- Another, volume 1, introduction chapter, page 1, line 1
Why indeed... why have I picked this up even though I hated the series? Maybe some hope that perhaps the novel is actually is good, maybe it’s just the series that sucks. I mean, it could be the case… it is not the case.
I’ll try to not go into specifics to let you go through the disappointment without spoilers. If you don’t count it being disappointing a spoiler by itself, of course.
Another feels almost insulting. The story doesn’t attempt to get you interested in the setting or the story. It’s boring the whole time until the plot actually kicks off, and then it’s boring some more. If I find myself asking “Why should I even care about any of this?”, then the author has failed. More so if this question comes up throughout the reading experience and is never met with answer.
The characters are divided in victims, the mysterious token girl and the main character. The main character is in reality more of a designated witness – a character you know isn’t going to dying and through his eyes you can see the victims. Should any Another fan disagree, I have a simple riddle – describe to me the personality of the protagonist. I’m eagerly awaiting your answers. Which is to say, the characters also do nothing to draw in the reader’s attention, beyond the powers of mysterious high school girl.
The mystery feels like the author didn’t really know the solution from the start and as such just threw in random some random mysteriously sounding bullshit that might seem like hints but are just misdirection, a sleight of hand designed to convince you the story makes any sense, until the novel size text volume is reached. Then, what has to be one of the worst asspulls I’ve ever witnessed in a fiction is slapped at the end.
I honestly can’t find any part of Another that I could say I liked. Really the only thing that is saving it from being rated 1/10 is that I’ve read some even worse stuff. But really, that was completely unenjoyable experience.
