February 3, 2024

All four stories in this book, quite different in tone and content, are connected by a common theme: moments, memories, friendships in the characters' childhood that somehow resurface in their adulthood.

Despite the cover, there's nothing cute about these stories. They are surprising, creepy and disturbing in varying degrees, one of them especially deserving the label of horror more than any other Japanese horror book I've read. It had me at the edge of my seat, dreading to read on but unable to stop reading, sensing imminent danger the whole time.

Some sensitive themes you may want to know about: suicide, attempted suicide, mention of animal abuse (a disturbing description of insect abuse, and hints about other animals without explicit descriptions).

The language held no special difficulties that I could see, it was mostly straightforward and flowed easily.

Gradings:8
3
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omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
similar in difficulty to木洩れ日に泳ぐ魚L32
omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
harder than傲慢と善良L34
omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
easier thanパレードL32
omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
similar in difficulty toTUGUMI(つぐみ)L31
omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
easier than震える天秤L33
omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
similar in difficulty to神去なあなあ日常L34
omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
omk3 graded
on February 3, 2024
easier than狐火の辻L35