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saifighter's Reviews (253)
This volume is a re-read for me while I’m gearing up to read the rest of the series. Pluto is honestly one of the most unique manga I have ever read. Its subtle story telling is a pleasure to read. The art is a breath of fresh air. And even if you aren’t familiar with Astro Boy, Pluto is worth the read.
Hi I’m Sai. Here are my credentials (not that you need them). I identify as bisexual and homoromantic. I’ve had sex with men and woman. I’m in a monogamist marriage with an asexual woman. And I have been the target of unicorn hunters many, many times.
Anyway
The Good
I want to start off with saying that I enjoyed the discussion of the history of scientific and social scientific efforts to measure (?) or define bisexuality. The conversation around the Kinsey scale, Klein grid, and Henry Havelock Ellis was really interesting.
I also liked that the book talked about the struggled of being out at work. This is something I definitely relate to as I am also not out as bi at work, I'm out as a lesbian. Since I am married to a woman, it just feels easier to say I'm gay/a lesbian (stolen lesbian valor? lol joking). Being out as bisexual but homo romantic sounds like so much when I can just say "MY WIFE." Something I definitely will be thinking about. Chapter 4 was probably the chapter I got the most out of.
The Bad
I liked when the book talked about activist Brenda Howard but I was frustrated by the lack of (or very little discussion) of other historical bisexual persons outside of science and social science. For a book with “hidden culture” in its subtitle, it doesn’t really talk a lot about bisexuals of cultural significant. Lord Byron, Frida Kahlo, June Jordan, Josephine Baker, Freddie Mercury, Oscar Wilde are just a few that are excluded.
Instead of, IDK, doing a modicum of research on bisexual culture, Shaw equates non-monogamy and threesomes as the ultimate way to show you are bisexual. This woman has never heard of gay signaling. Not a mention of lemon bars, bob haircuts, finger guns, or cuffed jeans! (joking) But seriously, chapter 7 was horrible. I have never felt any desire to be in a sexual relationship with two people or felt a desire to cheat because I was "missing out on the other sex." I feel like this chapter was pushing this idea that most bisexuals don't crave monogamy. This chapter focuses so much on sex it was insane to me. Where is the boring section about the bisexuals that just want to be monogamist but still show that they are bisexual. We got to stand up for our alt girlies and their sad gamer boyfriends! (light hearted / joking)
However, despite calling all bisexuals sexually frustrated deviants who will never be happy in monogamy, I think Shaw’s biggest offence is her saying “bi is an umbrella term” to get away with not discussing pansexuality, omnisexuality, and polysexuals. Shaw kind of just assumes you already know all about the “Pan vs Bi” discussion and just sweeps it all under the rug. This is such a disservice to those other sexualities. Not everyone agrees that bisexuality is an umbrella term that catches all these other labels. Shaw not wanting to talk about those nuances in depth feels a coward move.
Conclusion
This book isn’t for beginners and I’m honestly disappointed to see that this book is the first thing that pops up when you Google “bisexual non-fiction.” It’s not for beginners because it barely gives you anything and honestly feeds the reader some pretty harmful false ideas about bisexuality. Julia Shaw is a criminal psychologist and I’m going to go ahead and say that after reading her book, I don’t think she was qualified to write this.
Anyway
The Good
I want to start off with saying that I enjoyed the discussion of the history of scientific and social scientific efforts to measure (?) or define bisexuality. The conversation around the Kinsey scale, Klein grid, and Henry Havelock Ellis was really interesting.
I also liked that the book talked about the struggled of being out at work. This is something I definitely relate to as I am also not out as bi at work, I'm out as a lesbian. Since I am married to a woman, it just feels easier to say I'm gay/a lesbian (stolen lesbian valor? lol joking). Being out as bisexual but homo romantic sounds like so much when I can just say "MY WIFE." Something I definitely will be thinking about. Chapter 4 was probably the chapter I got the most out of.
The Bad
I liked when the book talked about activist Brenda Howard but I was frustrated by the lack of (or very little discussion) of other historical bisexual persons outside of science and social science. For a book with “hidden culture” in its subtitle, it doesn’t really talk a lot about bisexuals of cultural significant. Lord Byron, Frida Kahlo, June Jordan, Josephine Baker, Freddie Mercury, Oscar Wilde are just a few that are excluded.
Instead of, IDK, doing a modicum of research on bisexual culture, Shaw equates non-monogamy and threesomes as the ultimate way to show you are bisexual. This woman has never heard of gay signaling. Not a mention of lemon bars, bob haircuts, finger guns, or cuffed jeans! (joking) But seriously, chapter 7 was horrible. I have never felt any desire to be in a sexual relationship with two people or felt a desire to cheat because I was "missing out on the other sex." I feel like this chapter was pushing this idea that most bisexuals don't crave monogamy. This chapter focuses so much on sex it was insane to me. Where is the boring section about the bisexuals that just want to be monogamist but still show that they are bisexual. We got to stand up for our alt girlies and their sad gamer boyfriends! (light hearted / joking)
However, despite calling all bisexuals sexually frustrated deviants who will never be happy in monogamy, I think Shaw’s biggest offence is her saying “bi is an umbrella term” to get away with not discussing pansexuality, omnisexuality, and polysexuals. Shaw kind of just assumes you already know all about the “Pan vs Bi” discussion and just sweeps it all under the rug. This is such a disservice to those other sexualities. Not everyone agrees that bisexuality is an umbrella term that catches all these other labels. Shaw not wanting to talk about those nuances in depth feels a coward move.
Conclusion
This book isn’t for beginners and I’m honestly disappointed to see that this book is the first thing that pops up when you Google “bisexual non-fiction.” It’s not for beginners because it barely gives you anything and honestly feeds the reader some pretty harmful false ideas about bisexuality. Julia Shaw is a criminal psychologist and I’m going to go ahead and say that after reading her book, I don’t think she was qualified to write this.
The conclusion to the Dark Kingdom arch was so good. I read somewhere that the creator wants to end the series with everyone dying during the Dark Kingdom arch but that the publisher wanted to continue the series so they had the team brought back to life at the end so they could continue the story. The Dark Kingdom arch is honestly so climactic, i can see if being the perfect ending. Obviously I'm happy it continues because of some characters that haven't been introduced yet. I think that is part of why chapters 15-16 feel like a strange tone shift to me. Thats my only real complaint about this volume.
It truly stands the test of time. Every panel is beautiful.
Probably the most fucked up book in the entire series so far. 5 out of fucking 5.
Jake's books are always really good. Jake struggling with the happiness of being in dog morph, the pressures of leadership, betrayal, fear, death, and what it would take for one of the Animorphs to do something they never said they would do: kill. This book has everything. We see a of personality on stage here and some great moral choices. How dare they leave me on a cliff hanger. Starting the next book right now!
I think I can officially say that I do not like this book.
I wanted cult horror magical realism and instead I got "lol JK she was just crazy the whole time. Was any of it real. Oooohhhh."
Is Sam a schizophrenic or are the Darlings real? If Sam is just schizophrenic than I hate this book. If the Darlings are real than not enough is explained for me to be satisfied.
This probably deserves a re-read for me to come to a conclusion. But I honestly don't think I can get through the Sad Girl Lit part of the book again.
I wanted cult horror magical realism and instead I got "lol JK she was just crazy the whole time. Was any of it real. Oooohhhh."
This probably deserves a re-read for me to come to a conclusion. But I honestly don't think I can get through the Sad Girl Lit part of the book again.
Recently bought volume 4 so I re-read the rest of the series.
"She Loves to Cook, She loves to Eat" is the most relatable queer manga I have ever read in my entire life. It is wholesome, realistic, and just about two adults woman navigating their relationship (neighbors, friends, maybe more?) Nomoto and Kasuga are such real characters and I love them so much. They (and the other cast members) go through real issues about being queer and a woman that I feel are so mundane and average, its feels more real than your usual WLW slice of life drama manga. The art is great, especially for all the food and eating scenes (so.many.teeth) This manga feels like a grown up version of Kiyo in Kyoto. This is absolutely a must read for any slice of life loving adult.
"She Loves to Cook, She loves to Eat" is the most relatable queer manga I have ever read in my entire life. It is wholesome, realistic, and just about two adults woman navigating their relationship (neighbors, friends, maybe more?) Nomoto and Kasuga are such real characters and I love them so much. They (and the other cast members) go through real issues about being queer and a woman that I feel are so mundane and average, its feels more real than your usual WLW slice of life drama manga. The art is great, especially for all the food and eating scenes (so.many.teeth) This manga feels like a grown up version of Kiyo in Kyoto. This is absolutely a must read for any slice of life loving adult.
Recently bought volume 4 so I re-read the rest of the series.
"She Loves to Cook, She loves to Eat" is the most relatable queer manga I have ever read in my entire life. It is wholesome, realistic, and just about two adults woman navigating their relationship (neighbors, friends, maybe more?) Nomoto and Kasuga are such real characters and I love them so much. They (and the other cast members) go through real issues about being queer and a woman that I feel are so mundane and average, its feels more real than your usual WLW slice of life drama manga. The art is great, especially for all the food and eating scenes (so.many.teeth) This manga feels like a grown up version of Kiyo in Kyoto. This is absolutely a must read for any slice of life loving adult.
"She Loves to Cook, She loves to Eat" is the most relatable queer manga I have ever read in my entire life. It is wholesome, realistic, and just about two adults woman navigating their relationship (neighbors, friends, maybe more?) Nomoto and Kasuga are such real characters and I love them so much. They (and the other cast members) go through real issues about being queer and a woman that I feel are so mundane and average, its feels more real than your usual WLW slice of life drama manga. The art is great, especially for all the food and eating scenes (so.many.teeth) This manga feels like a grown up version of Kiyo in Kyoto. This is absolutely a must read for any slice of life loving adult.