美しいこと

Very slow paced BL(?)

Minor spoilers throughout! (blurred)

Content warnings: BL, one short 'sex' scene (semi-consensual turning not-consensual)

Difficulty: unapologetic kanji usage, aimed at an adult audience. Names get furigana the first time, as do some other words. Better remember them after that! No particularly convoluted or rare grammar. (I think one would have covered most of it around the N2 level)

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This book is difficult for me to rate. I enjoyed the writing - it has the right amount of not too much and not too little detail in its descriptions, the people are (mostly) (sort of) relatable and feel in character throughout. On the whole, it was just very smooth to read.

The atmosphere is very subdued. The pacing is slow, and the characters, while staying in character (in my opinion), maneuvre themselves needlessly into more and more complicated situations.

I suppose my issue with the book is that I found I don't much like one of the main characters, and stopped being able to relate to or even sympathise with their dynamic about halfway - 2/3 of the way through the book. I often felt somewhat fed up with their decisions. Since the way their relationship evolves is basically the point of the story, it lost me there. Added to that, I don't like some of the tropes of BL, and one in particular really bothers me every time. (The non-consensual/semi consensual start of a sexual relationship. But, a plus point: this book at least didn't turn it into a magical wholesome relationship starter, but treats it as the asshole move it is.)

While the book is probably intended to be slow paced, and feel sad, it felt inflated to me. I'd probably have liked it more if the middle part was a less drawn out and it was closer to 200 bunkobon pages than 350.