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Writer's pictureJodie

Queer in Asia by Seven



Book Review


Title: Queer in Asia by Seven


Genre: Manga, Graphic Novel, LGBT


Rating: 3.25 Stars


I requested this book based off the cover but also because I really enjoy LGBT stories especially in the visual form of manga and graphic novels. We are following Tian Fushi who is a misunderstood manga artist, a depraved citizen of Chinese pornography and a young gay man gone astray who is living with his good friend, B. After ending up in bed together drunk one night, Tian and B become a couple although their dynamic doesn’t change much from their one as friends. The story also didn’t focus on Tian’s sexuality as he is already very comfortable with being a gay man but rather on the nature of relationships and the regrets we have as we get older.


 

Tian spends a lot of time in his own, thinking and reflecting on the past which was nice to see especially since these characters are more mature so I could relate to their struggles a lot more. One of the major things Tian spends a lot of time reflecting on is the people that have made lasting impacts on his life. Some of these people have been romantic partners and they have left emotional scars on Tian from his first boyfriend that was killed by his own father to the boyfriend who blew himself up and tried to take Tian with him. However, Tian focuses on the friends he has made and lost along the way along with the strangers that he made memories with and this level of introspectiveness was something new and refreshing to see.


As time passes Tian realises he is deeply unhappy with his life and he can’t figure out why until he has the strangest dream where he dies in a bus accident. In the dream he learns that he has to learn to say goodbye and let things go in order to move forward. This doesn’t stop feelings of regret plaguing him like not having a final conversation with his ex, letting B go and many more but he finally comes to terms with them. He also makes the decision to stay in his city despite many people he knew and loved leaving him behind. Despite not having much in common with Tian, his situation is very easy to relate to as we all have moments in life we wish we could change, decisions we regret that haunt our dreams and coming to terms with that is one of the hardest things you can do when letting someone you love go. The only issue I had was with the art style, at times it was weird and oddly proportioned but at other times it was stunning and I think this was artist’s intention but it threw me off a little.


Buy it here:


Paperback/Hardcover: amazon.co.uk amazon.com

Kindle Edition: amazon.co.uk amazon.com

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