pickA Japanese girl puts all her passion and attention toward a J-Pop idol, her "oshi," whom she adores even after he hits a fan and refuses to offer any explanations. When he unexpectedly announces his retirement, what will she have left? This was an interesting read, though it's possible some of the cultural contexts were lost on me. It was a good character study, and I could definitely relate to some of the aspects of finding solace in fandom.
pickThis novella was translated from Japanese so I think some of the nuance got lost but overall I enjoyed. Tells the story of a young girl who pins all her hopes & happiness on a popstar who ultimately - through his own human faults - reminds her of her own humanity.
so-soI was left impressed, but wanting more. While it was an interesting glimpse at the life of “stans”, and made some great points about the benefits of this kind of obsession (especially for kids who struggle with their mental health), it didn‘t seem to really go anywhere. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/idol-burning-rin-usami/
An interesting novella that‘s a reflection on idol culture of pop stars in Japan. The writing reminds me of the sort of matter of fact, my reality is the truth, writing that you get in the novel Convenience Store Woman. It‘s an incredibly interesting perspective of being a teen girl in Japan obsessively tuned into a celebrity. Also I‘m obsessed with this cover.
Idol, Burning: A Novel | 
