alienation in BL novels
Feb. 9th, 2005 10:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
insanenekoI've been writing this stupid ramble on and off for the last five days, and I'm sick of looking at it and correcting shit and making things logical and all that, so I'm just going to post it. I basically wrote it to rant a bit and get it out of my system, anyway. ^_^
In any case, the other two novels I got on Saturday dealt with alienated boys and how they overcome their alienation...and I couldn't help but compare it to an awesome series with another very alienated boy.
The first book was called believe in you by Tsukimura Kei. Ichimura Sakuya is a happy-go-lucky high schooler who likes to play around with his many friends and is in general liked by everyone. He recently moved into an apartment by himself, comfortably supported by his doctor stepfather. He finds out he lives next door to Nikaidou Shuuichi, a very proper student, studious and serious, with a sharp mouth that always points out the truth. Of course the loose and carefree Sakuya is very uncomfortable around Nikaidou (I think of a Tezuka without the flippy hair and who doesn't play tennis) who is the opposite of him.
Ichimura Sakuya likes to go out and have a good time, and even when he comes home he likes to have the music and TV blasting...because he is desperately trying to bury his loneliness. He is living by himself because he was basically kicked out by his stepfather...after the stepfather caught Sakuya and his stepbrother doing indecent things. The stepbrother, a studious and proper boy, immediately said that Sakuya had seduced him. And so the stepfather, using the excuse that it took over an hour to commute to school, so kindly convinced Sakuya's mother that he should be allowed to move out. The truth of the matter was that the stepbrother had instigated it, and that Sakuya was too afraid of destroying their new happy family life to resist.
Sakuya's mother and father had divorced a number of years ago, and Sakuya's mother had fallen into depression and drinking for a while. At one point she was so down that she said some pretty unforgivable things to Sakuya, including that he had caused the divorce (which, from the circumstances, is an absolutely ridiculous charge). Sakuya tried not to let those words bother him because he knew that she loved him, but they had hurt him very deeply. Sakuya's mother had remarried, and he had gained a stepbrother one year older than him. They were very comfortable financially, but more than that the family was gelling as a family. Sakuya was afraid of being the "cause" of another disintegration.
So he is afraid of being hurt again and thus doesn't trust anyone. He simply has very shallow relationships with everyone around him. The person that is his salvation turns out to be none other than Nikaidou, who has a very solid head on his shoulders and is very considerate and good at taking care of others. Even though this isn't a very long or complex book, I thought the Sakuya's thinking and his dealings with Nikaidou were surprisingly realistic. Sakuya does a lot of that self-defense mechanism type thing by thinking the worst and saying things he doesn't mean in order to not be hurt. At one point he wonders if he actually wasn't unconsciously tempting his stepbrother, as his stepfather basically accuses him of doing. It really showed how low his actual self confidence was.
Nikaidou holds Sakuya when Sakuya can no longer bear it and breaks down crying. He gives Sakuya brutal but honest advice, and even gives Sakuya's stepfather a piece of his mind when he comes across the stepfather and Sakuya having a conversation in the hallway. But they have their misunderstandings (half of it coming from Sakuya just seeing everything in the wrong light possible) that have to be sorted out.
Sakuya realizes fairly early on that he is in love with Nikaidou and confesses. Nikaidou tells him that for any type of relationship to develop Sakuya has to learn to truly trust him...and this becomes the problem of the novel and their non-relationship. When something happens (like rumors that Nikaidou is dating some girl), Sakuya doesn't believe that Nikaidou actually cares for him and does something out of despair, and makes things more strained between them. It happens over and over until Nikaidou loses it and assaults Sakuya (only deep kisses, mind you) and Sakuya is able to come out and tell Nikaidou all of his fears. I love how Nikaidou wryly confesses that he should have known Sakuya's personality and that Sakuya was going to take things the wrong way, but in the end they are together. Sakuya is able to emerge from his alienation to find a place for himself and a person to believe in.
The second book I read was Soshite harukaze ni sasayaite (And whispering in the spring breeze) by Gotou Shinobu. This is book one of a famous (and old! The first part was published in 1987!) series called the Takumi-kun series. I figured I'd give it a go and see if I like it...
The novel is made up of four basically self-contained stories. The writing in the first several stories is not very good. The scene changes are very abrupt and really disrupt narrative flow. I had a heck of a time making myself keep reading, but the last story was much better. I was finally sucked into the story, and I think I do want to keep reading this series a book at a time to see where it leads.
In any case, the story is about Hayami Takumi, a boy who can't stand having people touch him and reflexively slaps people away when they do. He is so detached from everything that he is called indifferent and cold-hearted by everyone. He attends an all-boys boarding school in the middle of nowhere. The first story begins at the start of his second year, where he finds himself roommates with Saki Giichi, a very popular boy who is the very opposite of him. And from the very beginning Giichi (or Gii, as he is called by friends) is out to get Takumi. He passionately and fervently confesses his love for Takumi, while Takumi can't believe him and barely can stand even a touch of his hand. (I had a heck of a time accepting Gii's love for Takumi, because though they were in the same class the previous year, the only real conversation they had was when Gii came up to Takumi in the beginning of the year and commented, "Hayami, you really are terrible at expressing yourself, aren't you?" then walked off...) In any case, various things happen, and Takumi confesses that he loves Gii as well in the very first story (apparently the admiration he always felt for the outgoing Gii quickly turned into love...or was love in the first place), but nothing really happens because of Takumi's problems.
In the last story in the novel, Gii decides not to wait any longer and a bit forcefully consummates their relationship, upon which Takumi seems even more willing to open up to Gii. He tells Gii how his parents always were concerned about his older brother (who had a heart problem) and really didn't care about him. No matter what he did to draw their attention, they were always focused on his brother. His brother was the only one that paid attention to him, but from when the brother was in middle school he had started touching Takumi inappropriately. At first Takumi had no idea what the implications were, but even when he gradually realized that it was wrong, he couldn't stop his brother because he only had that brother. Eventually the horrible discovery by one parent occured, and the lovely brother blamed everything on Takumi. Takumi was sent to a mental institution but was immediately returned...a year later the brother caused a scandal at school by doing something to a student at his school, and he was admitted into a mental institution. There, one day after found wandering in the rain, he caught the flu or something and died. And because of all of this Takumi had this problem with communication and being touched...but apparently Gii's love thawed his frozen heart and blah blah blah (sorry, I just can't quite...get into the story. The narrative is lacking in something...as are the character's portrayals...). I assume at least for the next several books the story will be how Takumi slowly opens up more to Gii and perhaps even to the world around him. Not sure how it continues on for 15 books, though...like I said, I'll check out at least the next book to see if it gets any better.
In any case, these two books reminded me of Owari no nai love song (Endless love song) by Kurimoto Kaoru, about Futaba, another boy with issues. He is very detached from the world, unable to communicate his thoughts and feelings in any effective manner, and having given up trying. He is thrust into the worst situation of all, when he is forcefully made the bitch of a gang leader and later implicated in some crimes and sent to juvenile hall. There he experiences a horrible nightmare full of non consentual sex and all that, culminating in being made the bitch of a new inmate, Ryuuichi, who is filled with such fury and force that he scares virtually everyone else there...and has a tough time of it. Eventually that Ryuuichi and he realize and communicate their feelings for each other, but that is a long, hard road. Ryuuichi has had a horrible life himself and also can't express himself in any meaningful way (basically he treats Futaba like absolute shit for most of the first novel because he can't stand seeing how Futaba just takes whatever is dealt him and doesn't fight back, doesn't express his own opinions or desires, is just like a doll...).
In any case, what makes this a powerful series is Futaba's voice. The novel is in first person, and his thoughts about the world around him and about himself are very touching and sad to read. His alienation is very powerfully conveyed by simple lines. Even the out of this world unrealism of the world he inhabits and the crap he goes through has a feel of realism simply because of the author's ability to build up Futaba's character so that he seems real. His journey out of his alienation and his building of self-reliance and confidence is slow and full of set backs but wonderful to read. It too the realization that he had to be proactive and do something for anything to change.
I know manga, anime, BL novels (as well as regular literature) are full of these alienated people (like Yuki Eiri of Gravitation or Fukai Rei from Yukikaze, now that I think about it), but it's amazing how the effectiveness of a story can be so different based on the way it's presented and how "real" they can make the characters seem...
In any case, the other two novels I got on Saturday dealt with alienated boys and how they overcome their alienation...and I couldn't help but compare it to an awesome series with another very alienated boy.
The first book was called believe in you by Tsukimura Kei. Ichimura Sakuya is a happy-go-lucky high schooler who likes to play around with his many friends and is in general liked by everyone. He recently moved into an apartment by himself, comfortably supported by his doctor stepfather. He finds out he lives next door to Nikaidou Shuuichi, a very proper student, studious and serious, with a sharp mouth that always points out the truth. Of course the loose and carefree Sakuya is very uncomfortable around Nikaidou (I think of a Tezuka without the flippy hair and who doesn't play tennis) who is the opposite of him.
Ichimura Sakuya likes to go out and have a good time, and even when he comes home he likes to have the music and TV blasting...because he is desperately trying to bury his loneliness. He is living by himself because he was basically kicked out by his stepfather...after the stepfather caught Sakuya and his stepbrother doing indecent things. The stepbrother, a studious and proper boy, immediately said that Sakuya had seduced him. And so the stepfather, using the excuse that it took over an hour to commute to school, so kindly convinced Sakuya's mother that he should be allowed to move out. The truth of the matter was that the stepbrother had instigated it, and that Sakuya was too afraid of destroying their new happy family life to resist.
Sakuya's mother and father had divorced a number of years ago, and Sakuya's mother had fallen into depression and drinking for a while. At one point she was so down that she said some pretty unforgivable things to Sakuya, including that he had caused the divorce (which, from the circumstances, is an absolutely ridiculous charge). Sakuya tried not to let those words bother him because he knew that she loved him, but they had hurt him very deeply. Sakuya's mother had remarried, and he had gained a stepbrother one year older than him. They were very comfortable financially, but more than that the family was gelling as a family. Sakuya was afraid of being the "cause" of another disintegration.
So he is afraid of being hurt again and thus doesn't trust anyone. He simply has very shallow relationships with everyone around him. The person that is his salvation turns out to be none other than Nikaidou, who has a very solid head on his shoulders and is very considerate and good at taking care of others. Even though this isn't a very long or complex book, I thought the Sakuya's thinking and his dealings with Nikaidou were surprisingly realistic. Sakuya does a lot of that self-defense mechanism type thing by thinking the worst and saying things he doesn't mean in order to not be hurt. At one point he wonders if he actually wasn't unconsciously tempting his stepbrother, as his stepfather basically accuses him of doing. It really showed how low his actual self confidence was.
Nikaidou holds Sakuya when Sakuya can no longer bear it and breaks down crying. He gives Sakuya brutal but honest advice, and even gives Sakuya's stepfather a piece of his mind when he comes across the stepfather and Sakuya having a conversation in the hallway. But they have their misunderstandings (half of it coming from Sakuya just seeing everything in the wrong light possible) that have to be sorted out.
Sakuya realizes fairly early on that he is in love with Nikaidou and confesses. Nikaidou tells him that for any type of relationship to develop Sakuya has to learn to truly trust him...and this becomes the problem of the novel and their non-relationship. When something happens (like rumors that Nikaidou is dating some girl), Sakuya doesn't believe that Nikaidou actually cares for him and does something out of despair, and makes things more strained between them. It happens over and over until Nikaidou loses it and assaults Sakuya (only deep kisses, mind you) and Sakuya is able to come out and tell Nikaidou all of his fears. I love how Nikaidou wryly confesses that he should have known Sakuya's personality and that Sakuya was going to take things the wrong way, but in the end they are together. Sakuya is able to emerge from his alienation to find a place for himself and a person to believe in.
The second book I read was Soshite harukaze ni sasayaite (And whispering in the spring breeze) by Gotou Shinobu. This is book one of a famous (and old! The first part was published in 1987!) series called the Takumi-kun series. I figured I'd give it a go and see if I like it...
The novel is made up of four basically self-contained stories. The writing in the first several stories is not very good. The scene changes are very abrupt and really disrupt narrative flow. I had a heck of a time making myself keep reading, but the last story was much better. I was finally sucked into the story, and I think I do want to keep reading this series a book at a time to see where it leads.
In any case, the story is about Hayami Takumi, a boy who can't stand having people touch him and reflexively slaps people away when they do. He is so detached from everything that he is called indifferent and cold-hearted by everyone. He attends an all-boys boarding school in the middle of nowhere. The first story begins at the start of his second year, where he finds himself roommates with Saki Giichi, a very popular boy who is the very opposite of him. And from the very beginning Giichi (or Gii, as he is called by friends) is out to get Takumi. He passionately and fervently confesses his love for Takumi, while Takumi can't believe him and barely can stand even a touch of his hand. (I had a heck of a time accepting Gii's love for Takumi, because though they were in the same class the previous year, the only real conversation they had was when Gii came up to Takumi in the beginning of the year and commented, "Hayami, you really are terrible at expressing yourself, aren't you?" then walked off...) In any case, various things happen, and Takumi confesses that he loves Gii as well in the very first story (apparently the admiration he always felt for the outgoing Gii quickly turned into love...or was love in the first place), but nothing really happens because of Takumi's problems.
In the last story in the novel, Gii decides not to wait any longer and a bit forcefully consummates their relationship, upon which Takumi seems even more willing to open up to Gii. He tells Gii how his parents always were concerned about his older brother (who had a heart problem) and really didn't care about him. No matter what he did to draw their attention, they were always focused on his brother. His brother was the only one that paid attention to him, but from when the brother was in middle school he had started touching Takumi inappropriately. At first Takumi had no idea what the implications were, but even when he gradually realized that it was wrong, he couldn't stop his brother because he only had that brother. Eventually the horrible discovery by one parent occured, and the lovely brother blamed everything on Takumi. Takumi was sent to a mental institution but was immediately returned...a year later the brother caused a scandal at school by doing something to a student at his school, and he was admitted into a mental institution. There, one day after found wandering in the rain, he caught the flu or something and died. And because of all of this Takumi had this problem with communication and being touched...but apparently Gii's love thawed his frozen heart and blah blah blah (sorry, I just can't quite...get into the story. The narrative is lacking in something...as are the character's portrayals...). I assume at least for the next several books the story will be how Takumi slowly opens up more to Gii and perhaps even to the world around him. Not sure how it continues on for 15 books, though...like I said, I'll check out at least the next book to see if it gets any better.
In any case, these two books reminded me of Owari no nai love song (Endless love song) by Kurimoto Kaoru, about Futaba, another boy with issues. He is very detached from the world, unable to communicate his thoughts and feelings in any effective manner, and having given up trying. He is thrust into the worst situation of all, when he is forcefully made the bitch of a gang leader and later implicated in some crimes and sent to juvenile hall. There he experiences a horrible nightmare full of non consentual sex and all that, culminating in being made the bitch of a new inmate, Ryuuichi, who is filled with such fury and force that he scares virtually everyone else there...and has a tough time of it. Eventually that Ryuuichi and he realize and communicate their feelings for each other, but that is a long, hard road. Ryuuichi has had a horrible life himself and also can't express himself in any meaningful way (basically he treats Futaba like absolute shit for most of the first novel because he can't stand seeing how Futaba just takes whatever is dealt him and doesn't fight back, doesn't express his own opinions or desires, is just like a doll...).
In any case, what makes this a powerful series is Futaba's voice. The novel is in first person, and his thoughts about the world around him and about himself are very touching and sad to read. His alienation is very powerfully conveyed by simple lines. Even the out of this world unrealism of the world he inhabits and the crap he goes through has a feel of realism simply because of the author's ability to build up Futaba's character so that he seems real. His journey out of his alienation and his building of self-reliance and confidence is slow and full of set backs but wonderful to read. It too the realization that he had to be proactive and do something for anything to change.
I know manga, anime, BL novels (as well as regular literature) are full of these alienated people (like Yuki Eiri of Gravitation or Fukai Rei from Yukikaze, now that I think about it), but it's amazing how the effectiveness of a story can be so different based on the way it's presented and how "real" they can make the characters seem...