Back in February, I reviewed Hitori Koukan Nikki (一人交換日記), the sequel to Nagata Kabi’s breakout hit essay manga, Sabishi-sugi Rezu Fuzoku ni Ikimashita Report (さびしすぎてレズ風俗に行きましたレポ) , which was translated as My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness. Now the sequel is out in English from Seven Seas as My Solo Exchange Diary, and I wanted to sit down and take another look at it.
As I point out in my review of the Japanese edition, this volume revolves around Nagata-sensei’s need for human relationships and independent life as a whole individual and the depression and dysfunction which make it hard for her to have those things. And, as I’ve pointed out repeatedly since I read this volume, becoming famous for having created a brutally personal diary of one’s crushing depression isn’t going to be the thing that helps with that depression. Nagata-sensei is honest about her need for praise, her desire to build a healthy ego and her challenges in doing so. It can make for a frustrating, fascinating, hopeless and hopeful ride in this volume.
Towards the end, she has a chance to finally make a connection with another human, someone who genuinely seems to like her, but she’s blocked by her essential inability to return that affection. This is not a character we are talking about – the is a real person living a real life. So, while reading the Japanese version, I felt hopeful that we’d see her able to reject what keeps her trapped, but after this last week, I’m reminded that we have no “cure” for depression and no matter what we hope, it may never get better. All we can do is hope that the woman behind the name “Kabi Nagata” can find a way out of this. And we wish for that selfishly, as much for ourselves and the next volume of this journey, as we do for her, which is perhaps horrible, but true.
Ratings:
Art – 7 It’s developed into a distinct style
Story – 8
Character – 9
Service – 3
LGBTQ – 7
Overall – 8
While talking with folks from Seven Seas, I commented that as I read this, I kept wishing there was something we could do for her. Short of thanking her for her honesty and courage, there’s little we can do, except root for her from a distance.
Thank to Seven Seas for the review copy and congrats on having another best-seller. ^_^ Now I’d like Takemiya Jin’s and Nishi UKO’s work please.
I really enjoyed this volume – for some reason I find it more uplifting than her first book, even though the last page before the epilogue is surprisingly dark (and made all the darker for how casually it’s tossed out there).
I think maybe it feels more uplifting to me because there seem to be real gains being made – no, depression never really goes away, but it feels a lot more manageable when you get to ‘a better place’ – and seeing the author struggle and fight against her own insecurities, against family lobbing their own negativities at her, with the result of her getting closer and closer to that better place – it’s inspiring, the amount of guts that takes.
I agree completely with this.
“I’m reminded that we have no “cure” for depression and no matter what we hope, it may never get better. All we can do is hope that the woman behind the name “Kabi Nagata” can find a way out of this. And we wish for that selfishly, as much for ourselves and the next volume of this journey, as we do for her, which is perhaps horrible, but true.
While talking with folks from Seven Seas, I commented that as I read this, I kept wishing there was something we could do for her.”
As someone who also lives with crippling depression, I found this book to be very empowering and your comments to be more than a little condescending here.
I’m sorry. Everyone’s experience is different. This book did not speak to my experience with depression at all, but I still felt sympathy for Nagata-sensei. If my words do not resonate with you, then by all means, look for a review by someone whose words do.
I don’t believe the issue is that your review doesn’t resonate with my particular experience of depression, but that your review ends with infantalizing and ableist rhetoric.
One person feels sympathy for another, after that person voluntarily related their issues publicly, and feels an urge to offer assistance. That’s all that happened here.
Presuming that a disabled person needs help when a request for help has not been directly communicated is ableist. That’s what happened here.
Yes,if you assume that a wish by a reader is exactly the same thing as someone in real life doing anything at all. But it’s not. So, you will recognize that, on my blog, my perspective and opinion about things I read and my lived experience, is valid. Kindly feel free to go literally anywhere else and post your own blog.
I really love the art of this book. I think that’s the strength, as it’s very personal and unique and not “generic” looking. When the style doesn’t look like everyone else’s, I feel like I am connecting more directly with the author/artist themself. When an art style just mimics others, then I feel like I am looking more at a genre than the artist themself if that makes sense.
Very interesting perspective! I can totally understand that.