I don’t know if I’ll continue it, but I feel a little icky after reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Sweat and Soap, Vol. 2 by Kintetsu Yamada
funny
lighthearted
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
4.75
So cute!! Kieta is a great brother and his over protective nature wasn’t creepy either, since it was based in the fact that Asako was treated badly not because he’s a creep or whatever.
I really liked this volume, and Kotaro is really cute 🥰
I really liked this volume, and Kotaro is really cute 🥰
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Sweat and Soap, Vol. 1 by Kintetsu Yamada
funny
lighthearted
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
4.75
This is super cute. I thought it would be weirder, but Natori not being a total perv definitely made the whole concept way less creepy. Natori is very sweet and caring, and he never pushes Asako into anything- when he does (unknowingly) she pushes him away.
Very cute and I’m excited to see where it goes! I would rate this 5 stars but tbh I’m embarrassed to have this as one of my favourite reads ever.
My favourite quote:
Very cute and I’m excited to see where it goes! I would rate this 5 stars but tbh I’m embarrassed to have this as one of my favourite reads ever.
My favourite quote:
“This is…the ladies room…
Well, it’s unisex now!”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
It took me ages to finally get into this book, but once I did I ripped through it like I was wearing my own pair of Seven League Boots.
I love Sophie and Howl, I love how pathetic Howl is and I love that he’s just a slightly weird Welsh guy. I think that the plot was good, and I liked the amount of foreshadowing, it was very clever!!
In the end Howl’s romance with Sophie doesn’t come out of nowhere, actually the way he tried to work things out does make sense with his character, but I felt myself wanting more. Though I suppose that’s what the movie and fanfic is for.
I won’t read the others, probably, but this will remain a fond memory, and perhaps in future a reread.
I love Sophie and Howl, I love how pathetic Howl is and I love that he’s just a slightly weird Welsh guy. I think that the plot was good, and I liked the amount of foreshadowing, it was very clever!!
In the end Howl’s romance with Sophie doesn’t come out of nowhere, actually the way he tried to work things out does make sense with his character, but I felt myself wanting more. Though I suppose that’s what the movie and fanfic is for.
I won’t read the others, probably, but this will remain a fond memory, and perhaps in future a reread.
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A great book! I felt it gave way more depth to all the characters than the film did- Clarice in particular.
Clarice is so much more three-dimensional, making for a much more interesting read than I imagined. Furthermore I loved her friendship with Ardelia, and I would love a tv show about this book to really pace it properly, and to include all the small details the movie missed. But I love both, and both have their flaws and strengths.
As a closing note, I also don’t find it particularly transphobic. It’s not ideal language, no, but I think to simply call it “transphobic” is reductive and flat. But that’s just my opinion, and people are more than welcome to disagree.
Clarice is so much more three-dimensional, making for a much more interesting read than I imagined. Furthermore I loved her friendship with Ardelia, and I would love a tv show about this book to really pace it properly, and to include all the small details the movie missed. But I love both, and both have their flaws and strengths.
As a closing note, I also don’t find it particularly transphobic. It’s not ideal language, no, but I think to simply call it “transphobic” is reductive and flat. But that’s just my opinion, and people are more than welcome to disagree.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Fatphobia, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia and Medical content