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EDIT: I've been rereading recently and I find it rather dull by now...I mean it is 50/50.
The depressive reality portrayed feels much forced into the reader, but some climax moments can get really captivating.


Saturn Return is the type of story to be as common as depressing and yet enjoyeable.
By common I do not mean its story line is just like any other; it gets you through the daily routine, the path of the common family you see everyone getting...but you.
It portrays a very heavy feeling, the one to carry life and to struggle.
I was aware ... of Akane Torikai being married to Inio Asano but I didn't think their works would echo so much, they both take care of installing a strange, disturbing yet familiar atmosphere. The end of the teen years, depression, self doubt and grief are themes among the manga.
Story: 7/10

One thing which surprised me is the art style; the lines are rather fully ( with a felt tip) and there are not many weft/ tones (I don't know the english word for "trames", those effects sticked on manga page which give some tones). Compared to usual mangas it seems quite a blank, but does it carry much more of an ambiance for the story? Maybe. This "unfinished" style didn't specially appeal to my eyes but for some pages; the one with deep feelings really are well made. It creates a very heavy and realistic tone, with well portrayed feelings.
Art: 7/10

On an other hand, I didn't really get attached to the characters. They are for sure interesting patterns, still something feels off about them. The main character Kaji has an eerie personality, I like how she gets conflicted with her emotions even though it is easy to imagine her "heartless" at first..but I feel like she can go even more complex in her deepness, it's like she's still in state of being a surface. And so goes for the other characters.
Though, there are only 10 chapters running so I can not guess for how it will evolve, I'm looking forward to it.
Characters: 6/10

Finally, it has been nice to read, with some pauses to reflect upon your own life of course haha...but those are necessary. I think it is among the reasons I enjoyed reading it; its story creates the reader to reflect upon their own life, it is painful but necessary just like Kaji is doing it.
Enjoyment: 7/10

My Dearest self with malice aftertought really was interesting to read. I couldn't help but turning pages over and over; the lector really is immerged onto the story.
Though I enjoyed discovering the many plot (twists) which fabricated the story...I feel like there's this little something which can't make me fully enjoy it.
The professionalism of the story maybe gets its own point on the "personal enjoyment of the reader"; what I mean is, for sure, characters are interesting with their many personal stories which create emotions to the reader...but still I find it hard to really appreciate one character, this little je ne sais quoi which ... comes to complete the overall emotions you could feel toward a story, a world and make it dear to your heart, memorable.
Plus, even if all the characters are needed to create the story picture, some feels underdevelopped, leaving them to be there as "super useful but...yeah...why are they really here?"...still I get it...so I don't know how to really feels toward this problem I find haha...this is the reason I put a 8 to this manga, personal curiosity prevailing.
But, for sure this story is worth reading, well played, well written with a semi realistic style which comes to complete it quite greatly.

Long Road is a manga I discovered at the library after reading Koko (from the same author) during my childhood...no wonder I was attracted to that soft drawing style!!

Fumiyo Kouno really has a sweet touch when it comes to creating stories.
As I said, not only the drawing are smooth, but the characters give us a glimpse of reality; whether they may be clumsy, grumpy or determined...they eventually all begin to feel wholesome.
Especially here, our protagonists really are "losers"; they are either naive and useless or grumpy and driven by their sexual instinct...but the story portrays them in a way we can approach their world ... and see what drive them into life.
The story in itself isn't very complicated, but it doesn't mean it's boring. Following the characters in a chapter feels like strolling around for a pleasant walk, bringing the light in everyday life.
If I were to put words on this manga I would say it's a bittersweet reality.
We know they're pathetic and have to live together because of it...still, they can feel joy between themselves.

Bota Bota interested me for two reasons;
1) seeing Paru Itakagi drawing humans
2) the intringuing concept of the storyline

....but to be honest, the concept seems by far to be the only thing that kept my attention.
At first, the main character gives us a perception of what would be like "a twisted charismatic trope". However, after one chapter we discover a superficial side of this personnality. In fact, the idea might not be very original but it works, still it's easy to fall into cliché.
I think Mako could have been interesting if her writing were more put into deep.

Otherwise, the chapters don't give us ... anything new except for some chapters where Mako steps out of her daily routine and something really is happening.
And even though, the "deepness" of the events feels like it's kinda forced.
Things are happening but sometimes it feels illogical, happening out of the blue.

....but I guess it kinda works for a random lecture you want to fill in your day.
Somehow, the plot takes your interest; you read the few chapters there is, and, even if it feels kinda random you keep on reading.