Cat+Gamer Vol 1-6

  

 

Cat_Gamer Vol 1-6 (Following stats on Vol 1 only)
By  Wataru Nadatani

ISBN: 9781506727417
192 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle/ComiXology
Trigger Warning: soft Mental Health mentions, cartoon violence

Synopsis:

Riko, a twenty-nine-year-old office worker with an obsession for video games, finds her quiet life upended when she takes in a stray cat in this adorable manga series!

Her coworkers can’t quite figure her out—she never talks about her personal life, she never works overtime, and she never joins them for happy hour. Is she antisocial? Nope, she’s rushing home to play video games! One day, a stray cat is found in the office parking lot, and before Riko knows it, the cat has moved in with her! Having no experience with pets, Riko uses lessons drawn from video games to guide her in cat care, while her cute companion tries to understand her behavior through a cat's worldview.

My Thoughts:

I stumbled upon the first three volumes of Cat+Gamer at one of the county libraries affiliated with mine while I was wasting time waiting for my car to be repaired. I had never heard of it, but it had a cute cat on the cover and that's usually enough to sell me. Well, let me tell you - it did not disappoint. The story is about Riko, a 29-year-old socially reclusive office worker who lives on a daily schedule that is optimized to efficiently play and clear her adored video games. Riko has no outside of work friends and passes on social gatherings so that she can go straight home and game until bedtime.

Her life changes abruptly when a cat is found in the parking lot at work. The office asks for a volunteer to take it home and nobody else volunteers, so Riko impulsively agrees. She then panics when she realizes that she knows absolutely nothing about caring for a living creature and, in doing what she does best, she starts looking at the situation as though it was one of her video games.

Nothing could go wrong here, right?

 

What follows is a hilarious mix of adorable cat stories and assorted video game comparisons. Every time the cat - now named Musubi - does something new, it is compared to a behavior that Riko recognizes from her gaming experiences. At one point she inadvertently makes a friend, in the form of the shopkeeper at the local pet supply store, whom Riko sees as a great and knowledgeable master. Around volume four, the shopkeeper comes over for a pet play date and suggests that Riko get a second cat to give Musubi a companion. So in comes Soboro, and with her a whole new set of pet experiences.

The art work in these graphic novels is cute and elements of story are relatable to cat owners. Like when Riko shares a photo of Musubi online, which goes somewhat viral, and inspires her to start a social media account for her pet - something many a pet owner is familiar with. This actually leads to funny moments, where coworkers follow the account without realizing that the cats belong to Riko. Other references may be lost on those who aren't familiar with particular games, but the writer did an awesome job of breaking down those references so they would be understood my most readers. Overall, it's a very reader friendly series of books.

I loved all six of the currently available volumes of Cat+Gamer. There are two more volumes out in Japanese, but they have yet to be released in English. Volume seven of the manga is due to be released soon. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on February 25, 2025. The final volume recently got an English release date of August 26, 2025, and is now available for preorder as well. I can't wait.

Parent's Guide:

This book is rated 11+ but is appealing to younger kids due to the fun and relatable content. Cat+Gamer was the category winner of Excelsior Award Blue 2023. The books on the Blue shortlist have been designated as suitable for children aged 11+ (or Key Stage 3 in schools). Cat+Gamer was also the Overall winner of the 2023 Award. Learn more about the Excelsior Awards here.

July/August Reading Selections

This month's reading list is 2 months in one, because I am posting late in the month. The books included are the result of my finally getting a card at the local library and going wild with it. I now have access to Libby AND Hoopla! And Hoopla had Enchanted Ever After, a book that I had been struggling to get my hands on, so it's on the top of the list. After that there is a slew of other books I grabbed when I went to explore. A lot of them are graphic novels. No reason in particular - I just love graphic novels and they had a really good selection. ^.^

This is what my August reading list looks like:

Enchanted Ever After by Shanna Swendson
The Complete ElfQuest Volume 1 by Windy Pini
Star Trek: The Manga Volume 1: Shinsei/Shinsei by Chris Dows
Heartstopper Vol 1-4 by Alice Oseman
Check, Please! Book 1 & 2 by Ngozi Ukazu
Bloom by Kevin Panetta
Loving a Lost Lord by Mary Jo Putney
Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale by Lauren Myracle
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
The Bride was a Boy by Chii
Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra by Kevin Panetta
Spinning by Tillie Walden

I actually got my library card at the very end of June, so there were two late June reads that will covered as well - both short stories in the Enchanted, Inc. series that I didn't even know existed until I found them whilst searching for EEA.

June Reads:
Paint the Town Red and Criminal Enchantment by Shanna Swendson

Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan

 

Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan Vol 1 & 2
By  Gaku Kuze

ISBN: 9781646511143 & 9781646511402
272 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle/ComiXology
Trigger Warning: Depression, Suicide, Mental Health Topics 

Synopsis:

How did the cynical Uramichi end up hosting a TV show for small children? And how long is the studio going to let him keep teaching the kids the sorrow and exhaustion of life instead of, say, the ABCs? This dark comedy manga started as a webcomic and became a bestseller across Japan -- with an anime coming soon!

Uramichi is a 31-year-old host on a kids' show who leads exercise routines and teaches life lessons colored by one main theme: Adulthood sucks. Alongside mascots played by a couple of bushy-tailed twentysomethings and a singing duo whose music embodies the notion of being kicked while you're down, Uramichi wades through the misery of working life, one sardonic comment at a time...

V2 - While grappling with unexpected overtime, unreasonable working conditions, and unflattering costumes, URAMICHI makes the acquaintance of other jaded professionals working deep behind the scenes. Digital strategist SAITO and merchandising whiz HANBEI almost seem like kindred spirits, but their respective bad attitude and worse temper keep the doors to URAMICHI's fragile heart firmly shut. There must be someone out there who understands... right?

My Thoughts:

I stumbled upon the first two volumes of Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan at my local library and didn't know what to expect. I had seen a friend mention the impending anime series on social media a few days beforehand, so I decided to give the manga a shot. The best description for what I found contained within the pages was "twisted." The story is about Uramichi, a 31-year-old retired gymnast who passes his days as the host of a children's show. Uramichi is the quintessential pessimist, and clearly has a lot of mental and emotional baggage, which is seen in his interactions with the kids and his peers.

His peers being four other performers who work on stage with Uramichi, and who round out the cast of main characters. These coworkers each have their own share of quirks and traumas as well. Because of this, the characters all mesh well together and tell an interesting and funny set of stories.

Funny and dark. The Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan series is definitely what would be considered dark humor. The characters clearly care about the kids that they are working with, but at are frequently sarcastic and go on about pain, depression, and job burnout. If you are sensitive to mental health issues, this may not be the series for you. However, if you are one of those people who likes to laugh through the pain then you will enjoy it.

The art work in these graphic novels is really clean and the story is not too complicated to follow. At some points there is a bit much going on within the pages, but it's all a part of the glorious chaos that makes the story work. One thing that I did like about this series is that there is a glossary in each volume where they cover Japanese terms used in the book that readers may not be familiar with.

As twisted as the story was, I loved Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan. There are currently only two volumes available and, as previously mentioned, an anime which aired during the summer of 2021 (available on Funimation). Volume three of the manga has been announced and has cover art. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on February 1, 2022. I can't wait.

Parent's Guide:

This book is rated 16+ due to content that is somewhat dark. It covers some deep topics like depression, and is probably not for kids. Mature older teens may enjoy it, depending on how twisted their sense of humor is.

Would You Like To Be A Family?

Would You Like To Be A Family?
By  Koyama

ISBN: 9781427868459
176 Pages
Available in Paperback and on Kindle

Synopsis:

Families come in many shapes and sizes, and these three are no different!

Takemura is a loner with little interest in socializing with others. Bullied in high school for being gay, he prefers to spend time by himself so he won't get hurt again. When he runs into his bright, friendly coworker Natsui in the supermarket, he's surprised to find out that he's a single father... and even more surprised to be invited to dinner, with no room to decline!

Kuma is a good guy, but due to his constant scowl and rough appearance is often dismissed as a deadbeat. When he oversees his friend's older brother break up with his boyfriend, Yagi, Kuma becomes intrigued with this attractive stranger and slowly, his curiosity begins to blossom into a crush.

Kodama is a reserved psychology major who is approached by the loud, outgoing Harada when he falls ill on his way home. It turns out the two of them study at the same university, and Harada insists the two become friends. But as they spend more time with one another, Kodama begins to question how he truly feels.

Follow three very different relationships in this intimate collection of short Boys Love stories.

My Thoughts:

Would You Like to be a Family? is a graphic novel compilation of 3 separate short stories all sharing a theme. That theme being romantic boys love relationships. The first story, for which the book is named, is about a single father who befriends the reclusive "new guy" at work and the relationship that develops between them. The second story is about a high schooler who falls for a college student after seeing the man display emotion over getting dumped. The third story is about a college student experiencing love for the first time with one of his classmates. At the end there is a bonus short that revisits the titular family again.

The three stories are touching and emotional without being over the top sappy or contrived. The relationships feel authentic. This isn't high fantasy or dramatic BL fluff - these stories reflect on real issues and judgements that gay men in Japan face in their lives. The first story is definitely my favorite.

The art work in the book is very clean and the story is easy to follow. With some graphic novels, it is hard to tell which blocks to read to follow the flow of the story in the correct order, but there is no issue with that in Would You Like to be a Family? There is even a chart at the end of the book that explains the flow, as Japanese graphic novels are read right to left and most people unfamiliar would start at the wrong end of the book.

There are scenes that are sexual in nature, mostly in the second of the three stories. Not horribly graphic scenes, but some images were more graphic than I was expecting and more than I am accustomed to seeing in mainstream manga, which historically is known for censoring male genitalia. In Would You Like to be a Family? the art is not super detailed on those bits but nothing was censored. So you do see people grabbing their junk (or their partner's) and there is one full on sex scene.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of Would You Like to be a Family? from NetGalley and publisher LOVE x LOVE in exchange for a fair and honest review. It is currently available for preorder and will be released on September 21, 2021.

Parent's Guide:

This book is rated M due to the content that is considered taboo in some places, and the fact that the second story shows characters having sex. Overall, it is not for kids. Mature older teens may enjoy it, but that is a decision for them and their parents to make.

September Reading List

Did I up my reading goal again? You bet I did! This month's reading list includes a few books picked up from a trip to the local library, but mostly review requests and NetGalley selections. 

This is about half of my goal for the month. Which means
I will be done with them in a week at the rate I have been going.

This is what my September reading list looks like:

Would You Like to be a Family? by Koyama

A Secret Scottish Escape by Julie Shackman

Kiss and Spell by Shanna Swendson

Séances are for Suckers by Tamara Berry

My Dad is a Russian Spy by Candy Berg

Devil on Her Shoulder (V1) by  Cédric Mayen

Deep Space by Milo James Fowler

There are still reviews incoming for some of my August reads as well. I have quite a backlog to post, but will get them all up as soon as possible. Ideally, I am aiming for 2 posts a week, but being careful to not get burned out again. But there are a lot of posts coming! So remember to check back.

And, as always, I am open to and love discussion, so I invite you to grab a book and read along!

Maria Llovet's Eros/Psyche

Maria Llovet's Eros/Psyche
By  Maria Llovet

ISBN: 9781950912407
144 Pages
Available in Hardcover and Kindle/Comixology

TW: Blood, Suicide

Synopsis:

From the artist of the bestselling Faithless series...comes Eros/Psyche.

La Rosa's female boarding school is paradise for young girls...but only if you follow the rules. Because, if you disobey them, you can end up expelled, or even worse, dead.

Sara and Silje are two students learning the rules of the school, which includes classes by day...and the casting of curses and spells by night. A love develops between the two, which is tender, but threatens to break under the weight of the dark secret society within La Rosa.

My Thoughts:

The artwork in Maria Llovet's Eros/Psyche is stunning. The artist is an established graphic novelist with a very distinct style that is lovely. The color palate works really well to give the story an appropriately dark feel. The story, on the other hand, is a little lacking.

The premise is very promising. Magic, mystery, secret societies. What's not to love? Except, when you get down to it, there is little of what was promised. The story has inadequate exposition to actually see many of these things beyond minor allusions. In fact, it has a shortage of dialogue at all, making it jerky and hard to follow at times.

There is mystery around the school. That is made clear from page one. But all the mystery that you see seems to revolve around new students arriving and then getting the "white uniform" and being removed, in a very Survivor "voted off the island" format.

As far as the magic? I didn't see it. The synopsis mentions casting curses and spells by night. But the only seemingly witchy reference you actually notice is that the students are always collecting different herbs. Everything else they do is mundane things like making necklaces or collecting bird eggs. 

The relationship between Sara and Silje, the two main characters, is extremely subtle. It is sweet and isn't graphic or over the top. The use of plants growing to represent different stages of their friendship and developments in the story was really interesting. 

The ending felt very "M. Night Shyamalan plot twist"-ish. That's not always a bad thing, and in this case it worked well to tie it all together and wrap it back around to page one, but it still left as many questions as it answered. Overall, despite it's flaws, it was an enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary digital ARC of Maria Llovet's Eros/Psyche from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. This graphic novel book is a collection of all 5 volumes of the comic (despite the fact that the Goodreads page has it marked as #1-#4). It is currently available for preorder and will be released on October 12, 2021.

Parent's Guide:

Maria Llovet's Eros/Psyche, while not overly complicated, is confusing and not for the faint of heart. There are scenes with blood - as well as a suicide - that make it not really child friendly. There are also several images of nudity. I would recommend this book for upper level teens who like gothic art and sapphic love stories.

August Reading Selections

I forgot how good it feels to spend all day lost in a book! I have already had to up my reading challenge goal twice in the last month. This month's reading list includes mostly books picked up from a trip to the local library, but also some past review requests and LibraryThing wins. 

This is what my August reading list looks like:

Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan (Omnibus, Vol. 1 & 2) by Gaku Kuze

It Takes Two to Tumble, A Gentleman Never Keeps Score, & Two Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian 

Damsel Under Stress, Don't Hex with Texas, & Much Ado About Magic by Shanna Swendson

Captain Bartholomew Quasar: Starfaring Adventures by Milo James Fowler

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

There are also reviews incoming for my July reads, including:

The Turners series by Cat Sebastian (I had only intended to read the first book that I picked up, but once you read one book in a series you have to read them all asap. Same thing happened with the Seducing the Sedgewicks series on the August list. Her books are addictive!)

Enchanted, Inc. & Once Upon Stilettos by Shanna Swendson

Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

Reviews will be posted over the remainder of the month and well into the next one. So remember to check back. A lot of this month's and last month's reads are books in the same series, so I will try to stagger the reviews with other ones in between them. 

And, as always, I am open to and love discussion, so I invite you to grab a book and read along!