Words I liked:
ダサい - uncool (Viz uses “so lame”)
そういえば - now that you mention it
超地味 - ultra plain? (Viz uses “unglamorous”)
I really love that both Fujino and Kyoumoto still became artists in this alternate timeline (assuming Fujino isn’t just talking big about taking up writing again, like she did when Kyoumoto first confronted her with why she stopped drawing lol).
For Kyoumoto’s response comic, the title is just “Look Back” in the English translation, but the title is actually 背中を見て “Look (at my) Back” because Fujino gets stabbed in the back, very good joke lol
The whole story is still really incredible but man those last few pages hit hard! There’s been a lot of dumb gen AI stuff in the news lately and it was great to read something that looks at the creative process and decides that, no matter how boring and painful and annoying it can be, it’s worth actually making something that people connect with. I’ve read this before and still teared up over the last few pages. And thinking of Fujimoto processing the KyoAni attack with this story is something I didn’t really consider at the time, but it’s really powerful that his response is “don’t look back in anger” and keep making stuff!
Thank you to everyone who worked on the vocab spreadsheet - I’ve found it really useful to look things up as I’m reading! This was my first BBC and it was a learning curve, so I appreciate everyone in the threads each week as well.
I’m moving back to ABBC (just because I love A Sign of Affection) but I’m sure I’ll be back in the BBC eventually
Glad to have finished my first book club! And thank you to the contributors to the vocabulary sheet!
Also I was happy to recognize 地味 from a friend telling me about it. Fun Japan fact-- 地味 is a Halloween tradition where people dress up as “normal” jobs and everyday people! Definitely look it up if you have never seen images-- some people’s ideas are hilarious!
The ending hit me just as hard as the movie… Fujino questioning herself for why she draws just to remember her time she got to spend with Kyomoto… so back to the drawing board she goes. Passions that are isolating in nature are the hardest to stick to, but I see the final empty panel she puts up on her window as a glimmer of hope in the unknown to come as she continues to draw.
Wrapped up the reading last night and wow that ending hit me even harder than when I saw the movie for some reason. The flashback panels were so cute too. Had so much fun reading this with everyone!! Congrats to all who made it to the end
That was pretty sad, but also pretty good, I am glad to have read it. The art is really pretty in its own way, it kinda makes me want to read Chainsaw Man now haha
I admittedly picked up and read all of Sayonara Eri while this club was going on and it was really fantastic. The movement in the panels is really special and the story was fantastic. I’m genuinely confused because I remember watching S1 of chainsaw man and just thinking it was a mid, overly horny, shonen show (sorry) but these books have me second guessing…
That said if you haven’t read Sayonara Eri, definitely give it a go it’s pretty similar in length and difficulty to lookback. I also read one of the short story collections and was less than impressed haha
I was on vacation so I couldn’t read along with everyone.
I did not expect that ending, it’s so sad I’m crying right now I thought they were going meet and make up at some point, so those last pages really caught me off guard
It’s so beautiful but so sad It also doesn’t help that I finished the Tomorrow dorama yesterday, so it seems I’ll dehydrate myself because of this crying spree hehe
Thanks everyone for all the comments and help during this club. Have a wonderful day and see y’all in the next book !
(no happy emoji today)
I thought they were going meet and make up at some point, so those last pages really caught me off guard 
It also doesn’t help that I finished the Tomorrow dorama yesterday, so it seems I’ll dehydrate myself because of this crying spree hehe 
!