literally came out of no where, ive had enouuuuughhhhh

I felt like Mitsuko was a lot more aimless than Naomi in terms of her manipulation and we never really get a sense of who she is or what she truly desired... Perhaps the point is that she was never truly satisfied, but I can't help but wish the ending was different

15. Quicksand - Junichiro Tanizaki (TL: Howard Hibbett)
This book felt like Tanizaki trying to one-up himself by writing increasingly scandalous situations every chapter, and WOW do things get crazy. I think he does trade plot for shock value tho, so it's not as good as Naomi but still entertaining

ooe was like reading a full-length novel and 10 novellas, it took me a whole month and a half to complete while simultaneously making me better and worse, but thats what happens when u play a vn abt loving and forgiving ur worst self, finding the place where u belong...

there was a lot of horrifying stuff in the book and u def descend into the eroguro dungeons a few times, but the manmade terrors simply could not compare to the horrors of the natural desires of the heart, in what world can an aberration be happy, moroto michio i need to get u out of there

14. The Demon of the Lonely Isle - Edogawa Ranpo (TL: Alexis J. Brown)
THIS BOOK GAVE ME HYSTERIA, head in hands, shaking, tearing my hair out, a cold chill running through my veins, edogawa ranpo i simply wasnt familiar with your game, GUYS IT WAS A DOOMED, TRAGIC YAOI PUBLISHED A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

13. Seven Japanese Tales - Junichiro Tanizaki (TL: Howard Hibbett)
In this collection, "A Portrait of Shunkin," "The Bridge of Dreams, and "The Tattooer" were my favorite stories; this guy is so good at perverse love stories and unconventional yet fulfilling relationships

a love(?) story between average salaryman joji and the enigmatic, cunning, and vivacious naomi during the decadent 1920s when westernization is taking japan by storm, it rlly does make u think abt whats gained and lost in the cultural maelstrom as ppl chase their desires endlessly... so good

12. Naomi - Junichirou Tanizaki (TL: Anthony H. Chambers)
hoooooooly, tanizaki i didn't know your game, the story opens up with lines "this is a relationship without precedent" and a hundred years later, it still managed to grip me with its refreshing, satisfying, and perverse love story

anni 1 really was the chlowen launcher like after finding out chloes backstory, owen fr never let that go, and hes just become increasingly more comfortable with letting his softer side around chloe

ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHLOWEN MOMENTS EVER!!!!!!!!! hes so unbelievably soft and cute around chloe, like wooooow, he saw chloe being sad and just had to reassure him by talking abt plant feelings????? incredible writing, 10/10

noooooo omg i didnt listen to the voicelines, but i need to hear thisssss