I almost missed this new gem of a Japanese novel!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มี.ค. 2023
- Translated from the Japanese by Asa Yoneda, Idol, Burning by Rin Usami is a fantastic Japanese novel that explores the dark and the bright sides of modern idol culture, for both the idols and the fans.
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After watching your review I read this book (listened to the unabridged audio) and LOVED it. Thank you! Something you didn't mention is that our heroine struggles with what is likely a combination of depression and a learning disability. She mentions that she has a diagnosis but doesn't tell us what it is. I believe this book is a powerful first-person perspective on that kind of struggle/suffering. I also want to mention how starkly different her first person narration is from her blog posts. In her first person narration she is struggling profoundly with every part of her life, including really basic self-care like eating. Everything is a struggle. And then we read her blog posts; wow, so insightful, analytical and coherent; she is an excellent writer! It shows the reader from the inside how someone who is so depressed and barely functional can produce fantastic work that others deeply appreciate. This novel helped me see, by looking inside someone else's dark interior life how the darkness in me and in others is not the whole story. I've always known that but this novel helped me feel it. Also of note, the English audio version does not have the Q and A but rather an "Authors note to the English reader" and also a note by the translator. They were profound and beautiful and I found myself tearing up. Thanks again for leading me to this book.
Brilliant insight! Something I admit I totally missed. Thank you :)
This sounds SO interesting to me; I've always been a bit disturbed by idol culture (mostly Western idol culture) so reading this just sounds perfect. Also, I get so excited to read books by authors younger than me, so doubly perfect!
Hooray, I can borrow this as an audiobook. I'll read this soon and kind of relate to it, since I was obsessed with Britney Spears as a kid.
OMG!!! You made a video about it! I'm really glad you liked it! (kinda knew you would, though ;) )
I've heard about it before and I really want to read it. It's mostly bc I'm a huge fan of some Japanese celebrities myself (mostly actors though but I feel there's an overlap between the fandom cultures) 😅 The fact that the author is a fan herself makes me want to read even more.
This sounds so good!
OMG yay I'm so happy you loved this book tooooo, I'm finding out that we have very similar book tastes ehehe. As someone who was very into the idol scene in high school, this book hit me very hard. I've seen so many reviews saying the book is too short or portrays Akari negatively, but I personally found so much nuance and so much to relate to in Rin Usami's writing 🥺
Just requested this book at my library. Thank you for this suggestion.💜
I loved this one too and was really impressed with the translation
Just reserved it at the library with the same good vibes I had about Murata's "Earthlings" from you, thanks 👍
Sounds a bit like I Was Born for This by Alice Oseman what with the critique of idol culture. Brilliant book. I’ll definitely consider checking this book out. Thanks for the recommendation.
Totally put this on my TBR.
You always have the best recommendations. The idol culture and idol stan are something i'm curious about lately so this review is right on time. Will check this out!
Great review. I read it last month in February, and agree with your analysis!
I’m in my late 50s, but I’ve often found resonances with how I was with music and sf and horror fandom when young. I’ll have to take a loot at this.
Literally just got this book yesterday (Chinese translation edition). Now hearing you talk about it, I think I need to prioritize my read of this book. Sounds interesting.
This sounds amazing! I have to read it. Huge Kpop fan here but yes-it certainly has a dark side within the fandoms themselves and for the idols also.
Thank you for introducing me to this new author.
I just ordered this off of ThriftBooks! I’m more exited now haha :D
I have an arc for the German translation, but I haven't read it yet! Looking forward to it, though.
Truly a cautionary tale of fame, obsession, disconnection, disillusion, and the toxicity inherent in asymmetric, parasocial relationships. The public fall from grace for the idol of a high school student poisons the source of her identity, happiness, and self-esteem: social media, the online reflection of herself. Beware the blinding glamour of desire. What a story! The American edition features a cover image showing a creepy shrine to such a K-pop idol. So glad you got to this one. For anyone interested in the inside scoop, The Anime Man has an interview on his channel with a former teen idol in Korea. Very disturbing culture. Thanks for the awesome review!
I have not read this yet. Y/N by Ester Yi looks fun and on a similar topic
I bought this book months ago and it's waiting on my shelf. If you found this one interesting you should check out Astral Season, Beastly Season by Tahi Saihate!(if you haven't already) which is about 2 male j-pop fans who commit crimes in connection with their female idol. I initially got interested in Idol Burning because I had read the other book. Recommended to everyone reading this comment!
I loved AS,BS. Did a written review back when I did those. Honford Star find and publish the coolest stuff :)
Lol I feel like a lot of people near me would relate to this book. Not too long ago, beloved superstar Bad Bunny, adored by many in PR and DR, hurled a fan's phone when said fan tried taking a selfie with BB without his consent. Interesting how controversial these heat-of-the-moment actions become, and how hard they can fall from grace in some fans' eyes
"Star" by Yukio Mishima might be a good followup read 😁
It’s one of his slightly less cringe books for sure
I loved this book. It has a pretty low rating and I think maybe it’s because you can get it if you’re familiar with idol culture and for someone who’s not it’d feel weird
Willow, you look better if you don't put the shadow under your eyes, i hope that's not an insult because it's just my opinion and maybe you like it this way a little gothic i guess 😉
Ok thanks