Okay, so one thing that’s nice about this novel is the fact that it starts off with a beautifully written, short story before diving into the 3 main arcs. Think of it as an ‘Extra Feature’. This story is about a girl who wishes to leave a trace of her existence in this world so that she may never truly disappear once she is gone. It’s short and sincere, a nice add on.
-The 1st arc of the story seized my attention immediately as I found myself drawn into the environment with the intense amount of detail that the author placed into the story. That, and the way the story was being told, from the main characters perspective 17 years later while reflecting on his past. You can see in detail how the story builds his suspense during certain parts, and at the same time, your own. This chapter is filled with a bitter sweet sense of belonging, as well as an empty void of the world which you are placed in.
-The 2nd arc of the story was my absolute favorite. It is soo incredibly rare to find a story that is told from a secondary characters perspective about the main character; in addition to that, it being told realistically by a girl that is painfully in love with him. She has these simple, little meek goals she sets for herself and she brings out feelings all the way from Abysmal Lows to Heavenly Highs in a way the reader can understand them. What is also executed nicely is how the story shows you how and kinda why she feels the way she does. She has such a cute personality the way she is both in, and outside of dialog with her friends, family, or even by herself.
-The 3rd arc of the story returns back to being primarily about the main character, secondly about the girl that is talked about in the 1st part of the story, and thirdly about the girl in the 2nd part of the story as well as others. This I want to say was my least favorite, however, it was by no means ‘bad’. I still enjoyed it very thoroughly. This part grows closer and closer to the current day which the main character lives and when he was telling the 1st arc. So this is basically what happened in the long stretch of time beginning with the events after he graduates high school to now. His personal career, love life, depressing moments, and his past struggles are all told in detail here.
In conclusion: I loved this story! I can relate to 2 of the characters with certain things, the novel was beautifully written from beginning to end, and it can leave an emotional impact on the reader.
If anyone reading this hasn’t watched the Movie or read the Manga, then I have to say that the Novel is the best way to start this story. Reading this will lead you to a significantly greater understanding of the other 2 versions, I promise that.
