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In Amai Seikatsu (Sweet Life) written by Konohara Narise and illustrated by Ishihara Satoru, college student Fujii Kiyotaka becomes the tutor of Sannomiya (I couldn't find the reading for the name, so I picked the one that I liked the sound of the most ^^;) Fumikazu, a fourth grader who has stopped talking and going to school. Fed up with Fumikazu's blankness and unable to contain his sexual desire for him, Fujii rapes him. That's the start of their very messed up relationship...
This novel is, frankly, unpleasant. The main character Fujii is contemptible and the ending is...in some ways inevitable but is far from satisfying. Shota/pedophilia is a major squick of mine, but what kept me reading instead of throwing the book aside in disgust is that author does not portray the pedophilia in a titillating manner. She does convey the arousal Fujii experiences, but there is a distance between the reader and the scene (and Fujii's feelings). I also wanted to know where Konohara-sensei would take this relationship. I wasn't disappointed, but I don't think I'll be rereading this over and over. ^^; The experience reminded me of Iya na yatsu, but in many ways Iya na yatsu was a lot more satisfying a read to me. It helped that the characters were more balanced. You could make an argument that either character could be called an "iya na yatsu" (and tough Kazuya is weak and cowardly and dishonest, at least he's not a child molester!). In this novel, it's all Fujii (though Fumikazu does not stay "the victim", thankfully).
( summary and commentary )
This novel is, frankly, unpleasant. The main character Fujii is contemptible and the ending is...in some ways inevitable but is far from satisfying. Shota/pedophilia is a major squick of mine, but what kept me reading instead of throwing the book aside in disgust is that author does not portray the pedophilia in a titillating manner. She does convey the arousal Fujii experiences, but there is a distance between the reader and the scene (and Fujii's feelings). I also wanted to know where Konohara-sensei would take this relationship. I wasn't disappointed, but I don't think I'll be rereading this over and over. ^^; The experience reminded me of Iya na yatsu, but in many ways Iya na yatsu was a lot more satisfying a read to me. It helped that the characters were more balanced. You could make an argument that either character could be called an "iya na yatsu" (and tough Kazuya is weak and cowardly and dishonest, at least he's not a child molester!). In this novel, it's all Fujii (though Fumikazu does not stay "the victim", thankfully).
( summary and commentary )
