Fake Fur

by Satomi Yamagata

At first, Yamashita thinks that being attracted to the same sex is normal behavior for boys at the age of 17 – a stage that everyone grows out of. But things change when he receives chocolates on Valentine’s Day...from a boy! Since then, Yamashita has begun to question his sexuality and becomes increasingly aware of his growing attraction to Kubo. Will he risk his friendship with Kubo just to express his feelings?

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, Romance, Boys Love

178 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2007

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not recommended. The author treats homosexuality like an unnatural deviance to be ashamed of, like a literal contagious disease.

The main character in the first story saw two boys kissing when he was 5 years old, and while he "knew" it "wasn't normal," he thinks the sight of it "made" him gay. He's now a teen himself and paranoid that people look at him and know he's gay, and that his friends will be mistaken for gay by association. His best friend is moving away so they have a getaway sleepover before parting ways, and the friend suggests they share a bed. He tells his friend that's "risky," as if he'll "catch gay" from him.

Also, all "the gays" are in a club. The main character gets a business card from one of its members and is told that he can come to a meeting to find a friend or lover, and that there's no age restriction. He calls the number and someone meets him in a public park to tell him more about the how-to-be-gay club and recommends he come to a meeting. He agrees, but is instead taken to the man's apartment and seduced! (The seducer is the main character's love interest from the prequel book, Manic Love, so you can see how well *that* relationship worked out.)

Basically this book combines every offensive stereotype about homosexuality into one unfortunate volume. I can't recommend this book because its sole purpose seems to be to proliferate outdated derogatory views on homosexuality. I also find the art hideous. (It's the style where limbs and torsos are disproportionately long.)

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has stereotypes that being gay is wrong and that all gays are seduced. In this story, there seemed to be cliffhangers, like in the first story, to where it could have been felt out more. Just treat queer folk as real people. But I did enjoy the art and it was a quick read with coming-of-age stories, sex scenes, and general interest.

[Mosley · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me this is more of a coming-of-age, coming out,manga rather than a romance manga. You see the main characters struggling with their sexuality and relationships very angsty. I feel like a lot was left unanswered but there is a note in the back about how there will be a side series.

[SaturNalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yamashita wants to fall in love. Kubo is his best friend. Yamashita tries to figure out what type of relationship he wants. As he spends time with Kubo he becomes attracted to him, they kiss and Kubo moves away. This was short with not much going on, just Yamashita thinking and trying to figure himself out. Art is clean and uncluttered. Ended on a cliff hanger with no follow up book.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Fake Fur (no indication whatsoever of why it has this title) is a slow burn tale of a boy coming to terms with his sexuality. It's a meditative piece with a lot of inner dialogue of how the character views his life and his situation. Those looking for more action or melodrama probably won't find what they are looking for in here. Ideally, this is best for readers who grapple with their own feelings and enjoy a somewhat grounded look at how confusing life can be as a young adult.

Story: Yamashita has never been sure about his own sexuality; he only knows that he wants a partner and to know what a kiss feels like. He's confused, though, so he doesn't know how to handle his attraction to his friend Kubo or whether Kubo would even welcome a change in their friendship to a more romantic one. When Kubo moves away, Yamashita drifts in and out of the gay scene, still not finding what he has been looking for all along. Was Kubo really the only one for him or has he idealized his friend so much that he has forgotten that love can be right in front of him already.

Not much happens in the book; it's mostly about Yamashita passively going through life as those around him support, minipulate, woo, interact, or otherwise control his life. Some of the book is set in high school but the majority is college era, hence Yamashita's loneliness as well as his need to find others.

The art is serviceable and about what I would expect in this genre. Since there are no major action scenes, the art has to convey emotion and I think the artist did an excellent job. You can really feel Yamashita's confusion, loneliness, isolation, and longing.

In all, it's a simple book of coming to terms with your feelings and understanding what you really want and need in life.