TLDR
Story – 7/10 – 7 x 0.275 = 1,925
Art – 9/10 – 9 x 0.2 = 1,8
Characters – 6,5/10 – 6,5 x 0.225 = 1,4625
Enjoyment – 6,5/10 – 6,5 x 0.3 = 1,95
Total: 7,1375 -> 7
Story – 7/10
A Girl on the Shore is a manga by the great Inio Asano, as it unwinds the threads of sex, life, and everything in between.
Most of this story is about sex – and it is certainly the most discussed topic in the manga, both graphically (and it gets quite explicit) and in the dialogue. The story starts precisely with what we will find throughout the manga: a sex scene between the two main characters – Isobe and Satou, two teenagers still in school. They soon become intertwined by the regular hook-ups that will develop into hostility and love. Their bodies become more than just a stage for pleasure, as personal feelings start to get in the way. However, things don’t unwind well.
In typical Asano fashion, it has a way of dealing with complex topics most lightly – in this case, suicide and sex. It depicts the final death wishes of one of the characters, as well as the suicide of one of the character’s brother. Moreover, everything also feels very natural, as it is very common for such things to happen from time to time – uncorresponded feelings in a love scenario, suicidal ideation as a response to trauma, etc. Asano also does a great work of exposing the multiple varieties of sex, be it for pure pleasure, love, dominance, or just plain empty and emotionally dull sex. As it is essential in a Slice of Life, we feel that, in some way, the story we are reading is also our story, that we lived past the same exact moments as the characters and that we empathise with them. In this regard, it is very well done.
The story is well-written in literary terms, as Asano usually does.
The ending is not memorable and feels too sudden.
Art – 9/10
Inio Asano’s art style is always a sight to be seen. From the emotional characters and the rich character design, to the natural flow of the manga and the cadence of its panels, Inio Asano has shown from time to time that he knows what he is doing. The backgrounds and the landscapes are also excellent.
Characters – 6,5/10
The characters are mainly focused on the two main ones – Isobe and Satou –, as the rest of the cast is but a filler in some sense, or just serve to interact with the main characters. In this light, it works quite well, as they are the ones that tell us a story and that develop the narrative.
Enjoyment – 6,5/10
Inio Asano knows how to create a story and dwells in the depths of the human psyche in a humane and intimate way, and A Girl on the Shore is no different, although the topics he approaches are somewhat different. In general, it is an entertaining and quick read that points towards some avenues of reflection. Although not enthusiastically, it deserves a recommendation.
