When talking to my husband about this book I kept comparing it to "I Think My Son Is Gay" - both are written by gay, Japanese men, both are clearly hoWhen talking to my husband about this book I kept comparing it to "I Think My Son Is Gay" - both are written by gay, Japanese men, both are clearly hoping to gently addressed the internalized homophobia of Japanese culture - but really, everywhere. Their appeal is obviously to people who aren't openly homophobic, who are curious and maybe want to do better (maybe because they have a Queer loved one) and these books offer a judgement free space to push their comfort zone just a little bit more and choose love.
Where My Son leans into "don't you just want your kids to be happy?" this one is an adult book that shows us the inside of the narrative characters mind. As such there is homophobia in here, it doesn't gloss over those internalized ideas in the way the younger book does. They are addressed, and gently challenged (often by the daughter and her innocence) but you'll be reading them. The art of this book also makes it clear it's meant to be enjoyed by Queer men too.
This was a lovely and moving slowly paced book that really made the slow shifts in thinking and the deeply buried feelings about loss and past mistakes truly believable. I loved how this book spoke to me as an adult, but truly is an all ages kind of read that a family could enjoy together.
It was truly moving, and where I think I'm good on the My Son series, I'm definitely going to pick up the second book of this....more
When I finished the first issue of this manga I liked it but decided that it wasn't worth me paying for anymore issues to be able to read it. But a feWhen I finished the first issue of this manga I liked it but decided that it wasn't worth me paying for anymore issues to be able to read it. But a few weeks ago I came across vol 2 at the library and decided to read it seeing as it was free.
Having finished volume 2 I think I've come back around to the same opinion; it was good, but just isn't worth it for me to keep reading it. If you enjoyed vol. 1 enough to consider keeping reading you absolutely should, this volume kept so much of all that was lovely about the first one you'll still enjoy this. It also adds some insight into the younger son who is officially my favourite character....more
I recently got a library card and went a little crazy borrowing things from my local library, this was one of the things I picked up on a whim.
It was I recently got a library card and went a little crazy borrowing things from my local library, this was one of the things I picked up on a whim.
It was fine. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just not my style. If you're into fairy tales and really like kids this might be perfect for you....more
I put off reading this for ages because I was worried about the angst/stakes that vol 3 set up. But then this ended up being mostly sweet - I should hI put off reading this for ages because I was worried about the angst/stakes that vol 3 set up. But then this ended up being mostly sweet - I should have had more faith in the story....more
I wasn't sure what I'd think of this book based on the opening, I wasn't really sure where it was going and it made me a little uncActually 3.5 stars
I wasn't sure what I'd think of this book based on the opening, I wasn't really sure where it was going and it made me a little uncomfortable. And to be honest, I feel like if the author themself doesn't have some kind of feeding kink, they are definitely intentionally catering to people who do. I find the way the eating panels are drawn and framed uncomfortable - those two things combined keep me from giving it 4 stars.
That said, I was surprised to discover that I do love the relationship development here. I like both characters as individuals and I love the way they are coming together. The period caretaking was just lovely. In the end I surprised myself with how much I liked it and I'm going to be continuing on for sure now....more
I can't say how much this influenced my experience, but I have a cat exactly like Mr. Cat (his name is Bagel Face and he is gloriously soft) both in lI can't say how much this influenced my experience, but I have a cat exactly like Mr. Cat (his name is Bagel Face and he is gloriously soft) both in looks and a lot of the behaviour too so reading this I was of course seeing my own cat which made it that much more adorable and hilarious. Because yes. I have sat in one spot for an hour not doing anything I need to do or going pee or reaching my drink, because Bagel Face is comfortably asleep on top of me.
That said, the best parts of this whole thing were the RPG lines about gaining (or using) skills and leveling up.
This is not a narrative style manga, don't come looking for a story, it's just a really funny and cozy evening read. But well worth it....more
It's the same excellent and captivating art and it's lovely to spend more time with the sweet characters. This is cozier than the mActually 3.5 stars.
It's the same excellent and captivating art and it's lovely to spend more time with the sweet characters. This is cozier than the main series - being simply them at home building relationships over food and caring taking for each other.
But it was also completely devoid of any stories at all. There are for sure some recipes I'm inspired to explore and give a try... but I'm unlikely to pick up the next book in this spin off.
I am grateful that buying it forced me to finally start reading Witch Hat Atelier which had been languishing on my TBR (you don't need to have read the originating series, but I wanted to have some idea who everyone was before I dove into this so read the first two volumes first.)...more
I think right now one of my favourite things about this series is that Coco isn't some "accidental prodigy" she's actually not great at magic. Yet. HeI think right now one of my favourite things about this series is that Coco isn't some "accidental prodigy" she's actually not great at magic. Yet. Her greatest gift is actually that she IS an outsider so she thinks about things differently. She's got good ideas and thinks outside of the box, but she's not stunningly amazing at actually doing magic. I'm super interested to see where she goes....more
This is swiftly becoming one of my favourite manga. Simon and Nicola are both such lovely people to spend time with and Miyanaga soActually 4.5 stars.
This is swiftly becoming one of my favourite manga. Simon and Nicola are both such lovely people to spend time with and Miyanaga somehow manages to make every character who comes across the page someone I love.
This is the epitome of cozy and if you were looking to just dip your toes into manga to see if you like it this series would be one of the ones I suggest starting with....more
This is easily stealing my heart and becoming one of, if not, my favourite manga series out here. So far Saku's been kind of an unrelatable (if still This is easily stealing my heart and becoming one of, if not, my favourite manga series out here. So far Saku's been kind of an unrelatable (if still likable) character and I really loved her backstory here and being able to piece together a bit of why she is such a fuck up and get some real empathy for her.
I really enjoyed this book - enough that I'm definitely going to need the last three (I also love that it's a complete series at four books). I loved I really enjoyed this book - enough that I'm definitely going to need the last three (I also love that it's a complete series at four books). I loved the cozy vibes and the choice to use sepia ink to lean into those vibes.
The book does a great job of pulling you right into the world and the characters and keeping you turning the pages to try and figure out how Nicola got here. I also appreciated that while this is a demon world, it definitely leans cozy cottage core goth (is that a thing? Cute Goblin core maybe?) rather than horror or grotesque.
The only thing keeping me from given it 5 stars is that it really read like a series of cute and sweet vignettes but in the end I felt like I was missing a through thread for the overarching story (Why's Nicola here? What's the end goal? etc)...more
I loved finally getting to see how Yukichi became masterful, but it felt a little like moving backwards in how much we're reminded aActually 3.5 Stars
I loved finally getting to see how Yukichi became masterful, but it felt a little like moving backwards in how much we're reminded about just how useless and fumbling Fukuzawa is. I've been loving the arc of her through the last two volumes and this one kind of felt like one step forward and two steps back.
Still loving the characters and story. I don't mind so much the shift into blending more music into the story, but I don't love as Actually 3.5 stars.
Still loving the characters and story. I don't mind so much the shift into blending more music into the story, but I don't love as much having so many resentful characters. But I'm here to see how they resolve their way through it....more
Exactly the kind of story I expected from Miyazaki. As a watercolour painter myself seeing his work in this format was a real treat.
I'm not sure if tExactly the kind of story I expected from Miyazaki. As a watercolour painter myself seeing his work in this format was a real treat.
I'm not sure if the book itself is worth 5 stars, but I actually enjoyed the author and translator notes almost as much as the book itself and they definitely pushed up it's rating in my estimation....more
It was fine. I've been pondering it and I can't think of why I didn't like it more, the best I can say is that it just didnMore accurately 2.5 stars.
It was fine. I've been pondering it and I can't think of why I didn't like it more, the best I can say is that it just didn't connect for me. I also don't have a list of terrible things about it. It just... was. And it was fine and that's all. Not upset I read it, not the least bit interested in reading more....more
Didn't love it quite as much as the first book, but Kyuryu does such a great job of representing how actual cats are (both in the art and writing) thaDidn't love it quite as much as the first book, but Kyuryu does such a great job of representing how actual cats are (both in the art and writing) that I spend most of the book chuckling and smiling. My favourite thing about this series is getting to see all this through the eyes of an MC who is completely unexperienced with cats, but is also curious and interested in them....more
I completely missed that this was an 18+ book when I picked it up, and while I'm generally fine with smut the way it was done in this book made me feeI completely missed that this was an 18+ book when I picked it up, and while I'm generally fine with smut the way it was done in this book made me feel uncomfortable - it just skirted the edges of consent in ways that made me feel fidgety.
Besides that I just really loved this book. It was so sweet, I loved the characters and the world and was honestly sad to have it come to an end....more
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