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At Night, I Become a Monster
FEAR NOT THE DARK
Every night, Adachi transforms into a nightmarish creature--and every morning, he reverts to human form. When he encounters his ostracized classmate Yano Satsuki in his monstrous state, the two develop a peculiar bond. But daylight brings its own form of terrors. Which is worse, the monsters at night, or the cruel realities of the classroom by day?
Every night, Adachi transforms into a nightmarish creature--and every morning, he reverts to human form. When he encounters his ostracized classmate Yano Satsuki in his monstrous state, the two develop a peculiar bond. But daylight brings its own form of terrors. Which is worse, the monsters at night, or the cruel realities of the classroom by day?
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First published December 1, 2016
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About the author
Yoru Sumino
40 books485 followersAssociated Names:
* Yoru Sumino
* 住野よる (Japanese Profile)
* โยรุ ซูมิโนะ (Thai Profile)
Yoru Sumino (住野よる) is a Japanese writer best known for I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, the novel that became a manga and two films.
* Yoru Sumino
* 住野よる (Japanese Profile)
* โยรุ ซูมิโนะ (Thai Profile)
Yoru Sumino (住野よる) is a Japanese writer best known for I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, the novel that became a manga and two films.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
June 27, 2020
Warnings: bullying
This fabulistic novel about a middle-school boy who turns into a monster at night, and meets his bullied classmate is an exploration of the mindset of bullying from a different angle. Adachi doesn't know why he turns into a monster a night, only that he has been doing so for a few weeks now, and he has sort of now settled into a routine. One night, he decides to sneak into his school to retrieve the homework he had forgotten, and comes across Yano, his classmate who is being bullied by everyone in the class for harassing one of the classmates. Though it has been sometime from the incident that turned the class against her, Yano is still tormented by some of the more aggressive members of the class, and ignored by the rest. Even them ignoring her, however, is not without malice, and it is a deliberate shutting out from their 'class unity', a thing which Adachi himself participates in, even if he doesn't explicitly bully her the others.
At the start, he feels she brought this treatment upon herself, aside from the incident, with her manner of speech and a smiling countenance that doesn't change whatever the situation is, and her lack of awareness in reading the room. It is quite possible she is neuroatypical, with her different speech pattern and misunderstanding of social cues, but Adachi doesn't realize that. However, as he gets to know her at school at night, there is a different side of him that feels a bit for her, and even starts to be protective about her, when her presence at school might be discovered by some other classmates. However, he keeps being the same during the day - which makes for a dichotomy in his behavior to her, a behavior she doesn't question him on, just tells him to not bring the discussion of daytime into nighttime. The building up of their friendship is done very subtly and Adachi's realization is also approached in a nuanced manner. On one hand, he is avoiding making any waves during daytime in the name of self-preservation, but his friendship with her in his monster form doesn't mean anything if he can't stand by during the daytime too. The class dynamics, and the bullying and him realizing that following the herd is not always the right thing to do - it is portrayed and explored so well; it also gives the message that intentions without action mean nothing.
Though the ending leaves it open-ended as to how the bullying at the school will go on, the last line leaves such an impact on the supernatural aspect of the story, explaining everything in one stroke, and making the monster transformation more meaningful. Tackling the essence of which self of yours is true is also a coming of age moment for the protagonist of this novel. The book, while slow to present itself in the start, builds slowly into a splendid story.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Seven Seas, via Edelweiss.
This fabulistic novel about a middle-school boy who turns into a monster at night, and meets his bullied classmate is an exploration of the mindset of bullying from a different angle. Adachi doesn't know why he turns into a monster a night, only that he has been doing so for a few weeks now, and he has sort of now settled into a routine. One night, he decides to sneak into his school to retrieve the homework he had forgotten, and comes across Yano, his classmate who is being bullied by everyone in the class for harassing one of the classmates. Though it has been sometime from the incident that turned the class against her, Yano is still tormented by some of the more aggressive members of the class, and ignored by the rest. Even them ignoring her, however, is not without malice, and it is a deliberate shutting out from their 'class unity', a thing which Adachi himself participates in, even if he doesn't explicitly bully her the others.
At the start, he feels she brought this treatment upon herself, aside from the incident, with her manner of speech and a smiling countenance that doesn't change whatever the situation is, and her lack of awareness in reading the room. It is quite possible she is neuroatypical, with her different speech pattern and misunderstanding of social cues, but Adachi doesn't realize that. However, as he gets to know her at school at night, there is a different side of him that feels a bit for her, and even starts to be protective about her, when her presence at school might be discovered by some other classmates. However, he keeps being the same during the day - which makes for a dichotomy in his behavior to her, a behavior she doesn't question him on, just tells him to not bring the discussion of daytime into nighttime. The building up of their friendship is done very subtly and Adachi's realization is also approached in a nuanced manner. On one hand, he is avoiding making any waves during daytime in the name of self-preservation, but his friendship with her in his monster form doesn't mean anything if he can't stand by during the daytime too. The class dynamics, and the bullying and him realizing that following the herd is not always the right thing to do - it is portrayed and explored so well; it also gives the message that intentions without action mean nothing.
Though the ending leaves it open-ended as to how the bullying at the school will go on, the last line leaves such an impact on the supernatural aspect of the story, explaining everything in one stroke, and making the monster transformation more meaningful. Tackling the essence of which self of yours is true is also a coming of age moment for the protagonist of this novel. The book, while slow to present itself in the start, builds slowly into a splendid story.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Seven Seas, via Edelweiss.
April 28, 2020
This light novel is a brilliant depiction of all sides of bullying while also having a little bit of magical realism thrown in there. All of the topics are handled delicately, and I was really please with the ending on this one. I HIGHLY recommend this if you think you can handle it. The bullying can get a bit tense and brutal, so please tread with caution if you are sensitive to the subject matter.
May 12, 2023
Review lengkap: http://www.tsaputrasakti.com/2022/05/...
Kenapa Acchi mesti jadi "monster"? Ada sebuah misi? Apa alasannya?
Mengambil topik perisakan verbal, menurutku novel ini bagus. Ceritanya didominasi latar sekolah ketika pagi maupun siang, nggak ada latar lainnya kecuali ketika Acchi kepingin jadi monster di kamarnya tapi nggak kunjung berubah. Di situ pun dijelasin soal orang tuanya yang nggak tahu dia bisa berubah jadi monster.
Yang menarik adalah sosok Yano. Dia dirundung, dirisak, dipermainkan sama teman-teman sekelasnya cuma karena memang cara responsnya berbeda. Pergulatan batin Acchi pun manusiawi, dan bikin aku sadar masih banyak pick me girl/boy yang haus validasi dengan merasa lebih kuat ketika ketemu yang lebih lemah.
Kenapa Acchi mesti jadi "monster"? Ada sebuah misi? Apa alasannya?
Mengambil topik perisakan verbal, menurutku novel ini bagus. Ceritanya didominasi latar sekolah ketika pagi maupun siang, nggak ada latar lainnya kecuali ketika Acchi kepingin jadi monster di kamarnya tapi nggak kunjung berubah. Di situ pun dijelasin soal orang tuanya yang nggak tahu dia bisa berubah jadi monster.
Yang menarik adalah sosok Yano. Dia dirundung, dirisak, dipermainkan sama teman-teman sekelasnya cuma karena memang cara responsnya berbeda. Pergulatan batin Acchi pun manusiawi, dan bikin aku sadar masih banyak pick me girl/boy yang haus validasi dengan merasa lebih kuat ketika ketemu yang lebih lemah.
June 14, 2020
I feel like there's a lot to work with here but it suffered from pacing issues and some loose ends that left me feeling perplexed.
Warning for Spoilers!!
PROS:
- the way this depicts a bullying mindset, especially in the eyes of middle school students. Despite the back of the book saying these are high school students, Adachi states that they are junior high students. In Japan, high school actually has 3 grades, the equivalent of 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. Going off that, you can assume these teens are about 14 to 15 years old. The way Adachi goes about the reasoning for bullying is so so SO much like what I experienced in middle school, along with showing that bullying and harassment is not something that occurs exclusively due to the bully having insecurities, like lots of anti-bullying campaigns and after school specials will tell you, rather, its that they find what makes someone DIFFERENT, someone that's a minority in some way or another, and zero in like heat-seeking missiles. In this case, the class latched onto Yano and her behavior which read as glaringly neurodivergent, especially autistic to me. I can say first hand that neurodivergent children and teenagers are HIGHLY likely to be targets of severe harassment and abuse at the hands of their peers. The way Adachi explained it as a "sense of unity," a way for all the kids in his class, no matter their interests or friend groups, could all band together against the class punching bag for daring to not behave like they do, and not even bother to try to understand her. This felt very raw and realistic, and the author nailed that on the head.
- The internal conflict for Adachi of him struggling with his own morals and actions, of being a physical monster at night but a metaphorical one during the day. Whether people think so or not, being a teenager is really a scary time in your life. There's so much peer pressure to deal with in schools, and teenagers can be incredibly cruel and spiteful towards each other. Seeing Adachi struggle with wanting to protect Yano's midnight break but still being unable to stand up for her and even being a bully himself during the day was a very raw and realistic struggle for a character his age, and seeing how he had a serious self evaluation near the end when Yano asked him a question she initially asked when first meeting him, "Which is your real form? Daytime or Nighttime?" was quite intense to read.
- Yano herself is really quite the interesting character. She seems to be heavily autistic coded, as she has an irregular speech pattern, is often told she is "making the wrong face at the wrong time" (a part of her character is that she always seems to be "smugly smiling," we find out later she apparently only does this when she is afraid :c ), and told that she "can't/doesn't read the room." I really liked her character as she's a lot smarter than people think, imaginative, and brave.
CONS:
- THE PACING. WOW. The events of this book all span in about two weeks, but I feel like so much of it is spent with Adachi still initially disliking Yano, and it isn't until the last ten pages of the book that he actually publicly, in front of his class, shows that he acknowledges Yano. He didn't need to share a grand speech to his classmates about their treatment towards her and have them all clap in the end, no, but I feel with even just one more chapter or two where he acknowledges her in class, maybe continues to have midnight break even after he stops becoming a monster at night, idk SOMETHING to show that he's really truly changing. The very ending felt very rushed.
- The main reason that the class has zeroed in on Yano as their target is an incident involving Yano going up to a quiet classmate, Midoriokawa, and throwing her book out of the class window. Midoriokawa is generally well liked, and never says much else besides "Mm," to her classmates, so this sudden act of aggression came as a huge surprise to the class, and caused a lot of hatred to be targeted at Yano. We find out later that Yano and Midoriokawa were friends but some undisclosed event happened that made them fight, leading to Yano's outburst. We never find out what that was!
- There are reoccurring events of property destruction at the school during the course of the story. The baseball clubroom window is broken twice, and a classmate's shoes are shredded up. Midoriokawa makes a mention about Adachi's friend, Kasai, who she says "isn't a good person" when Adachi mentions the property destruction before disappearing. There's never any elaboration on this and leaves me wondering why it was even put in the story if it was never going to be resolved.
Despite the cons listed, I think they could easily be fixed if this wasn't in the light novel format. Light novels are generally under 50,000 words, if there was just more written to wrap up the loose ends and fix the pacing, I feel this would be a near perfect book. If you're curious about it, I still feel it is worth picking up and reading if you're really curious. 3.5/5 stars!
Warning for Spoilers!!
PROS:
- the way this depicts a bullying mindset, especially in the eyes of middle school students. Despite the back of the book saying these are high school students, Adachi states that they are junior high students. In Japan, high school actually has 3 grades, the equivalent of 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. Going off that, you can assume these teens are about 14 to 15 years old. The way Adachi goes about the reasoning for bullying is so so SO much like what I experienced in middle school, along with showing that bullying and harassment is not something that occurs exclusively due to the bully having insecurities, like lots of anti-bullying campaigns and after school specials will tell you, rather, its that they find what makes someone DIFFERENT, someone that's a minority in some way or another, and zero in like heat-seeking missiles. In this case, the class latched onto Yano and her behavior which read as glaringly neurodivergent, especially autistic to me. I can say first hand that neurodivergent children and teenagers are HIGHLY likely to be targets of severe harassment and abuse at the hands of their peers. The way Adachi explained it as a "sense of unity," a way for all the kids in his class, no matter their interests or friend groups, could all band together against the class punching bag for daring to not behave like they do, and not even bother to try to understand her. This felt very raw and realistic, and the author nailed that on the head.
- The internal conflict for Adachi of him struggling with his own morals and actions, of being a physical monster at night but a metaphorical one during the day. Whether people think so or not, being a teenager is really a scary time in your life. There's so much peer pressure to deal with in schools, and teenagers can be incredibly cruel and spiteful towards each other. Seeing Adachi struggle with wanting to protect Yano's midnight break but still being unable to stand up for her and even being a bully himself during the day was a very raw and realistic struggle for a character his age, and seeing how he had a serious self evaluation near the end when Yano asked him a question she initially asked when first meeting him, "Which is your real form? Daytime or Nighttime?" was quite intense to read.
- Yano herself is really quite the interesting character. She seems to be heavily autistic coded, as she has an irregular speech pattern, is often told she is "making the wrong face at the wrong time" (a part of her character is that she always seems to be "smugly smiling," we find out later she apparently only does this when she is afraid :c ), and told that she "can't/doesn't read the room." I really liked her character as she's a lot smarter than people think, imaginative, and brave.
CONS:
- THE PACING. WOW. The events of this book all span in about two weeks, but I feel like so much of it is spent with Adachi still initially disliking Yano, and it isn't until the last ten pages of the book that he actually publicly, in front of his class, shows that he acknowledges Yano. He didn't need to share a grand speech to his classmates about their treatment towards her and have them all clap in the end, no, but I feel with even just one more chapter or two where he acknowledges her in class, maybe continues to have midnight break even after he stops becoming a monster at night, idk SOMETHING to show that he's really truly changing. The very ending felt very rushed.
- The main reason that the class has zeroed in on Yano as their target is an incident involving Yano going up to a quiet classmate, Midoriokawa, and throwing her book out of the class window. Midoriokawa is generally well liked, and never says much else besides "Mm," to her classmates, so this sudden act of aggression came as a huge surprise to the class, and caused a lot of hatred to be targeted at Yano. We find out later that Yano and Midoriokawa were friends but some undisclosed event happened that made them fight, leading to Yano's outburst. We never find out what that was!
- There are reoccurring events of property destruction at the school during the course of the story. The baseball clubroom window is broken twice, and a classmate's shoes are shredded up. Midoriokawa makes a mention about Adachi's friend, Kasai, who she says "isn't a good person" when Adachi mentions the property destruction before disappearing. There's never any elaboration on this and leaves me wondering why it was even put in the story if it was never going to be resolved.
Despite the cons listed, I think they could easily be fixed if this wasn't in the light novel format. Light novels are generally under 50,000 words, if there was just more written to wrap up the loose ends and fix the pacing, I feel this would be a near perfect book. If you're curious about it, I still feel it is worth picking up and reading if you're really curious. 3.5/5 stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2022
Skor asli 4,9/5 bintang
At Night, I Become a Monster bercerita tentang Adachi yg saat malam berubah menjadi monster. Karena bukunya tertinggal, Adachi pergi ke sekolah di malam hari dan bertemu Yano. Lewat keseharian Adachi, pembaca diajak menyelami perisakan yg terjadi di kelas 3-2.
Swipe gambar untuk lihat hal yg aku suka dan kurang suka dari buku ini. Overall, aku gak bisa kasih genap 5 bintang karena ingat seberapa lambatnya pace novel ini dan aku cukup struggling di awal buku.
Oya, sosok monster Adachi ini aspek fantasi yg gak perlu terlalu kamu pikirkan menurutku. Bisa dibilang ini sentuhan magical realism yg biasa ada di buku Jepang.
Aku rasa buku ini cocok buat memperkenalkan hal-hal yg mungkin dianggap biasa saja oleh remaja bahwa hal tersebut bagian dari bullying dan menyisakan luka buat korban. Karena saat remaja tuh kadang emang manusia belum berakal. Apalagi di tengah peer presure. Bisa dibilang buku ini penuh politik yg umum terjadi di masa sekolah. Ada gerombolan anak populer, anak yg biasa saja, dan anak yg berbeda (dan rentan jadi korban bullying).
Bagian paling berkesan di buku ini jelas konflik batin Adachi di tengah bullying. Hal ini jugalah yg bikin aku suka banget sama buku ini.
Bagian favoritku di akhir ketika ucapan salam dan ketika Yano bilang begini ke Adachi. Huhu pengen peluk Yano dan Adachi T_T
Yep itu kutipan gak salah tulis. Itu diucapkan sama Yano. Meski gak diulas lebih dalam, aku rasa Yano ini autis. Dia kerap ga bisa baca suasana, agak gak tanggap, dan gaya bicaranya juga beda (terlihat dari penulisan dialog Yano).
Dan karena buku ini fokus banget dari sudut Adachi. Jadi banyak karakter gak dieksplor lebih. Aku pribadi penasaran sama konflik awal pemicu bullying dan Kasai. Tapi ya saat sampai akhir buku, aku ya lega aja sih. Kadang kita kan gak tahu dan gak perlu tahu juga semua cerita buat mendapatkan manfaat ya. :)
Anyway, buku ini membuatku ingat masa lalu, ketika aku berada di posisi mirip Adachi...
Kupikir udah aku lupakan, tapi pas baca buku ini, aku langsung ingat kejadian hari itu. Suasananya, cara dan ekspresi temanku yg bertanya kenapa aku ikut mengucilkan korban, dan alasan yg membuat X dikucilkan.... Maafkan aku.
Masih banyak hal yg pengen kuceritain soal buku ini sebenarnya, tapi terbatas tempat hiks. :'(
Terakhir, kalau kamu suka A Monster Call dan Gadis Minimarket, cobalah juga buku ini!
At Night, I Become a Monster bercerita tentang Adachi yg saat malam berubah menjadi monster. Karena bukunya tertinggal, Adachi pergi ke sekolah di malam hari dan bertemu Yano. Lewat keseharian Adachi, pembaca diajak menyelami perisakan yg terjadi di kelas 3-2.
Swipe gambar untuk lihat hal yg aku suka dan kurang suka dari buku ini. Overall, aku gak bisa kasih genap 5 bintang karena ingat seberapa lambatnya pace novel ini dan aku cukup struggling di awal buku.
Oya, sosok monster Adachi ini aspek fantasi yg gak perlu terlalu kamu pikirkan menurutku. Bisa dibilang ini sentuhan magical realism yg biasa ada di buku Jepang.
Aku rasa buku ini cocok buat memperkenalkan hal-hal yg mungkin dianggap biasa saja oleh remaja bahwa hal tersebut bagian dari bullying dan menyisakan luka buat korban. Karena saat remaja tuh kadang emang manusia belum berakal. Apalagi di tengah peer presure. Bisa dibilang buku ini penuh politik yg umum terjadi di masa sekolah. Ada gerombolan anak populer, anak yg biasa saja, dan anak yg berbeda (dan rentan jadi korban bullying).
Bagian paling berkesan di buku ini jelas konflik batin Adachi di tengah bullying. Hal ini jugalah yg bikin aku suka banget sama buku ini.
"Mana sosokmu, yang sebenarnya? Yang malam atau, yang siang?" (h. 263)
Bagian favoritku di akhir ketika ucapan salam dan ketika Yano bilang begini ke Adachi. Huhu pengen peluk Yano dan Adachi T_T
"Aku, Acchi, kun, dan anak-anak tadi semuanya be, da. Wajar kalau be, da. Tidak mungkin ta, hu pikiran orang lain." (h. 275)
Yep itu kutipan gak salah tulis. Itu diucapkan sama Yano. Meski gak diulas lebih dalam, aku rasa Yano ini autis. Dia kerap ga bisa baca suasana, agak gak tanggap, dan gaya bicaranya juga beda (terlihat dari penulisan dialog Yano).
Dan karena buku ini fokus banget dari sudut Adachi. Jadi banyak karakter gak dieksplor lebih. Aku pribadi penasaran sama konflik awal pemicu bullying dan Kasai. Tapi ya saat sampai akhir buku, aku ya lega aja sih. Kadang kita kan gak tahu dan gak perlu tahu juga semua cerita buat mendapatkan manfaat ya. :)
Anyway, buku ini membuatku ingat masa lalu, ketika aku berada di posisi mirip Adachi...
Kupikir udah aku lupakan, tapi pas baca buku ini, aku langsung ingat kejadian hari itu. Suasananya, cara dan ekspresi temanku yg bertanya kenapa aku ikut mengucilkan korban, dan alasan yg membuat X dikucilkan.... Maafkan aku.
Masih banyak hal yg pengen kuceritain soal buku ini sebenarnya, tapi terbatas tempat hiks. :'(
Terakhir, kalau kamu suka A Monster Call dan Gadis Minimarket, cobalah juga buku ini!
June 6, 2020
How about spending the night at school; plus with a monster!
But, obviously when she comes across so many monsters during the day, why not spend the night with just a real one.
"The fact that I followed her was not conscientiousness but soft hearted foolishness"
P.S.- this is not a sweet romance novel ^_^
But, obviously when she comes across so many monsters during the day, why not spend the night with just a real one.
"The fact that I followed her was not conscientiousness but soft hearted foolishness"
P.S.- this is not a sweet romance novel ^_^
September 4, 2019
I really like Yoru Sumino's books as she expresses a unique view of the world through the words she uses and the story of the book. However, I wasn't really hooked to this story until around the middle of the story. The story "chapters" were split into night and morning/afternoon, and from my perspective, the story was kind of boring and I couldn't understand the message. The story didn't move forward much, but I really like the ending. I felt a bit weird of how it concluded, but it all made sense at the end. The protagonist's confusion of who is the real he, the one during morning/afternoon, or the one during the night? His realization of how Yano was feeling this whole time changed everything, and although the people surrounding him won't accept his change, he finally figured out everything.
December 24, 2022
Viết về bạo lực học đường với một chút màu sắc fantasy, Yoru Sumino đã thổi một làn gió khá thú vị để từng người trong chúng ta ngồi xuống và nghĩ lại cái vấn đề này nhiều hơn một chút. Đây là lần thứ hai tớ đọc tiểu thuyết của Yoru, sau Tớ Muốn Ăn Tụy Của Cậu (tớ rất thích cuốn này, tớ đã đọc cả manga, xem cả anime và bản live action, rồi lần nào cũng khóc rấc nhèoo). Và cảm nhận cá nhân thì tớ thấy よるのばけもの dừng ở mức tạm ổn. Tớ đã được tiếp xúc với kha khá văn hoá phẩm tới từ Nhật với chủ đề bắt nạt học đường, từ phim ảnh tiểu thuyết âm nhạc tới nghệ thuật vẽ tranh các thứ nên không còn lạ lẫm nữa. Khi đọc よるのばけもの của Yoru, tớ nhớ tới Hóa Thân của Kafka và Sắc xanh còn mãi của Otsuichi. Hóa Thân của Kafka thì là một cuốn tạo cảm hứng cho rất nhiều tiểu thuyết và phim ảnh trên toàn thế giới, trong đó phải kể đến bộ manga Death Note, Vol. 1: Boredom.
よるのばけもの bắt đầu với những đoạn nhân vật chính của chúng ta miêu tả từng hạt đen ngòm và những cảm giác ập tới khi biến thành một sinh vật không phải con người vào mỗi buổi đêm. Và tớ thấy đoạn văn thứ hai trong ngay phần < 火 • 夜 > (Thứ ba • Đêm) mở đầu viết khá hay:
「今日は、目から黒い粒が一滴の涙の姿で零れ落ちた。一粒一粒、止まらない涙のような それは徐々に勢いを増し、やがて滝のように両目から溢れる。うぞうぞと蠢く黒い粒は顔 うごめ を覆い隠し、首から胸、腕、腰、そして指の一本一本にまで流れ全身を覆っていく。」
❝Hôm nay, những hạt đen trào ra từ khoé mắt tôi dưới hình dạng giọt nước. Thứ đó tựa như dòng nước mắt không ngừng tuôn không thể ngăn cản, thoạt đầu rơi từng hạt rồi dần dần dồn dập tăng lên, cuối cùng trào ra khỏi hai mắt như thác nước. Những hạt đen lổm ngổm lúc nhúc che phủ gương mặt tôi, lan từ cổ xuống ngực, cánh tay, hông, rồi đến từng ngón tay một, cuối cùng phủ kín toàn cơ thể.❞
Và rồi vụ rượt đuổi trong đêm tại trường học cũng làm tớ nhớ cuộc rượt đuổi trong Sắc xanh còn mãi. Mỗi tội ở phiên bản kỳ ảo của sự biến hoá quái vật hơn.
よるのばけもの không đưa ra một biện pháp để giải quyết vấn đề hay mỗi cái kết hạnh phúc, tớ thấy Yoru tạo ra một vòng lặp luẩn quẩn giữa kẻ bị bắt nạt rồi kẻ sẽ bị bắt nạt, dù gì cũng tới như nhau cả thôi. Tớ cũng không cần một biện pháp, vì tớ biết vấn đề này sẽ mãi tồn tại. Dù sao cũng là light novel nên yếu tố giật gân, một chút ý nghĩa, một chút yếu tố kỳ ảo đã tạo nên cuốn tiểu thuyết này một cách đủ và ổn, nên tớ không đòi hỏi gì thêm nữa.
Trong よるのばけもの, thỉnh thoảng Yoru sẽ cho nhân vật chính tự vấn về tình hình hiện tại để cậu ta hiểu mọi thứ hơn, như thể đồng thời dẫn dắt độc giả mở khoá sự thực và đặt tên cho các sự việc một cách rõ ràng hơn. Yano ăn nói kỳ quặc, ngắt câu linh tinh tới mức độ khó nghe, lúc nào cũng có thái độ nhơn nhởn, rồi thỉnh thoảng còn làm hành động bắt nạt lại một số bạn trong lớp. Nếu ai đọc cuốn này bản gốc thì sẽ thấy cái việc ăn nói ngắt nghỉ câu linh tinh của Yano rõ nét lắm, kiểu như 「あり、がとう、ね」(Cả,m ơ,n n,hé) nên thực sự khá khó nắm được ý của bạn nữ này. Yano là tâm điểm của sự ghét bỏ từ cả lớp, từ những kẻ đầu têu bắt nạt, những kẻ ghét bỏ thực sự, những kẻ hùa theo và những kẻ nhát không dám bảo vệ nên phải hùa theo bất đắc dĩ.
Một thành viên của lớp tên Midorikawa là một nhân vật đặc biệt với tớ, vì đơn giản tớ thấy tớ khá giống bạn này. Midorikawa thì không hề thân thiện với lớp, lúc nào cũng chỉ trả lời "ừ" chẳng quan tâm mọi chuyện, luôn ở riêng với cái thế giới toàn là sách của mình. Đáng lẽ nếu bạn ấy ở lớp khác thì tớ nghĩ sẽ là đối tượng bị xa lánh hoặc bắt nạt không chừng. Nhưng vì Yano đã có hành động không tử tế với Midorikawa nên cả lớp đã trở nên yêu thương Midorikawa hơn. Yeah, kẻ thù của kẻ thù là bạn kiểu vậy. Bản thân tớ thì không tới mức bị cả lớp bắt nạt, nhưng tớ nghĩ tớ là đối tượng được quyền riêng tư tuyệt đối nếu tớ muốn. Với vài sự việc mà xảy ra trong sách nữa, tớ thấy Yano làm việc không tử tế với một số thành viên trong lớp là để bảo vệ họ, để cả lớp sẽ yêu thương những người đó và không tẩy chay họ.
Khác với suy nghĩ ban đầu của Adachi, không phải Yano ghét Midorikawa nhất mà con bé thương Midori nhất thì đúng hơn. Con bé biết cách nói cho Midori rằng ừ đấy hãy mượn sách thư viện đi để có cái cớ khiến cả lớp không thể ghét mình được. Ngoài ra việc Midorikawa tung tín hiệu cho Adachi rằng Sakai không phải người tốt đâu là cũng như một sự cầu cứu, rằng thằng Sakai này tuy chẳng làm gì nhưng nó biết cách lợi dụng tình hình để làm mọi chuyện to hơn. Con bé Kudo thì xấu tính nhất và cũng đáng thương nhất khi cố bắt nạt Yano với thái độ rõ ràng để cả lớp thấy mà quý mến mình. Yoru cũng rải hint để độc giả ngồi suy ngẫm với nhau xem những cái bóng, những việc làm ẩn danh mà liên tục đổ lỗi rồi nghi ngờ nhau thực sự là do ai làm, và việc này thì cuốn tiểu thuyết có thêm xíu màu sắc trinh thám nữa.
Nhân vật chính Adachi càng lúc càng suy nghĩ và phân tích vấn đề nhiều hơn, tới một khi cậu phải phân tích vấn đề của chính bản thân mình. Đó là mình là quái vật, hay "mình trong đêm" mới là quái vật thực sự? Đây là một nghịch lý do Yoru tạo ra, ấy là bản chất thì đêm tới Adachi biến thành quái vật theo mặt hình thể, nhưng tới lúc đó có vẻ như cậu mới tự tin đối xử tử tế với Yano, hay ta gọi là bản chất tốt đẹp. Yano đã từng hỏi việc này nhiều lần, rằng cậu sinh ra là quái vật hay là con người? Cậu là từ quái vật biến thành hay quái vật là từ cậu biến thành? Tớ nghĩ cậu ta có sự lựa chọn cho bản thân mình, rằng việc cả hai chỉ là một thôi, và cả hai đều không quá xấu xa đâu.
Tới đoạn cuối, khi Adachi chào lại Yano trong sự ngỡ ngàng của mọi người trong lớp, báo hiệu việc Adachi sẽ là đối tượng mới ngon lành để tẩy chay, thì Yano đã nói rằng cuối cùng cũng gặp được nhau rồi. Đây là cuối cùng đã gặp được một bản thể duy nhất, một con quái vật trong lốt người. Hay ở nghịch lý trong よるのばけもの thì bản chất tử tế đã tự tin hiện hữu ở cái thứ đáng sợ là lòng người kia.
Tiếng Nhật trong cuốn tiểu thuyết này được Yoru tận dụng khéo léo nên đã trở nên khá thú vị. Từ cách dùng trợ từ nhân xưng boku 僕 cho ngôi thứ nhất, thể hiện được cái tôi của một cậu con trai tuổi mới lớn, cho đến việc khi cậu tới khi trời tối biến thành quái vật sẽ gọi mọi người theo cách lịch sự tử tế hơn buổi sáng. Rồi cả một cái mà tớ đã phải cãi nhau là nên dịch như nào. Cụm từ 仲間意識, tớ dịch là 'Ý thức cộng đồng'. Có những từ không thể chuyển ngữ sang một cách trọn vẹn, kể cả 仲間意識 hay 'ý thức cộng đồng' đều được giải thích rất dài. Việc ý thức cộng đồng được phụ thuộc vào số đông và có lợi cho số đông không chứng minh được số đông đúng hay sai, những thứ luật lệ ngầm phát sinh từ ý thức cộng đồng đều không đảm bảo sẽ tốt đẹp với tất cả mọi người. Và rằng vì lớp học là một xã hội thu nhỏ, nên tớ đã khẳng định cụm từ mang hàm nghĩa tình cảm sâu sắc bạn bè số đông, những việc có lợi cho số đông là ý thức cộng đồng.
Adachi phá vỡ cái ý thức cộng đồng đã sai lệch, làm mất sự cân bằng của việc loài người sống đồng lòng theo một thứ gì đó. Phá vỡ lối mòn là một điều mạo hiểm và sẽ bị tẩy chay. Lớp học là một cái xã hội thu nhỏ ngu ngốc. Khi Adachi nói rằng mình đã ngủ ngon, tớ nghĩ con quái vật cấu từ những hạt đen không tồn tại nữa, vì cậu đã hoàn toàn kiểm soát được nó, gộp nó thành một sinh vật mới gồm cả cậu và nó. Một sinh vật đủ nhân từ và trọn vẹn.
Tớ thích bìa bản bunko này, nó tái tạo được cái màn đêm tĩnh mịch kỳ lạ nơi những "giờ nghỉ giải lao đêm" được diễn ra, nơi mà tới cuối Adachi mới hiểu được rằng tại sao Yano nhất quyết tới trường vào ban đêm suốt để có được nó, khi tất cả những "chuyện ban ngày" đều không được phép nhắc tới. Đối với Yano thì một ngày đi học không chỉ dừng lại ở buổi sáng nữa, những giây phút trốn khỏi thực tại ở ban đêm khiến con bé cảm thấy mình là một người được màn đêm trân trọng, về đêm ai cũng như nhau cả. Chính vì màn đêm yêu thương con bé nhiều hơn nên có thể do đó khi lần đầu gặp Adachi trong bộ dạng quái vật con bé chỉ bất ngờ chứ chẳng hề sợ hãi. Trong hình bìa Yano đối diện với cả hai mặt của Adachi một cách nhẹ nhõm.
Không phải chỉ quái vật thì mới xấu xa.
Ý thức cộng đồng sai lệch mới đáng kinh tởm.
Cuốn này có bản dịch tiếng Việt của nhà Wings book tên là Quái vật trong đêm . Cơ mà nếu là tớ thì tớ sẽ để tên sách là 'Quái vật của màn đêm', vì tớ thấy nó diễn tả được những điều tuyệt vời đối với Adachi vì sống thật bản thân và Yano thì được an toàn đều thuộc về màn đêm í. Ngoài ra bản bìa Việt lấy từ bìa bản tankou, mà tớ không thích bìa này lắm. Yano và Adachi trong bìa này như đối đầu nhau í, quái vật cũng không rõ nét Adachi nữa.
よるのばけもの bắt đầu với những đoạn nhân vật chính của chúng ta miêu tả từng hạt đen ngòm và những cảm giác ập tới khi biến thành một sinh vật không phải con người vào mỗi buổi đêm. Và tớ thấy đoạn văn thứ hai trong ngay phần < 火 • 夜 > (Thứ ba • Đêm) mở đầu viết khá hay:
「今日は、目から黒い粒が一滴の涙の姿で零れ落ちた。一粒一粒、止まらない涙のような それは徐々に勢いを増し、やがて滝のように両目から溢れる。うぞうぞと蠢く黒い粒は顔 うごめ を覆い隠し、首から胸、腕、腰、そして指の一本一本にまで流れ全身を覆っていく。」
❝Hôm nay, những hạt đen trào ra từ khoé mắt tôi dưới hình dạng giọt nước. Thứ đó tựa như dòng nước mắt không ngừng tuôn không thể ngăn cản, thoạt đầu rơi từng hạt rồi dần dần dồn dập tăng lên, cuối cùng trào ra khỏi hai mắt như thác nước. Những hạt đen lổm ngổm lúc nhúc che phủ gương mặt tôi, lan từ cổ xuống ngực, cánh tay, hông, rồi đến từng ngón tay một, cuối cùng phủ kín toàn cơ thể.❞
Và rồi vụ rượt đuổi trong đêm tại trường học cũng làm tớ nhớ cuộc rượt đuổi trong Sắc xanh còn mãi. Mỗi tội ở phiên bản kỳ ảo của sự biến hoá quái vật hơn.
よるのばけもの không đưa ra một biện pháp để giải quyết vấn đề hay mỗi cái kết hạnh phúc, tớ thấy Yoru tạo ra một vòng lặp luẩn quẩn giữa kẻ bị bắt nạt rồi kẻ sẽ bị bắt nạt, dù gì cũng tới như nhau cả thôi. Tớ cũng không cần một biện pháp, vì tớ biết vấn đề này sẽ mãi tồn tại. Dù sao cũng là light novel nên yếu tố giật gân, một chút ý nghĩa, một chút yếu tố kỳ ảo đã tạo nên cuốn tiểu thuyết này một cách đủ và ổn, nên tớ không đòi hỏi gì thêm nữa.
Trong よるのばけもの, thỉnh thoảng Yoru sẽ cho nhân vật chính tự vấn về tình hình hiện tại để cậu ta hiểu mọi thứ hơn, như thể đồng thời dẫn dắt độc giả mở khoá sự thực và đặt tên cho các sự việc một cách rõ ràng hơn. Yano ăn nói kỳ quặc, ngắt câu linh tinh tới mức độ khó nghe, lúc nào cũng có thái độ nhơn nhởn, rồi thỉnh thoảng còn làm hành động bắt nạt lại một số bạn trong lớp. Nếu ai đọc cuốn này bản gốc thì sẽ thấy cái việc ăn nói ngắt nghỉ câu linh tinh của Yano rõ nét lắm, kiểu như 「あり、がとう、ね」(Cả,m ơ,n n,hé) nên thực sự khá khó nắm được ý của bạn nữ này. Yano là tâm điểm của sự ghét bỏ từ cả lớp, từ những kẻ đầu têu bắt nạt, những kẻ ghét bỏ thực sự, những kẻ hùa theo và những kẻ nhát không dám bảo vệ nên phải hùa theo bất đắc dĩ.
Một thành viên của lớp tên Midorikawa là một nhân vật đặc biệt với tớ, vì đơn giản tớ thấy tớ khá giống bạn này. Midorikawa thì không hề thân thiện với lớp, lúc nào cũng chỉ trả lời "ừ" chẳng quan tâm mọi chuyện, luôn ở riêng với cái thế giới toàn là sách của mình. Đáng lẽ nếu bạn ấy ở lớp khác thì tớ nghĩ sẽ là đối tượng bị xa lánh hoặc bắt nạt không chừng. Nhưng vì Yano đã có hành động không tử tế với Midorikawa nên cả lớp đã trở nên yêu thương Midorikawa hơn. Yeah, kẻ thù của kẻ thù là bạn kiểu vậy. Bản thân tớ thì không tới mức bị cả lớp bắt nạt, nhưng tớ nghĩ tớ là đối tượng được quyền riêng tư tuyệt đối nếu tớ muốn. Với vài sự việc mà xảy ra trong sách nữa, tớ thấy Yano làm việc không tử tế với một số thành viên trong lớp là để bảo vệ họ, để cả lớp sẽ yêu thương những người đó và không tẩy chay họ.
Khác với suy nghĩ ban đầu của Adachi, không phải Yano ghét Midorikawa nhất mà con bé thương Midori nhất thì đúng hơn. Con bé biết cách nói cho Midori rằng ừ đấy hãy mượn sách thư viện đi để có cái cớ khiến cả lớp không thể ghét mình được. Ngoài ra việc Midorikawa tung tín hiệu cho Adachi rằng Sakai không phải người tốt đâu là cũng như một sự cầu cứu, rằng thằng Sakai này tuy chẳng làm gì nhưng nó biết cách lợi dụng tình hình để làm mọi chuyện to hơn. Con bé Kudo thì xấu tính nhất và cũng đáng thương nhất khi cố bắt nạt Yano với thái độ rõ ràng để cả lớp thấy mà quý mến mình. Yoru cũng rải hint để độc giả ngồi suy ngẫm với nhau xem những cái bóng, những việc làm ẩn danh mà liên tục đổ lỗi rồi nghi ngờ nhau thực sự là do ai làm, và việc này thì cuốn tiểu thuyết có thêm xíu màu sắc trinh thám nữa.
Nhân vật chính Adachi càng lúc càng suy nghĩ và phân tích vấn đề nhiều hơn, tới một khi cậu phải phân tích vấn đề của chính bản thân mình. Đó là mình là quái vật, hay "mình trong đêm" mới là quái vật thực sự? Đây là một nghịch lý do Yoru tạo ra, ấy là bản chất thì đêm tới Adachi biến thành quái vật theo mặt hình thể, nhưng tới lúc đó có vẻ như cậu mới tự tin đối xử tử tế với Yano, hay ta gọi là bản chất tốt đẹp. Yano đã từng hỏi việc này nhiều lần, rằng cậu sinh ra là quái vật hay là con người? Cậu là từ quái vật biến thành hay quái vật là từ cậu biến thành? Tớ nghĩ cậu ta có sự lựa chọn cho bản thân mình, rằng việc cả hai chỉ là một thôi, và cả hai đều không quá xấu xa đâu.
Tới đoạn cuối, khi Adachi chào lại Yano trong sự ngỡ ngàng của mọi người trong lớp, báo hiệu việc Adachi sẽ là đối tượng mới ngon lành để tẩy chay, thì Yano đã nói rằng cuối cùng cũng gặp được nhau rồi. Đây là cuối cùng đã gặp được một bản thể duy nhất, một con quái vật trong lốt người. Hay ở nghịch lý trong よるのばけもの thì bản chất tử tế đã tự tin hiện hữu ở cái thứ đáng sợ là lòng người kia.
Tiếng Nhật trong cuốn tiểu thuyết này được Yoru tận dụng khéo léo nên đã trở nên khá thú vị. Từ cách dùng trợ từ nhân xưng boku 僕 cho ngôi thứ nhất, thể hiện được cái tôi của một cậu con trai tuổi mới lớn, cho đến việc khi cậu tới khi trời tối biến thành quái vật sẽ gọi mọi người theo cách lịch sự tử tế hơn buổi sáng. Rồi cả một cái mà tớ đã phải cãi nhau là nên dịch như nào. Cụm từ 仲間意識, tớ dịch là 'Ý thức cộng đồng'. Có những từ không thể chuyển ngữ sang một cách trọn vẹn, kể cả 仲間意識 hay 'ý thức cộng đồng' đều được giải thích rất dài. Việc ý thức cộng đồng được phụ thuộc vào số đông và có lợi cho số đông không chứng minh được số đông đúng hay sai, những thứ luật lệ ngầm phát sinh từ ý thức cộng đồng đều không đảm bảo sẽ tốt đẹp với tất cả mọi người. Và rằng vì lớp học là một xã hội thu nhỏ, nên tớ đã khẳng định cụm từ mang hàm nghĩa tình cảm sâu sắc bạn bè số đông, những việc có lợi cho số đông là ý thức cộng đồng.
Adachi phá vỡ cái ý thức cộng đồng đã sai lệch, làm mất sự cân bằng của việc loài người sống đồng lòng theo một thứ gì đó. Phá vỡ lối mòn là một điều mạo hiểm và sẽ bị tẩy chay. Lớp học là một cái xã hội thu nhỏ ngu ngốc. Khi Adachi nói rằng mình đã ngủ ngon, tớ nghĩ con quái vật cấu từ những hạt đen không tồn tại nữa, vì cậu đã hoàn toàn kiểm soát được nó, gộp nó thành một sinh vật mới gồm cả cậu và nó. Một sinh vật đủ nhân từ và trọn vẹn.
Tớ thích bìa bản bunko này, nó tái tạo được cái màn đêm tĩnh mịch kỳ lạ nơi những "giờ nghỉ giải lao đêm" được diễn ra, nơi mà tới cuối Adachi mới hiểu được rằng tại sao Yano nhất quyết tới trường vào ban đêm suốt để có được nó, khi tất cả những "chuyện ban ngày" đều không được phép nhắc tới. Đối với Yano thì một ngày đi học không chỉ dừng lại ở buổi sáng nữa, những giây phút trốn khỏi thực tại ở ban đêm khiến con bé cảm thấy mình là một người được màn đêm trân trọng, về đêm ai cũng như nhau cả. Chính vì màn đêm yêu thương con bé nhiều hơn nên có thể do đó khi lần đầu gặp Adachi trong bộ dạng quái vật con bé chỉ bất ngờ chứ chẳng hề sợ hãi. Trong hình bìa Yano đối diện với cả hai mặt của Adachi một cách nhẹ nhõm.
Không phải chỉ quái vật thì mới xấu xa.
Ý thức cộng đồng sai lệch mới đáng kinh tởm.
Cuốn này có bản dịch tiếng Việt của nhà Wings book tên là Quái vật trong đêm . Cơ mà nếu là tớ thì tớ sẽ để tên sách là 'Quái vật của màn đêm', vì tớ thấy nó diễn tả được những điều tuyệt vời đối với Adachi vì sống thật bản thân và Yano thì được an toàn đều thuộc về màn đêm í. Ngoài ra bản bìa Việt lấy từ bìa bản tankou, mà tớ không thích bìa này lắm. Yano và Adachi trong bìa này như đối đầu nhau í, quái vật cũng không rõ nét Adachi nữa.
March 1, 2017
住野よるさんの『君の膵臓をたべたい』『また、同じ夢を見ていた』のどちらも愛読したものとして、最新作には期待していたけど、期待も裏切られなかった。彼女らしい文章で、やっぱり最高だった。４時間で読破してしまうほど、引き込まれた。
結構マニアックな設定が多いはずなのに、なぜか引き込まれて、最後の方ではちょっとホロってしてしまうような、必ずしもスッキリした後味じゃなくても、何か心に残ったような、そんな感じ。
主人公のあっちーには誰にでも共感できるのではないだろうか。そのどっちかずな立場、彼の苦悩も、誰もが経験したものであり、もしかしたらいじめの場でなくても、自分のアイデンティティーについて悩んでいたら、ものすごく心に届く物語だと思う。やっぱりちょっとだけ書き方に癖があるから、彼女の本が苦手な人はあんまり受け付けないかもしれないけど、一回はまってしまったら、抜け出せません。（笑）
結構マニアックな設定が多いはずなのに、なぜか引き込まれて、最後の方ではちょっとホロってしてしまうような、必ずしもスッキリした後味じゃなくても、何か心に残ったような、そんな感じ。
主人公のあっちーには誰にでも共感できるのではないだろうか。そのどっちかずな立場、彼の苦悩も、誰もが経験したものであり、もしかしたらいじめの場でなくても、自分のアイデンティティーについて悩んでいたら、ものすごく心に届く物語だと思う。やっぱりちょっとだけ書き方に癖があるから、彼女の本が苦手な人はあんまり受け付けないかもしれないけど、一回はまってしまったら、抜け出せません。（笑）
September 26, 2024
“I hadn't decided anything.
Even after thinking the whole night through, I was unable to choose a single course.
But I knew now, I realized, that both of my selves were reflected in Yano's eyes.
The me of the night, who could not ignore Yano-san.
The me of the day, who did not want to be hated.
Neither of them was a good person.
And so neither me could save you.
But I could at least hear your voice and return it in kind.
That was something that either side of me could do.”
Al principio me parecía un poco insoportable. Pero poco a poco, cuando vas conociendo a la persona desde los ojos del protagonista, te vas dando cuenta de que esa persona no es tan rara como parece. Por cierto, la trama gira en torno al acoso escolar. En el libro aparece de un modo peculiar pero me ha gustado bastante.
Even after thinking the whole night through, I was unable to choose a single course.
But I knew now, I realized, that both of my selves were reflected in Yano's eyes.
The me of the night, who could not ignore Yano-san.
The me of the day, who did not want to be hated.
Neither of them was a good person.
And so neither me could save you.
But I could at least hear your voice and return it in kind.
That was something that either side of me could do.”
Al principio me parecía un poco insoportable. Pero poco a poco, cuando vas conociendo a la persona desde los ojos del protagonista, te vas dando cuenta de que esa persona no es tan rara como parece. Por cierto, la trama gira en torno al acoso escolar. En el libro aparece de un modo peculiar pero me ha gustado bastante.
May 8, 2022
Trigger warning: Bullying
Apa kalian pernah membaca novel yang mengangkat isu bullying?
At Night, I Become a Monster sebuah novel yang berkisah tentang tokoh bernama Acchi yang mendapati dirinya suatu malam berubah menjadi monster. Anehnya, perubahannya menjadi sesosok monster yang menyeramkan justru tidak membuatnya heran atau panik. Malahan Acchi bisa menerimanya begitu saja. Hari-hari menjadi sesosok monster pun dilaluinya hingga suatu hari Acchi dibuat bingung oleh pertanyaan yang dilayangkan padanya, "Mana sosokmu yang sebenarnya? Yang malam, atau yang siang?"
___________________
Sewaktu baca judul novel ini dan lihat covernya aku sama sekali gak kepikiran bahwa tema yang diangkat oleh novel ini tentang bullying. Aku kira novel ini kisahnya tentang manusia yang berubah jadi monster terus menyelamatkan atau menghancurkan kota, cerita-cerita semacam itulah ya.
Memang iya tokoh utamanya berubah jadi monster, tapi cerita yang diangkat realistis dan dekat dengan kejadian sehari-hari. Pas diakhir aku akhirnya paham kenapa judulnya gini, terus malah jadi ketawa miris.
Kalau kata aku ya, novel ini tuh tentang ''politik kelas". Di mana ada remaja saling berkelompok, kemudian sama-sama melakukan perisakan ke salah satu anak. Walaupun ngerasa hal itu salah tetap aja dilakukan karena takut kalau gak ikut merisak nggak ditemani atau malah jadi yang dirisak.
Lalu ada yang memilih diam aja dan bersikap "netral", bermain aman untuk kepentingan diri sendiri, terus jadi merasa si paling baik karena sikap diamnya itu. Anak-anak remaja yang dikira masih polos kenyataannya bisa lebih kejam. Itulah salah satu poin yang aku rasa coba disampaikan oleh penulisnya.
Jujur, pas awal-awal baca akupun ngerasa bosan dan bingung sendiri. Nggak tahu ceritanya bakal dibawa ke mana dan maksudnya tuh apa. Baru pas ke sini, aku kaya semakin ikut diajak merenungi beberapa hal dalam hidup. Khususnya mengenai pertemanan pas jaman sekolah dulu. Jangan-jangan secara gak langsung aku pun pernah ikut merisak? Tapi merasa itu wajar aja karena semua orang juga melakukannya. Beneran bikin intropeksi diri deh.
Acchi si tokoh utama juga mengalami pergulatan batin tentang jati dirinya yang sebenarnya. Saat siang hari dia menolak untuk berinteraksi dengan tokoh Yano, si anak perempuan yang dirisak di kelas. Tapi di malam hari dengan sosok monsternya, Acchi justru berinteraksi dengan Yano, walaupun awalnya hal itu nggak disengaja. Apakah sosok manusia adalah wujud aslinya? Atau justru sosok monster saat malam hari itu adalah wujud aslinya? Yang mana? Sosok manusianya adalah wujud baiknya? Atau malah sosok monster menyeramkan justru wujud baiknya? Nah loh?
Novel ini juga memperlihatkan tahap perisakan dari mulai permusuhan dan pengabaian hingga akhirnya mulai menyentuh fisik. Anggota kelas yang tadinya diam saja kemudian mulai ikut-ikutan. Aku yang bacanya kaya "wah gila sih" tapi hal kaya gini emang beneran ada loh terjadi di dunia nyata.
Secara keseluruhan novel ini bagus banget! Aku gak berhenti terkesima pas di akhir begitu menyadari pesan apa yang dibawa oleh novel ini.
Aku rasa poin tentang jati diri kita yang sebenarnya yang mana tuh berlaku nggak cuma pas disatu lingkup aja. Mungkin kita jadi sosok A ketika di kantor, sosok B ketika dengan teman SMP, sosok C ketika dengan teman kuliah. Di antara sosok itu mungkin ada yang kita palsukan demi bisa berbaur.
Endingnya memang gak yang selesai gitu, lebih ke open ending. Tapi emang realistis gitu sih. Karena nggak mungkin tiba-tiba aja diceritanya situasi "politik kelas" di kelas Acchi berubah menjadi baik. Kenyataannya hidup nggak selalu semulus itu.
Aku merekomendasikan novel ini buat kalian yang emang tertarik baca cerita yang mengangkat isu bullying. Lewat novel bisa sama-sama merenungkan kembali sosok kita sebagai manusia.
Apa kalian pernah membaca novel yang mengangkat isu bullying?
At Night, I Become a Monster sebuah novel yang berkisah tentang tokoh bernama Acchi yang mendapati dirinya suatu malam berubah menjadi monster. Anehnya, perubahannya menjadi sesosok monster yang menyeramkan justru tidak membuatnya heran atau panik. Malahan Acchi bisa menerimanya begitu saja. Hari-hari menjadi sesosok monster pun dilaluinya hingga suatu hari Acchi dibuat bingung oleh pertanyaan yang dilayangkan padanya, "Mana sosokmu yang sebenarnya? Yang malam, atau yang siang?"
___________________
Sewaktu baca judul novel ini dan lihat covernya aku sama sekali gak kepikiran bahwa tema yang diangkat oleh novel ini tentang bullying. Aku kira novel ini kisahnya tentang manusia yang berubah jadi monster terus menyelamatkan atau menghancurkan kota, cerita-cerita semacam itulah ya.
Memang iya tokoh utamanya berubah jadi monster, tapi cerita yang diangkat realistis dan dekat dengan kejadian sehari-hari. Pas diakhir aku akhirnya paham kenapa judulnya gini, terus malah jadi ketawa miris.
Kalau kata aku ya, novel ini tuh tentang ''politik kelas". Di mana ada remaja saling berkelompok, kemudian sama-sama melakukan perisakan ke salah satu anak. Walaupun ngerasa hal itu salah tetap aja dilakukan karena takut kalau gak ikut merisak nggak ditemani atau malah jadi yang dirisak.
Lalu ada yang memilih diam aja dan bersikap "netral", bermain aman untuk kepentingan diri sendiri, terus jadi merasa si paling baik karena sikap diamnya itu. Anak-anak remaja yang dikira masih polos kenyataannya bisa lebih kejam. Itulah salah satu poin yang aku rasa coba disampaikan oleh penulisnya.
Jujur, pas awal-awal baca akupun ngerasa bosan dan bingung sendiri. Nggak tahu ceritanya bakal dibawa ke mana dan maksudnya tuh apa. Baru pas ke sini, aku kaya semakin ikut diajak merenungi beberapa hal dalam hidup. Khususnya mengenai pertemanan pas jaman sekolah dulu. Jangan-jangan secara gak langsung aku pun pernah ikut merisak? Tapi merasa itu wajar aja karena semua orang juga melakukannya. Beneran bikin intropeksi diri deh.
Acchi si tokoh utama juga mengalami pergulatan batin tentang jati dirinya yang sebenarnya. Saat siang hari dia menolak untuk berinteraksi dengan tokoh Yano, si anak perempuan yang dirisak di kelas. Tapi di malam hari dengan sosok monsternya, Acchi justru berinteraksi dengan Yano, walaupun awalnya hal itu nggak disengaja. Apakah sosok manusia adalah wujud aslinya? Atau justru sosok monster saat malam hari itu adalah wujud aslinya? Yang mana? Sosok manusianya adalah wujud baiknya? Atau malah sosok monster menyeramkan justru wujud baiknya? Nah loh?
Novel ini juga memperlihatkan tahap perisakan dari mulai permusuhan dan pengabaian hingga akhirnya mulai menyentuh fisik. Anggota kelas yang tadinya diam saja kemudian mulai ikut-ikutan. Aku yang bacanya kaya "wah gila sih" tapi hal kaya gini emang beneran ada loh terjadi di dunia nyata.
Secara keseluruhan novel ini bagus banget! Aku gak berhenti terkesima pas di akhir begitu menyadari pesan apa yang dibawa oleh novel ini.
Aku rasa poin tentang jati diri kita yang sebenarnya yang mana tuh berlaku nggak cuma pas disatu lingkup aja. Mungkin kita jadi sosok A ketika di kantor, sosok B ketika dengan teman SMP, sosok C ketika dengan teman kuliah. Di antara sosok itu mungkin ada yang kita palsukan demi bisa berbaur.
Endingnya memang gak yang selesai gitu, lebih ke open ending. Tapi emang realistis gitu sih. Karena nggak mungkin tiba-tiba aja diceritanya situasi "politik kelas" di kelas Acchi berubah menjadi baik. Kenyataannya hidup nggak selalu semulus itu.
Aku merekomendasikan novel ini buat kalian yang emang tertarik baca cerita yang mengangkat isu bullying. Lewat novel bisa sama-sama merenungkan kembali sosok kita sebagai manusia.
July 31, 2022
Hooo..
Walaupun awalnya masih bertanya mau dibawa ke mana cerita di buku ini, di akhir aku bisa menyimpulkan walaupun tidak sepenuhnya tahu konflik di buku ini.
Walaupun awalnya masih bertanya mau dibawa ke mana cerita di buku ini, di akhir aku bisa menyimpulkan walaupun tidak sepenuhnya tahu konflik di buku ini.
September 14, 2022
Oke, aku agak bingung sebenarnya, banyak pertanyaan yang nggak terjawab, tapi kayaknya, secara tersirat, jawaban itu ada... Biarpun agak bingung, aku tetap menikmati baca buku ini.
May 23, 2021
"ฉันคิดว่าทุกการกลั่นแกล้งมีเหตุผลของมัน" (หน้า 48)
เรื่องราวของ "อาดาจิ" ที่ค้นพบว่าตัวเองกลายร่างเป็นปีศาจทุกค่ำคืนอย่างไร้เหตุผล วันนึงหลังจากที่เขากลายร่างเป็นปีศาจ เขาได้แอบย่องเข้าไปในที่โรงเรียน และพบกับ "ยาโนะ" เพื่อนสาวร่วมห้องที่ถูกทุกคนในห้องรุมกลั่นแกล้ง ยาโนะนอกจากจะไม่ตกใจที่พบเขาในร่างปีศาจแล้ว ยังขอร้องให้เขาเก็บเรื่องที่เธอยังอยู่ที่โรงเรียนยามดึกไว้เป็นความลับอีก แถมยังตั้งคำถามแปลกๆ หลายอย่างกับเขา จนเขางุนงงกับพฤติกรรมและท่าทีของเธอ
เป็นหนังสือที่หยิบมาจากกองดอง สาเหตุที่ซื้อหนังสือเล่มนี้มาเพราะนักเขียนล้วนๆ เคยอ่าน "ฝันถึงเรื่องนั้นอีกแล้ว" แล้วประทับใจ พอมีผลงานใหม่แปลไทยออกมา ก็ซื้อทันที แต่สาเหตุที่ไม่หยิบมาอ่าน เพราะเราไม่เข้าใจว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้เกี่ยวกับอะไร คืออ่านจากคำโปรยปกหลังแล้วยังไม่เข้าใจ และเราก็มั่นใจว่าเนื้อเรื่องอย่างย่อที่เราย่อไว้ข้างต้นน่าจะสร้างความกระจ่างให้กับเล่มนี้ไม่ได้เช่นกัน (เอ้า!) 55555555
เล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือที่เกี่ยวกับ "การกลั่นแกล้ง" (Bullying) กันในโรงเรียนค่ะ ธีมหลังเป็นโรงเรียนมัธยมต้นแห่งหนึ่ง เหตุการณ์เกิดขึ้นในห้องเรียนห้องเดียว ซึ่งเป็นห้องที่ "อาดาจิ" หรือที่เพื่อนๆ เรียกกันอย่างสนิมสนมว่า "อัจจี้" กำลังเรียนอยู่ และ "ยาโนะ" เด็กที่ถูกทุกคนรุมกลั่นแกล้งก็อยู่ในห้องนั้นเช่นเดียวกัน โดยที่ทุกเหตุการณ์ทุกการกระทำเลวร้ายพวกนั้นอยู่ในสายตาของอาดาจิหมด
เป็นหนังสือที่แสดงให้เห็นถึงสถานการณ์การกลั่นแกล้งของพวกเด็กๆ ได้อย่างชัดเจนเลยค่ะ ทั้งในแง่ของเหยื่อที่ถูกแกล้ง ของคนที่แกล้ง และของคนที่เฉยเมย (พวกอิกนอร์เรนซ์นั่นแหละ) อาดาจิได้แบ่งจำพวกเพื่อนร่วมห้องเอาไว้ทั้งหมด 3 ประเภท ด้วยกัน กลุ่มแรกคือพวกแสดงออกชัดเจนและมักเล่นพรรคพวกกลั่นแกล้งคนอื่น กลุ่มสองคือพวกที่มีธงอยู่ในใจแล้วว่าเกลียดแต่ยังพอยั้งมือไม่กลั่นแกล้งมากนัก และกลุ่มที่สามคือพวกที่รู้ว่าใครคือคนผิดแต่ก็เลือกที่จะเฉยเมยต่อไป ซึ่งอาดาจินิยามตัวเองไว้ว่าอยู่กลุ่มที่สาม แล้วใครที่พลาดพลั้งเผลอเข้าข้างหรือไปช่วยเหลือเหยื่อแม้แต่นิดเดียว เตรียมตัวโดนเพื่อนทั้งห้องแบนได้เลย
แล้วเกี่ยวอะไรกับการที่อาดาจิกลายร่างเป็นปีศาจตอนกลางคืนล่ะ...? 55555
คืออย่างงี้นะ เรื่องการกลั่นแกล้งนั่นน่ะ เป็นเรื่องของ "กลางวัน" แต่เรื่องที่อาดาจิกลายร่างเป็นปีศาจเป็นเรื่องของ "กลางคืน"
หนังสือเล่มนี้แบ่งเรื่องเล่าเป็น 2 ช่วง คือ ช่วงกลางวัน ที่เพื่อนร่วมห้องต่างรุมแกล้งยาโนะกันอย่างสนุกสนาน โดยทุกอย่างอยู่ในการรับรู้ของอาดาจิ และเขาก็ไม่ได้ทำอะไรไปมากกว่าแค่มองทุกคนทำเรื่องแบบนั้น กับ ช่วงกลางคืน ที่อาดาจิ(ในร่างปีศาจ)แอบย่องเข้ามาในโรงเรียน มานั่งคุยเล่นกับยาโนะที่แอบเข้ามาในโรงเรียนเช่นกัน ถึงยาโนะจะตั้งกฎเอาไว้ชัดเจนว่า ไม่ควรเอาเรื่องเมื่อกลางวันมาพูดกันตอนกลางคืน แต่การได้มีโอกาสนั่งคุยเล่นไร้สาระกับยาโนะ ก็ทำให้อาดาจิได้รู้จักกั
บตัวตนของยาโนะขึ้นมาบ้าง แต่สุดท้ายพอวกกลับไปช่วงกลางวัน อาดาจิก็ยังทำตัวเฉยเมยเหมือนเดิม ปล่อยให้ยาโนะโดนกลั่นแกล้งต่อไปโดยที่ตัวเองไม่ทำอะไร
เพราะงั้นหนังสือเล่มนี้เลยไม่ใช่แนวแฟนตาซีที่มาตามหาวิธีแก้คำสาปการเป็นปีศาจของอาดาจิหรอก แต่เราคิดว่า การให้อาดาจิเป็นปีศาจแค่เฉพาะตอนกลางคืนน่าจะเป็นการเปรียบเปรยบางอย่างอย่างมีนัยยะของผู้เขียนมากกว่า อาดาจิผู้เป็นมนุษย์ตอนกลางวันและถูกเพื่อนๆ ในห้องมองว่า การเป็นมนุษย์แบบนั้นของอาดาจิเป็นเรื่องปกติ กับอาดาจิผู้กลายเป็นปีศาจตอนกลางคืน และมีเพียงยาโนะคนเดียวที่มองว่าร่างปีศาจของอาดาจินั่นแหละคือตัวจริงของเขา มันมีบางอย่างย้อนแย้งกันอยู่ เนื้อเรื่องก็เลยดูมีอะไรน่าค้นหาขึ้นมา ทำให้อยากรู้ว่าอาดาจิจะเมินเฉยต่อการที่ยาโนะถูกกลั่นแกล้งไปอีกถึงเมื่อไหร่ แล้วร่างปีศาจนั่นเกี่ยวอะไรกับเรื่องนี้รึเปล่า
สรุปคือ จากที่งงๆ กับคำโปรยปกหลังที่เดาทิศทางเรื่องไม่ถูก กลายเป็นว่าเล่มนี้คือเล่มโปรดของเราในปีนี้ไปเลย 5555 ลูกเล่นของผู้เขียนในการเล่าเรื่องนี้น่าประทับใจพอสมควร การสลับกลางคืนกับกลางวัน การทำให้เราเห็นความคิดตัวละครในทุกแง่มุม สะท้อนให้เห็นอะไรหลายๆ อย่างในสังคมขนาดเล็กที่เราเรียกว่า "ห้องเรียน" ได้อย่างแจ่มชัดเลย ฉากใจร้ายในเรื่องมีเยอะอยู่นะ รู้สึกทั้งสงสารตัวละครหลายคน แต่ก็งงๆ กับพฤติกรรมของตัวละครอีกหลายคนเช่นกัน เหมือนพวกเขายังไม่กล้าพอที่จะลุกขึ้นมาอยู่ข้างคว��มถูกต้อง เลยกลายเป็นพวกอิกนอร์เรนซ์ที่เพิกเฉยต่อความรุนแรงในห้องเรียน หรือบางคนกลับสนุกกับการใช้ความรุนแรงซะงั้น เป็นหนังสือที่กดดันและบีบคั้นความรู้สึกดีค่ะ ทำให้รู้ว่ามันไม่ใช่เรื่องง่ายเลยที่ต้องมาชั่งน้ำหนักระหว่างการเลือกทำสิ่งที่ไม่ถูกต้องเพื่อเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของสังคม กับการเลือกทำสิ่งที่ถูกต้องแต่จะต้องกลายเป็นแกะดำของสังคม
เรื่องราวของ "อาดาจิ" ที่ค้นพบว่าตัวเองกลายร่างเป็นปีศาจทุกค่ำคืนอย่างไร้เหตุผล วันนึงหลังจากที่เขากลายร่างเป็นปีศาจ เขาได้แอบย่องเข้าไปในที่โรงเรียน และพบกับ "ยาโนะ" เพื่อนสาวร่วมห้องที่ถูกทุกคนในห้องรุมกลั่นแกล้ง ยาโนะนอกจากจะไม่ตกใจที่พบเขาในร่างปีศาจแล้ว ยังขอร้องให้เขาเก็บเรื่องที่เธอยังอยู่ที่โรงเรียนยามดึกไว้เป็นความลับอีก แถมยังตั้งคำถามแปลกๆ หลายอย่างกับเขา จนเขางุนงงกับพฤติกรรมและท่าทีของเธอ
เป็นหนังสือที่หยิบมาจากกองดอง สาเหตุที่ซื้อหนังสือเล่มนี้มาเพราะนักเขียนล้วนๆ เคยอ่าน "ฝันถึงเรื่องนั้นอีกแล้ว" แล้วประทับใจ พอมีผลงานใหม่แปลไทยออกมา ก็ซื้อทันที แต่สาเหตุที่ไม่หยิบมาอ่าน เพราะเราไม่เข้าใจว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้เกี่ยวกับอะไร คืออ่านจากคำโปรยปกหลังแล้วยังไม่เข้าใจ และเราก็มั่นใจว่าเนื้อเรื่องอย่างย่อที่เราย่อไว้ข้างต้นน่าจะสร้างความกระจ่างให้กับเล่มนี้ไม่ได้เช่นกัน (เอ้า!) 55555555
เล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือที่เกี่ยวกับ "การกลั่นแกล้ง" (Bullying) กันในโรงเรียนค่ะ ธีมหลังเป็นโรงเรียนมัธยมต้นแห่งหนึ่ง เหตุการณ์เกิดขึ้นในห้องเรียนห้องเดียว ซึ่งเป็นห้องที่ "อาดาจิ" หรือที่เพื่อนๆ เรียกกันอย่างสนิมสนมว่า "อัจจี้" กำลังเรียนอยู่ และ "ยาโนะ" เด็กที่ถูกทุกคนรุมกลั่นแกล้งก็อยู่ในห้องนั้นเช่นเดียวกัน โดยที่ทุกเหตุการณ์ทุกการกระทำเลวร้ายพวกนั้นอยู่ในสายตาของอาดาจิหมด
เป็นหนังสือที่แสดงให้เห็นถึงสถานการณ์การกลั่นแกล้งของพวกเด็กๆ ได้อย่างชัดเจนเลยค่ะ ทั้งในแง่ของเหยื่อที่ถูกแกล้ง ของคนที่แกล้ง และของคนที่เฉยเมย (พวกอิกนอร์เรนซ์นั่นแหละ) อาดาจิได้แบ่งจำพวกเพื่อนร่วมห้องเอาไว้ทั้งหมด 3 ประเภท ด้วยกัน กลุ่มแรกคือพวกแสดงออกชัดเจนและมักเล่นพรรคพวกกลั่นแกล้งคนอื่น กลุ่มสองคือพวกที่มีธงอยู่ในใจแล้วว่าเกลียดแต่ยังพอยั้งมือไม่กลั่นแกล้งมากนัก และกลุ่มที่สามคือพวกที่รู้ว่าใครคือคนผิดแต่ก็เลือกที่จะเฉยเมยต่อไป ซึ่งอาดาจินิยามตัวเองไว้ว่าอยู่กลุ่มที่สาม แล้วใครที่พลาดพลั้งเผลอเข้าข้างหรือไปช่วยเหลือเหยื่อแม้แต่นิดเดียว เตรียมตัวโดนเพื่อนทั้งห้องแบนได้เลย
แล้วเกี่ยวอะไรกับการที่อาดาจิกลายร่างเป็นปีศาจตอนกลางคืนล่ะ...? 55555
คืออย่างงี้นะ เรื่องการกลั่นแกล้งนั่นน่ะ เป็นเรื่องของ "กลางวัน" แต่เรื่องที่อาดาจิกลายร่างเป็นปีศาจเป็นเรื่องของ "กลางคืน"
หนังสือเล่มนี้แบ่งเรื่องเล่าเป็น 2 ช่วง คือ ช่วงกลางวัน ที่เพื่อนร่วมห้องต่างรุมแกล้งยาโนะกันอย่างสนุกสนาน โดยทุกอย่างอยู่ในการรับรู้ของอาดาจิ และเขาก็ไม่ได้ทำอะไรไปมากกว่าแค่มองทุกคนทำเรื่องแบบนั้น กับ ช่วงกลางคืน ที่อาดาจิ(ในร่างปีศาจ)แอบย่องเข้ามาในโรงเรียน มานั่งคุยเล่นกับยาโนะที่แอบเข้ามาในโรงเรียนเช่นกัน ถึงยาโนะจะตั้งกฎเอาไว้ชัดเจนว่า ไม่ควรเอาเรื่องเมื่อกลางวันมาพูดกันตอนกลางคืน แต่การได้มีโอกาสนั่งคุยเล่นไร้สาระกับยาโนะ ก็ทำให้อาดาจิได้รู้จักกั
บตัวตนของยาโนะขึ้นมาบ้าง แต่สุดท้ายพอวกกลับไปช่วงกลางวัน อาดาจิก็ยังทำตัวเฉยเมยเหมือนเดิม ปล่อยให้ยาโนะโดนกลั่นแกล้งต่อไปโดยที่ตัวเองไม่ทำอะไร
เพราะงั้นหนังสือเล่มนี้เลยไม่ใช่แนวแฟนตาซีที่มาตามหาวิธีแก้คำสาปการเป็นปีศาจของอาดาจิหรอก แต่เราคิดว่า การให้อาดาจิเป็นปีศาจแค่เฉพาะตอนกลางคืนน่าจะเป็นการเปรียบเปรยบางอย่างอย่างมีนัยยะของผู้เขียนมากกว่า อาดาจิผู้เป็นมนุษย์ตอนกลางวันและถูกเพื่อนๆ ในห้องมองว่า การเป็นมนุษย์แบบนั้นของอาดาจิเป็นเรื่องปกติ กับอาดาจิผู้กลายเป็นปีศาจตอนกลางคืน และมีเพียงยาโนะคนเดียวที่มองว่าร่างปีศาจของอาดาจินั่นแหละคือตัวจริงของเขา มันมีบางอย่างย้อนแย้งกันอยู่ เนื้อเรื่องก็เลยดูมีอะไรน่าค้นหาขึ้นมา ทำให้อยากรู้ว่าอาดาจิจะเมินเฉยต่อการที่ยาโนะถูกกลั่นแกล้งไปอีกถึงเมื่อไหร่ แล้วร่างปีศาจนั่นเกี่ยวอะไรกับเรื่องนี้รึเปล่า
สรุปคือ จากที่งงๆ กับคำโปรยปกหลังที่เดาทิศทางเรื่องไม่ถูก กลายเป็นว่าเล่มนี้คือเล่มโปรดของเราในปีนี้ไปเลย 5555 ลูกเล่นของผู้เขียนในการเล่าเรื่องนี้น่าประทับใจพอสมควร การสลับกลางคืนกับกลางวัน การทำให้เราเห็นความคิดตัวละครในทุกแง่มุม สะท้อนให้เห็นอะไรหลายๆ อย่างในสังคมขนาดเล็กที่เราเรียกว่า "ห้องเรียน" ได้อย่างแจ่มชัดเลย ฉากใจร้ายในเรื่องมีเยอะอยู่นะ รู้สึกทั้งสงสารตัวละครหลายคน แต่ก็งงๆ กับพฤติกรรมของตัวละครอีกหลายคนเช่นกัน เหมือนพวกเขายังไม่กล้าพอที่จะลุกขึ้นมาอยู่ข้างคว��มถูกต้อง เลยกลายเป็นพวกอิกนอร์เรนซ์ที่เพิกเฉยต่อความรุนแรงในห้องเรียน หรือบางคนกลับสนุกกับการใช้ความรุนแรงซะงั้น เป็นหนังสือที่กดดันและบีบคั้นความรู้สึกดีค่ะ ทำให้รู้ว่ามันไม่ใช่เรื่องง่ายเลยที่ต้องมาชั่งน้ำหนักระหว่างการเลือกทำสิ่งที่ไม่ถูกต้องเพื่อเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของสังคม กับการเลือกทำสิ่งที่ถูกต้องแต่จะต้องกลายเป็นแกะดำของสังคม
July 16, 2021
hmm... I'm confused.. it's like I get it but I don't really understand it, like I miss something.
Trigger warning: Bullying
I think it's like a poetic story to help the main character to stay true to themselves eventhough his surrounding pretty much would berate or avoid him if they think he strayed from how he used to. Overall I like the story and the main character, I was confused why Yano did what she did but it explained later and it never cross my mind. It's not much but I'm glad Adachi did what he did in the end eventhough he may get the consequences from his classmate. Again, it's a nice story but a little confusing for me, maybe something lost in translation or just my brain? but it feels like I miss something that could make me like this book better.
Trigger warning: Bullying
I think it's like a poetic story to help the main character to stay true to themselves eventhough his surrounding pretty much would berate or avoid him if they think he strayed from how he used to. Overall I like the story and the main character, I was confused why Yano did what she did but it explained later and it never cross my mind. It's not much but I'm glad Adachi did what he did in the end eventhough he may get the consequences from his classmate. Again, it's a nice story but a little confusing for me, maybe something lost in translation or just my brain? but it feels like I miss something that could make me like this book better.
June 4, 2023
It wasn't what I was expected. I couldn't figure out what was happening over the story. It confused me over and over again, so I DNFing this one.
February 12, 2025
an interesting and easy read, but there were some plot elements that weren’t really wrapped up outright by the end. probably could have been a few chapters longer
May 19, 2022
buku Sumino Yoru pertama yang aku baca. di Indonesia sendiri, karyanya udah terbit beberapa. hal pertama yang aku rasakan selama membacanya adalah : ini aneh. khas literatur jepang. tapi aku suka.
dengan sedikit balutan realisme magis, kita diajak mengenali isu perundungan dengan cara dan sudut pandang yang berbeda. lewat sudut pandang tokoh utamanya, kita akan diajak memikirkan tentang pencarian jati diri anak SMP. jadi isu perundungan disini bukan dari karakter yang dirundung, melainkan dari karakter yang diem aja dan gak ngasi reaksi langsung. malahan tokoh yg dirundung sama sekali tidak menunjukkan reaksi tertekan ataupun hal negatif lainnya, malahan dia happy dan lebih menunjukkan reaksi yang aneh.
hal yang menurutku kurang digali lebih dalam lagi adalah mengenai character development nya. kaitan antar karakter itu gak diungkap sampai akhir. jadi kayak masi ada yg ganjel gitu. but, aku suka ceritanya.
buat kualitas terjemahannya juga oke banget. kak Andry setiawan menerjemahkan bukunya dengan luwes. bahasanya juga ngalir dan beberapa ada yg disesuaikan konteks dalam bahasa indo. suka deh
dengan sedikit balutan realisme magis, kita diajak mengenali isu perundungan dengan cara dan sudut pandang yang berbeda. lewat sudut pandang tokoh utamanya, kita akan diajak memikirkan tentang pencarian jati diri anak SMP. jadi isu perundungan disini bukan dari karakter yang dirundung, melainkan dari karakter yang diem aja dan gak ngasi reaksi langsung. malahan tokoh yg dirundung sama sekali tidak menunjukkan reaksi tertekan ataupun hal negatif lainnya, malahan dia happy dan lebih menunjukkan reaksi yang aneh.
hal yang menurutku kurang digali lebih dalam lagi adalah mengenai character development nya. kaitan antar karakter itu gak diungkap sampai akhir. jadi kayak masi ada yg ganjel gitu. but, aku suka ceritanya.
buat kualitas terjemahannya juga oke banget. kak Andry setiawan menerjemahkan bukunya dengan luwes. bahasanya juga ngalir dan beberapa ada yg disesuaikan konteks dalam bahasa indo. suka deh
May 9, 2022
หนังสือเกี่ยวกับเด็กชายคนหนึ่งที่เปลี่ยนร่างเป็นปีศาจในตอนกลางคืน และ เด็กหญิงคนหนึ่งที่ใช้ชีวิตอยุ่ในตอนกลางคืน
เพราะตอนกลางวันถูกบุลลี่
หนังสือทำได้ดีเกินคาดมาก ๆ ครึ่งเล่มหลังคืออ่านรวดเดียวจบ
มีความลุ้นว่าตัวเอกจะทำยังไงต่อ จะเกิดอะไรขึ้นกับคนที่ถูกบุลลี่
หนังสือตั้งคำถามสำคัญกับการปีศาจ และเงื่อนไขที่ลงตัวมาก ๆ ในการ contrast ปีศาจและผู้คน
อ่านแล้วตระหนักได้ถึงปัญหาการบุลลี่ในห้องเรียนได้ดีมาก กับคำโดน ๆ อย่าง
"ผู้ใหญ่มันไม่รู้หรอกว่าเด็ก ๆ ต้องเจออะไรมาบ้าง"
"ทำไมผู้ใหญ่ถึงรู้ว่าเกิดอะไรขึ้นแต่ไม่ทำอะไรสักอย่าง"
นอกจากนี้ยังแสดงให้เห็นถึง จิตวิทยา peer pressure อย่างเข้มข้น
โดยเฉพาะสังคมญี่ปุ่นที่ เน้นเรื่องความรวมกลุ่ม เป็นหนึ่งเดียวกัน เพราะฉะนั้นหากใครแปลกแยกไปก็จะโดนตราหน้า
แต่สุดท้ายก็พูดว่า "ทุกคน ก็ต่างกันหมดนั่นแหละ" แต่จริง ๆ แล้วแกล้งทำเป็นเหมือน ๆ กันเพื่อจะได้รับการยอมรับต่างหาก
หนังสือดี ๆ อ่านแล้วไม่ลืมแน่ ๆ เนื้อเรื่องเข้มข้น
หนังสือพูดถึงเรื่อง "กฏของเพื่อน"
เพราะตอนกลางวันถูกบุลลี่
หนังสือทำได้ดีเกินคาดมาก ๆ ครึ่งเล่มหลังคืออ่านรวดเดียวจบ
มีความลุ้นว่าตัวเอกจะทำยังไงต่อ จะเกิดอะไรขึ้นกับคนที่ถูกบุลลี่
หนังสือตั้งคำถามสำคัญกับการปีศาจ และเงื่อนไขที่ลงตัวมาก ๆ ในการ contrast ปีศาจและผู้คน
อ่านแล้วตระหนักได้ถึงปัญหาการบุลลี่ในห้องเรียนได้ดีมาก กับคำโดน ๆ อย่าง
"ผู้ใหญ่มันไม่รู้หรอกว่าเด็ก ๆ ต้องเจออะไรมาบ้าง"
"ทำไมผู้ใหญ่ถึงรู้ว่าเกิดอะไรขึ้นแต่ไม่ทำอะไรสักอย่าง"
นอกจากนี้ยังแสดงให้เห็นถึง จิตวิทยา peer pressure อย่างเข้มข้น
โดยเฉพาะสังคมญี่ปุ่นที่ เน้นเรื่องความรวมกลุ่ม เป็นหนึ่งเดียวกัน เพราะฉะนั้นหากใครแปลกแยกไปก็จะโดนตราหน้า
แต่สุดท้ายก็พูดว่า "ทุกคน ก็ต่างกันหมดนั่นแหละ" แต่จริง ๆ แล้วแกล้งทำเป็นเหมือน ๆ กันเพื่อจะได้รับการยอมรับต่างหาก
หนังสือดี ๆ อ่านแล้วไม่ลืมแน่ ๆ เนื้อเรื่องเข้มข้น
หนังสือพูดถึงเรื่อง "กฏของเพื่อน"
August 8, 2019
Thông điệp và cách đặt vấn đề hay nhưng cách triển khai nội dung thì có vẻ chưa được rõ ràng và mạch lạc lắm. Có vấn đề được đặt ra ở ngay đầu nhưng đến cuối vẫn bị bỏ lửng chưa được giải quyết.
July 14, 2020
Kids, there's nothing funny about bullying. People often get picked on or bullied for a variety of reasons, but nothing ever excuses or justifies bullying. During my early school years, I got picked on because I was the weird autistic kid who thought cartoons were real and was admittedly rather annoying and didn't know when to shut up about stuff. But everyone's situations are unique, so when writing about it, there's really no one way to depict it. Some bullies are sympathetic, some are just assholes, and some are only doing it under peer pressure. The bottom line is, when trying to write about bullying in fiction, it's hard to really do it right. I myself learned this the hard way, and so have others I know of. Those who follow my reviews know I watched an OVA called Ijime which was...really bad, not just in its animation and writing, but how stupidly over-the-top and unbelievable its depiction of bullying is, even by cartoon standards. I honestly wouldn't recommend anyone watch it unless they want to see how NOT to write about bullying. Unfortunately, this is a problem that often plagues works that attempt to address bullying but often go about it in ways that don't seem very believable or authentic. Such is the case for Yoru Sumino's novel, At Night I Become a Monster. And I'm not gonna lie, IMHO, of all the novels of hers that I've read, this one is definitely her worst one. Yes, even worse than Pancreas.
The story focuses on a boy, Adachi--we never learn his first name--who one night, finds himself turning into a black gooey monster. He has no idea how this happened or why, but he decides to take advantage of his new transformation by sneaking into his school at night. He encounters one of his classmates, a girl named Satsuki Yano, hanging out in school at night, and the two find themselves spending time together. Yano is frequently bullied by everyone in Adachi's class because of some stupid things she did to some of the other students, and Adachi, knowing about it, doesn't do anything because not only does he not want to be subjected to it himself, but takes his class's side, feeling that Yano brought everything on herself. But as they begin to spend more time together, Adachi begins to question whether this is really the right course of action.
I've already mentioned a few times that Sumino's prose has never really been that engaging or interesting to read to me, namely because a lot of it is first person point-of-view and the fact that she seems to think having her characters constantly inner monologue about their unrealistically profound thoughts and streams of consciousness will make them interesting. Newsflash: It doesn't. In fact, it especially doesn't work here because Sumino doesn't seem to care about writing her characters in any way that'll make the audience care about them in any way. Adachi, or Acchi as he's always referred to, is the main character, the one we're supposed to root for, but he's got his head so far up his ass throughout 90% of the book that just reading his thoughts made me want to throw the book against the wall. He constantly whines and prattles on and on about his thoughts about everything and nothing, and doesn't even try to put himself in Yano's shoes in regards to the bullying she endures. I hear his monster form is supposed to be a metaphor for his complacency and his eventual coming to terms with it, but I don't know if the metaphor really works that well here. He rarely, if ever, tries to do anything genuinely helpful, and any effort he does make to try to help Yano is underscored by the fact that he goes back on it not a chapter later. I know the point of the book is for him to realize his actions and complacency do more harm than good, but it doesn't work here because, in the end, he only makes the very barest effort to do right by Yano, and the book just ends without any proper resolution.
Furthermore, we never know what Yano's deal is. Is she neuroatypical? Does she have a disability? Her strange actions and speech impediment make her a target for her class's bullying, but the book never fills the audience in on just what her deal is. We never even learn anything about her other than she likes Ghibli movies, occasionally twists conversations around, acts out on impulse, and that she's weird. Some of her more morally questionable actions help her stay away from just being a classic victim character whose sole purpose is to garner sympathy from the audience, but Sumino doesn't really make much of an effort to flesh her out or give her any development other than her experiences at school. We don't meet her family nor know if she does anything outside of school, like hobbies or other interests.
The rest of the characters--the ones that are named at least--are just bland, uninteresting, rage-inducing, milque toast ciphers who are given no purpose except to make Yano's life as miserable as possible all because they feel they have to self-righteously give her eternal punishment for something that isn't even any of their business to begin with, and are wholly convinced they're in the right no matter what. They're just dumb caricatures with no substance or depth whatsoever, and Sumino should really put in some effort to give them some degree of humanity. Oh, and they never receive any form of punishment for all of their reprehensible actions. Also, why haven't the adults done anything about this? Why haven't Yano's parents complained to the school about the bullying? Again, the book never addresses this, making the whole thing even more over-the-top and needlessly melodramatic. Seriously, when fan fiction of all things (Certain ones, at least) manages to not only tackle the subject of bullying in a much better, more nuanced and authentic way, but puts in the effort to flesh out all of its characters, bullies included, in a way that makes the audience actually care about them, then you have no excuse for screwing up this badly.
Which also leads me to the story in general. A lot of what Adachi does during the night doesn't really have much effect on everything else going on in his life during the day, so his being a monster becomes less and less relevant as the story goes on. You could almost say his turning into a literal monster is little more than a convenient plot device used to get him to talk with Yano outside regular school hours, which just seems lazy to me. Seriously, this book could have been so much better if it took the characters out of school for a moment and actually made an effort to get into the characters' heads and actually see why they do what they do. So all in all, this book is just a needlessly dark, mean-spirited, tasteless after school special trying and failing to address bullying, and even without that, the story is as barebones as one can get. None of the characters are interesting or three-dimensional in any way, and there are FAR better media out there that actually manage to tackle the issue of bullying much better, or if they don't do it as well, they're guaranteed to be a hell of a lot better than this slog!
Overall, don't bother with this one. At Night I Become a Monster is absolutely not worth it at all.
The story focuses on a boy, Adachi--we never learn his first name--who one night, finds himself turning into a black gooey monster. He has no idea how this happened or why, but he decides to take advantage of his new transformation by sneaking into his school at night. He encounters one of his classmates, a girl named Satsuki Yano, hanging out in school at night, and the two find themselves spending time together. Yano is frequently bullied by everyone in Adachi's class because of some stupid things she did to some of the other students, and Adachi, knowing about it, doesn't do anything because not only does he not want to be subjected to it himself, but takes his class's side, feeling that Yano brought everything on herself. But as they begin to spend more time together, Adachi begins to question whether this is really the right course of action.
I've already mentioned a few times that Sumino's prose has never really been that engaging or interesting to read to me, namely because a lot of it is first person point-of-view and the fact that she seems to think having her characters constantly inner monologue about their unrealistically profound thoughts and streams of consciousness will make them interesting. Newsflash: It doesn't. In fact, it especially doesn't work here because Sumino doesn't seem to care about writing her characters in any way that'll make the audience care about them in any way. Adachi, or Acchi as he's always referred to, is the main character, the one we're supposed to root for, but he's got his head so far up his ass throughout 90% of the book that just reading his thoughts made me want to throw the book against the wall. He constantly whines and prattles on and on about his thoughts about everything and nothing, and doesn't even try to put himself in Yano's shoes in regards to the bullying she endures. I hear his monster form is supposed to be a metaphor for his complacency and his eventual coming to terms with it, but I don't know if the metaphor really works that well here. He rarely, if ever, tries to do anything genuinely helpful, and any effort he does make to try to help Yano is underscored by the fact that he goes back on it not a chapter later. I know the point of the book is for him to realize his actions and complacency do more harm than good, but it doesn't work here because, in the end, he only makes the very barest effort to do right by Yano, and the book just ends without any proper resolution.
Furthermore, we never know what Yano's deal is. Is she neuroatypical? Does she have a disability? Her strange actions and speech impediment make her a target for her class's bullying, but the book never fills the audience in on just what her deal is. We never even learn anything about her other than she likes Ghibli movies, occasionally twists conversations around, acts out on impulse, and that she's weird. Some of her more morally questionable actions help her stay away from just being a classic victim character whose sole purpose is to garner sympathy from the audience, but Sumino doesn't really make much of an effort to flesh her out or give her any development other than her experiences at school. We don't meet her family nor know if she does anything outside of school, like hobbies or other interests.
The rest of the characters--the ones that are named at least--are just bland, uninteresting, rage-inducing, milque toast ciphers who are given no purpose except to make Yano's life as miserable as possible all because they feel they have to self-righteously give her eternal punishment for something that isn't even any of their business to begin with, and are wholly convinced they're in the right no matter what. They're just dumb caricatures with no substance or depth whatsoever, and Sumino should really put in some effort to give them some degree of humanity. Oh, and they never receive any form of punishment for all of their reprehensible actions. Also, why haven't the adults done anything about this? Why haven't Yano's parents complained to the school about the bullying? Again, the book never addresses this, making the whole thing even more over-the-top and needlessly melodramatic. Seriously, when fan fiction of all things (Certain ones, at least) manages to not only tackle the subject of bullying in a much better, more nuanced and authentic way, but puts in the effort to flesh out all of its characters, bullies included, in a way that makes the audience actually care about them, then you have no excuse for screwing up this badly.
Which also leads me to the story in general. A lot of what Adachi does during the night doesn't really have much effect on everything else going on in his life during the day, so his being a monster becomes less and less relevant as the story goes on. You could almost say his turning into a literal monster is little more than a convenient plot device used to get him to talk with Yano outside regular school hours, which just seems lazy to me. Seriously, this book could have been so much better if it took the characters out of school for a moment and actually made an effort to get into the characters' heads and actually see why they do what they do. So all in all, this book is just a needlessly dark, mean-spirited, tasteless after school special trying and failing to address bullying, and even without that, the story is as barebones as one can get. None of the characters are interesting or three-dimensional in any way, and there are FAR better media out there that actually manage to tackle the issue of bullying much better, or if they don't do it as well, they're guaranteed to be a hell of a lot better than this slog!
Overall, don't bother with this one. At Night I Become a Monster is absolutely not worth it at all.
April 30, 2022
"Sementara saat aku berwujud manusia, bukan sekadar tembok dan langit-langit yang mengungkungku, melainkan juga kebenaran semu, pikiran jahat, serta rasa kesetiakawanan yang janggal." ~hal. 253
Apa yang kutemukan di buku ini beda dengan ekspektasiku. Beda aja, bukannya mengecewakan atau jelek gitu.
Topik utama yang dibahas oleh buku ini menurutku juga bukan tentang kemonsteran Acchi, melainkan bullying di sekolah mereka. Kadang aku mikir kok bisa orang sekejam itu, tapi kemudian aku mengamini bahwa, ya memang begitulah realitasnya di dunia. Kadang kita membenci/menyukai sesuatu, hanya karena orang lain juga begitu.
Yang paling aku suka dari buku ini adalah karakter tokohnya yang begitu kuat. Bukan cuma Acchi sama Yano, melainkan juga tokoh2 figuran yang disebutkan di sini. Mudah banget diingat, sehingga ketika masing-masing dideskripsikan secara anonim, aku langsung paham bahwa yang dimaksud itu si A, B, atau C.
Sayangnya, aku sering bosan saat membaca buku ini, terutama di awal-awal. Karena terasa flat gitu, kayak hari-hari Acchi dibahas secara kronologis. Datang ke sekolah jam berapa, terus pelajaran apa, terus makan siang, terus pelajaran lagi, terus pulang. Besoknya diulang lagi begitu.
Mungkin memang sengaja dibuat penceritaannya memang begitu sih, karena tujuannya adalah membedakan Acchi di malam hari dan Acchi di siang hari. Cuman rasanya ngantuk aja gitu pas baca.
Overall, bagus kok! Endingnya juga sangat manusiawi dan realistis, mengingatkan bahwa nggak semua permasalahan hidup itu bisa langsung selesai.
Apa yang kutemukan di buku ini beda dengan ekspektasiku. Beda aja, bukannya mengecewakan atau jelek gitu.
Topik utama yang dibahas oleh buku ini menurutku juga bukan tentang kemonsteran Acchi, melainkan bullying di sekolah mereka. Kadang aku mikir kok bisa orang sekejam itu, tapi kemudian aku mengamini bahwa, ya memang begitulah realitasnya di dunia. Kadang kita membenci/menyukai sesuatu, hanya karena orang lain juga begitu.
Yang paling aku suka dari buku ini adalah karakter tokohnya yang begitu kuat. Bukan cuma Acchi sama Yano, melainkan juga tokoh2 figuran yang disebutkan di sini. Mudah banget diingat, sehingga ketika masing-masing dideskripsikan secara anonim, aku langsung paham bahwa yang dimaksud itu si A, B, atau C.
Sayangnya, aku sering bosan saat membaca buku ini, terutama di awal-awal. Karena terasa flat gitu, kayak hari-hari Acchi dibahas secara kronologis. Datang ke sekolah jam berapa, terus pelajaran apa, terus makan siang, terus pelajaran lagi, terus pulang. Besoknya diulang lagi begitu.
Mungkin memang sengaja dibuat penceritaannya memang begitu sih, karena tujuannya adalah membedakan Acchi di malam hari dan Acchi di siang hari. Cuman rasanya ngantuk aja gitu pas baca.
Overall, bagus kok! Endingnya juga sangat manusiawi dan realistis, mengingatkan bahwa nggak semua permasalahan hidup itu bisa langsung selesai.
July 4, 2025
นึกว่าแนวสืบสวน น่ากลัวเสียอีก มาแนวตรงกันข้ามเฉยเลย อบอุ่นหัวใจเฉย55
June 18, 2022
ได้อยู่นะเล่มนี้ สรุปตัวจริงของปีศาจก็คือปีศาจที่อยู่ในใจของเธอ การต่อสู้กันระหว่างสถานะทางสังคมที่บิดเบี้ยวกับความเหมาะสมทางศีลธรรมที่อยู่ในใจ
นิยายสะท้อนความจริงทางสังคม การที่เราเฮโลไปกับคนอื่นทั้งๆ ที่ในใจจริงๆ ของเราอาจจะไม่ได้เห็นด้วยกับสิ่งนั้น แต่ก็ต้องยอมทำไปเพราะตัวเองก็กลัวว่าถ้าเปิดเผยความคิดที่อยู่ในใจจริงๆ ของตัวเองออกมา อาจจะขัดกันกับสิ่งที่สังคมกำลังเชื่อถืออยู่ แล้วเราจะถูกแคนเซิลได้
สนุกดีนะ โยโนะจังงง แพะของห้อง ในที่สุดก็มีคนเข้าใจเธอสักที ยินดีให้กับอัจจี้ ในท้ายที่สุดก็ยอมทำตามสิ่งที่หัวใจเรียกร้องได้ 😭😭😭
นิยายสะท้อนความจริงทางสังคม การที่เราเฮโลไปกับคนอื่นทั้งๆ ที่ในใจจริงๆ ของเราอาจจะไม่ได้เห็นด้วยกับสิ่งนั้น แต่ก็ต้องยอมทำไปเพราะตัวเองก็กลัวว่าถ้าเปิดเผยความคิดที่อยู่ในใจจริงๆ ของตัวเองออกมา อาจจะขัดกันกับสิ่งที่สังคมกำลังเชื่อถืออยู่ แล้วเราจะถูกแคนเซิลได้
สนุกดีนะ โยโนะจังงง แพะของห้อง ในที่สุดก็มีคนเข้าใจเธอสักที ยินดีให้กับอัจจี้ ในท้ายที่สุดก็ยอมทำตามสิ่งที่หัวใจเรียกร้องได้ 😭😭😭
January 7, 2021
Theo bạn, khi trong lớp học xảy ra một vụ bắt nạt học đường, thì ai trong số 3 nhóm người sau là kẻ tồi tệ nhất?
Nhóm 1: Loại công khai gây hấn với người bị bắt nạt, và họ lấy điều đó làm thích thú.
Nhóm 2: Loại rõ ràng có thù ghét nhưng biết tiết chế, sẽ thể hiện ra mặt khi người bị bắt nạt đến gần và chỉ làm mấy trò quấy rầy nhạt nhẽo.
Nhóm 3: Loại cho rằng người bị bắt nạt tệ, nhưng quyết định sẽ chỉ phớt lờ chứ không có gì đặc biệt.
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Cuốn sách là một câu chuyện buồn về hiện tượng bắt nạt học đường ở Nhật Bản, được lồng ghép trong một tình huống giả tưởng đậm chất anime Nhật.
Cậu bạn Adachi ban ngày là một học sinh cao trung bình thường, nhưng cứ đến đêm sẽ biến thành một con quái vật đen sì tám mắt, sáu chân, rất nhiều đuôi. Với bộ dạng quái vị của mình, cậu lẻn ra ngoài mỗi đêm để khám phá thành phố, thậm chí đi ra biển hoặc leo núi. Trong một lần đột nhập vào trường, cậu bị một cô bạn nữ sinh Yano bắt gặp và cô ấy thậm chí còn biết con quái vật đó chính là cậu. Nhưng Yano lại là người bị tất cả mọi người ghét bỏ, là kẻ bị bắt nạt nhiều nhất ở trường học.
Adachi là người nằm trong nhóm số 3, cho rằng những vụ bắt nạt đều có lý do, và Yano thì hoàn toàn tự đẩy mình vào tình thế bị bắt nạt như vậy. Ban này, cậu hoàn toàn phớt lờ Yano, không bắt chuyện hay quan tâm đến những vụ bắt nạt. Chỉ đến khi đêm xuống, ở dưới hình dạng quái vật, cậu mới có thể nói chuyện với Yano.
Adachi cũng đã thắc mắc rất nhiều, tại sao mình lại biến thành quái vật, tại sao hàng đêm cậu vẫn đến trường để gặp Yano, tại sao cậu lại suy nghĩ nhiều đến vậy mà lại không thể lên tiếng. Và chỉ khi giải đáp được những thắc mắc đó, cậu mới có thể ngủ ngon vào buổi đêm.
Bản thân mình đã xem bao nhiêu bộ phim Nhật về việc bắt nạt, về tự tử học đường, nhưng lần nào mình cũng cảm thấy bức bối. Hồi xưa đi học, mình chưa từng trải qua những sự cố như thế này, nhưng giờ nhìn thấy học sinh sao giờ áp lực thế, không chỉ ở riêng Nhật Bản mà ở trên toàn thế giới. Học hành vất vả đi theo sự kỳ vọng của cha mẹ đã mệt mỏi lắm rồi, giờ lại còn bị bạn học chế giễu, hành hạ.
Có một câu trong cuốn sách mà mình thấy rất buồn: “Đừng bận tâm đến những khó khăn. Hãy tiếp tục sống sót. Lớn lên ta sẽ có thể tự do hơn một chút.” Tự do hơn một chút, chỉ một chút so với tình cảnh hiện tại mà thôi. Nhưng đó là hy vọng nhỏ nhoi cuối cùng của những con người đáng thương ấy.
Đọc đến cuối sách, bạn cũng sẽ hiểu được rốt cuộc ai là kẻ tồi tệ nhất.
Nói đến cuốn QUÁI VẬT TRONG ĐÊM này mà không nhắc đến cái bìa thì thật là thiếu sót lớn. Cái bìa với mình có sức gợi rất lớn. Hình ảnh một cô nữ sinh đối mặt với một con quái vật to lớn, thấp thoáng trong những hạt đen của quái vật là hình ảnh cậu nam sinh mặt buồn rượi nhìn sang.
Nói chung đây là một cuốn sách mà mình ưng ý từ nội dung đến hình thức!
Nhóm 1: Loại công khai gây hấn với người bị bắt nạt, và họ lấy điều đó làm thích thú.
Nhóm 2: Loại rõ ràng có thù ghét nhưng biết tiết chế, sẽ thể hiện ra mặt khi người bị bắt nạt đến gần và chỉ làm mấy trò quấy rầy nhạt nhẽo.
Nhóm 3: Loại cho rằng người bị bắt nạt tệ, nhưng quyết định sẽ chỉ phớt lờ chứ không có gì đặc biệt.
----
Cuốn sách là một câu chuyện buồn về hiện tượng bắt nạt học đường ở Nhật Bản, được lồng ghép trong một tình huống giả tưởng đậm chất anime Nhật.
Cậu bạn Adachi ban ngày là một học sinh cao trung bình thường, nhưng cứ đến đêm sẽ biến thành một con quái vật đen sì tám mắt, sáu chân, rất nhiều đuôi. Với bộ dạng quái vị của mình, cậu lẻn ra ngoài mỗi đêm để khám phá thành phố, thậm chí đi ra biển hoặc leo núi. Trong một lần đột nhập vào trường, cậu bị một cô bạn nữ sinh Yano bắt gặp và cô ấy thậm chí còn biết con quái vật đó chính là cậu. Nhưng Yano lại là người bị tất cả mọi người ghét bỏ, là kẻ bị bắt nạt nhiều nhất ở trường học.
Adachi là người nằm trong nhóm số 3, cho rằng những vụ bắt nạt đều có lý do, và Yano thì hoàn toàn tự đẩy mình vào tình thế bị bắt nạt như vậy. Ban này, cậu hoàn toàn phớt lờ Yano, không bắt chuyện hay quan tâm đến những vụ bắt nạt. Chỉ đến khi đêm xuống, ở dưới hình dạng quái vật, cậu mới có thể nói chuyện với Yano.
Adachi cũng đã thắc mắc rất nhiều, tại sao mình lại biến thành quái vật, tại sao hàng đêm cậu vẫn đến trường để gặp Yano, tại sao cậu lại suy nghĩ nhiều đến vậy mà lại không thể lên tiếng. Và chỉ khi giải đáp được những thắc mắc đó, cậu mới có thể ngủ ngon vào buổi đêm.
Bản thân mình đã xem bao nhiêu bộ phim Nhật về việc bắt nạt, về tự tử học đường, nhưng lần nào mình cũng cảm thấy bức bối. Hồi xưa đi học, mình chưa từng trải qua những sự cố như thế này, nhưng giờ nhìn thấy học sinh sao giờ áp lực thế, không chỉ ở riêng Nhật Bản mà ở trên toàn thế giới. Học hành vất vả đi theo sự kỳ vọng của cha mẹ đã mệt mỏi lắm rồi, giờ lại còn bị bạn học chế giễu, hành hạ.
Có một câu trong cuốn sách mà mình thấy rất buồn: “Đừng bận tâm đến những khó khăn. Hãy tiếp tục sống sót. Lớn lên ta sẽ có thể tự do hơn một chút.” Tự do hơn một chút, chỉ một chút so với tình cảnh hiện tại mà thôi. Nhưng đó là hy vọng nhỏ nhoi cuối cùng của những con người đáng thương ấy.
Đọc đến cuối sách, bạn cũng sẽ hiểu được rốt cuộc ai là kẻ tồi tệ nhất.
Nói đến cuốn QUÁI VẬT TRONG ĐÊM này mà không nhắc đến cái bìa thì thật là thiếu sót lớn. Cái bìa với mình có sức gợi rất lớn. Hình ảnh một cô nữ sinh đối mặt với một con quái vật to lớn, thấp thoáng trong những hạt đen của quái vật là hình ảnh cậu nam sinh mặt buồn rượi nhìn sang.
Nói chung đây là một cuốn sách mà mình ưng ý từ nội dung đến hình thức!
May 7, 2022
Aku mengingatkan kalau ulasan aku ini berdasarkan pembaca ya bukan kritikus, jadi kalau ada suka dan tidak suka itu semata-mata memang penilaian subjektif aku. Tapi aku akan berusaha untuk mengulas secara objektif seperti biasanya.
Menurut aku buku ini terlalu banyak plot hole. Ada banyak hal yang tidak dijelaskan secara merinci. Kita dipaksa untuk mengikuti alur yang sebagaimana sudah terjadi.
Misal gini:
🐳 Bagaimana hubungan Yano dan Midorikawa sebelum kejadian tersebut? Mengingat Yano pernah bilang, seseorang yang bertengkar hebat dengan sahabatnya tapi sahabatnya terlanjur jadi orang yang dirundung, aku pikir dia lagi nyeritain midorikawa.
🐳 Apa Acchi sadar sampai akhir kalau Kasai orang yang manipulatif?
🐳 Pelaku yang merusak sepatu Nakagawa? Apa terungkap? Di buku tidak, tapi aku cuma bisa nebak siapa yang ngelakuin hal itu.
🐳 Aku pikir Midorikawa akan jadi tokoh yang sama pentingnya, tapi ternyata respon paling panjang yang ada di buku cuma bilang Kasai orang yang gak baik. Hmm..
Meskipun begitu, tapi makna tersirat dari buku ini sangat dalam. Aku jadi berasa baca buku self improvement versi novel. Seperti Acchi yang sedang mencari jati diri yang sebenarnya. Banyak juga yang aku suka dari buku ini:
🦕 Aku suka dengan tokoh Yano yang dianggap aneh, freak, gak ngapa-ngapain aja nyebelin. Tapi dia ternyata lebih bijak daripada temen-temen sekelasnya. Yano yang keliatannya gak peduli dengan sekelilingnya, ternyata dia yang paling peduli.
🦕 Perubahan Acchi jadi monster untuk menemukan diri dia yang sebenarnya itu jenius!! Kayanya Acchi juga gak nyangka kalau ternyata dia di malam hari (monster) lebih manusiawi ketimbang saat dia menjadi manusia di siang hari.
🦕 Novel ini mengangkat isu bullying yang nyaris bahkan sama dengan realita. Perlu dipercayai kalau anak-anak itu lebih smooth dalam menyakiti temannya. Dianggap tidak ada lebih menyakitkan ketimbang disakiti, selama ini Yano mengalami dua-duanya disakiti, dikasari, dan keberadaannya tidak dianggap.
Setelah baca buku ini dengan ending seperti itu, persis kaya yang Acchi bilang "Apa boleh buat". Kita tau Acchi bisa tidur tenang berarti dia menemukan dirinya sendiri dan berhenti jadi monster.
Di buku ini persis seperti yang akan kita alami di kehidupannya nyata, gak ada yang bisa diubah. Pandangan orang lain pada Yano akan selalu seperti itu.
Sampai akhir nasib Yano akan sama bahkan mungkin sampai lulus, sikap teman sekelas dan situasi di sekolah gak ada yang berubah. Tapi Acchi berubah, dia jadi lebih manusiawi.
Itu artinya, kita memang gak bisa merubah pandangan orang lain terhadap sesuatu. Tapi kita bisa merubah pandangan kita, merubah sikap buruk kita, dan menjadi pribadi yang lebih baik. Seperti keputusan yang dipilih Acchi.
🌟 HAPPY READING 🌟
Menurut aku buku ini terlalu banyak plot hole. Ada banyak hal yang tidak dijelaskan secara merinci. Kita dipaksa untuk mengikuti alur yang sebagaimana sudah terjadi.
Misal gini:
🐳 Bagaimana hubungan Yano dan Midorikawa sebelum kejadian tersebut? Mengingat Yano pernah bilang, seseorang yang bertengkar hebat dengan sahabatnya tapi sahabatnya terlanjur jadi orang yang dirundung, aku pikir dia lagi nyeritain midorikawa.
🐳 Apa Acchi sadar sampai akhir kalau Kasai orang yang manipulatif?
🐳 Pelaku yang merusak sepatu Nakagawa? Apa terungkap? Di buku tidak, tapi aku cuma bisa nebak siapa yang ngelakuin hal itu.
🐳 Aku pikir Midorikawa akan jadi tokoh yang sama pentingnya, tapi ternyata respon paling panjang yang ada di buku cuma bilang Kasai orang yang gak baik. Hmm..
Meskipun begitu, tapi makna tersirat dari buku ini sangat dalam. Aku jadi berasa baca buku self improvement versi novel. Seperti Acchi yang sedang mencari jati diri yang sebenarnya. Banyak juga yang aku suka dari buku ini:
🦕 Aku suka dengan tokoh Yano yang dianggap aneh, freak, gak ngapa-ngapain aja nyebelin. Tapi dia ternyata lebih bijak daripada temen-temen sekelasnya. Yano yang keliatannya gak peduli dengan sekelilingnya, ternyata dia yang paling peduli.
🦕 Perubahan Acchi jadi monster untuk menemukan diri dia yang sebenarnya itu jenius!! Kayanya Acchi juga gak nyangka kalau ternyata dia di malam hari (monster) lebih manusiawi ketimbang saat dia menjadi manusia di siang hari.
🦕 Novel ini mengangkat isu bullying yang nyaris bahkan sama dengan realita. Perlu dipercayai kalau anak-anak itu lebih smooth dalam menyakiti temannya. Dianggap tidak ada lebih menyakitkan ketimbang disakiti, selama ini Yano mengalami dua-duanya disakiti, dikasari, dan keberadaannya tidak dianggap.
Setelah baca buku ini dengan ending seperti itu, persis kaya yang Acchi bilang "Apa boleh buat". Kita tau Acchi bisa tidur tenang berarti dia menemukan dirinya sendiri dan berhenti jadi monster.
Di buku ini persis seperti yang akan kita alami di kehidupannya nyata, gak ada yang bisa diubah. Pandangan orang lain pada Yano akan selalu seperti itu.
Sampai akhir nasib Yano akan sama bahkan mungkin sampai lulus, sikap teman sekelas dan situasi di sekolah gak ada yang berubah. Tapi Acchi berubah, dia jadi lebih manusiawi.
Itu artinya, kita memang gak bisa merubah pandangan orang lain terhadap sesuatu. Tapi kita bisa merubah pandangan kita, merubah sikap buruk kita, dan menjadi pribadi yang lebih baik. Seperti keputusan yang dipilih Acchi.
🌟 HAPPY READING 🌟
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2021
I heard that bullying is one of the biggest problems among schools in Japan.
And this book shows how bullying takes place in the classroom and how people react to it in a very unique way. There is a boy who named is just an ordinary student in his classroom and one night he suddenly turns into this huge black monster which has many abilities like changing its shape or moving very fast, but in the morning he gets back to his human self. At that time he didn't know why becomes a monster at night...
Also, there is a girl named Yano, who is very energetic in his class. Unfortunately, she got bullied because of her little bit of lousy noise, also some of the classmates think of her as a "strange person". She greets the classroom every morning with a playful voice but no one answers to her. Also, no one talks to her, and some serious bulliers even throw her books or shoes in the garbage box.
I think, Adachi feels sorry for Yuno in his deep heart, but he didn't do any action to stop the bullying and that guilty feeling is the reason why he starts to become a monster at night.
And after many incidents, Adachi decides to be honest to himself and starts to greet Yano in the morning. That night he didn't turn into a monster for the first time, after a very long time.
I think the author wanted to tell us "When you aren't honest to yourself, that feeling bothering you will eat you alive from inside "
And this book shows how bullying takes place in the classroom and how people react to it in a very unique way. There is a boy who named is just an ordinary student in his classroom and one night he suddenly turns into this huge black monster which has many abilities like changing its shape or moving very fast, but in the morning he gets back to his human self. At that time he didn't know why becomes a monster at night...
Also, there is a girl named Yano, who is very energetic in his class. Unfortunately, she got bullied because of her little bit of lousy noise, also some of the classmates think of her as a "strange person". She greets the classroom every morning with a playful voice but no one answers to her. Also, no one talks to her, and some serious bulliers even throw her books or shoes in the garbage box.
I think, Adachi feels sorry for Yuno in his deep heart, but he didn't do any action to stop the bullying and that guilty feeling is the reason why he starts to become a monster at night.
And after many incidents, Adachi decides to be honest to himself and starts to greet Yano in the morning. That night he didn't turn into a monster for the first time, after a very long time.
I think the author wanted to tell us "When you aren't honest to yourself, that feeling bothering you will eat you alive from inside "
February 4, 2021
Soo this book deals with bullying and how it feels to look away from something troubling as it is happening around you. The book deals with seeing something terrible happening to someone and doing nothing. I am sure everyone has dealt with something like this and either acted or didn't to the situation, either way it changed you in some way.
Although this book dealt with heavy topics, I did not feel like it addressed them in a way which grasped the emotional impact of taking a stand against something wrong. It's probably because the book ends before the real impact is addressed, but the monster symbolism also felt flat. I didn't feel the weight of being a monster in the night and day and Yano felt too unrealistic to feel connected with her character. This of course is my own personal opinion. I know a lot of readers relate to this book and recommend it, so if this catches your attention I recommend reading it. Many teen books do not deal with the emotional impact of standing by while bullying is happening and feeling the guilt of doing nothing. I imagine this topic isn't explored cause it is hard to relate to someone who does nothing when hardship is taking place on someone else, and I do not think this book explored this to its full potential, but it is nice to see the topic addressed.
Although this book dealt with heavy topics, I did not feel like it addressed them in a way which grasped the emotional impact of taking a stand against something wrong. It's probably because the book ends before the real impact is addressed, but the monster symbolism also felt flat. I didn't feel the weight of being a monster in the night and day and Yano felt too unrealistic to feel connected with her character. This of course is my own personal opinion. I know a lot of readers relate to this book and recommend it, so if this catches your attention I recommend reading it. Many teen books do not deal with the emotional impact of standing by while bullying is happening and feeling the guilt of doing nothing. I imagine this topic isn't explored cause it is hard to relate to someone who does nothing when hardship is taking place on someone else, and I do not think this book explored this to its full potential, but it is nice to see the topic addressed.
September 1, 2023
Novel ini aneh.
Cerita yang dibawakan bertemakan perundungan yang terjadi di sekolah. Novel ini juga betul-betul meresahkan. Sepanjang membaca, ia seolah memasukkan berbagai kalimat penuh makna yang aku sendiri bingung memaknainya, tapi aku bisa merasakan keindahan dari kata-kata tersebut.
Yang paling kusukai darinya adalah kenyataan bahwa baik manusia ataupun monster, jika mereka pada dasarnya berhati jahat, maka mereka jahat. Pun sebaliknya, jika mereka berhati baik, maka mereka baik (walaupun aku tidak tau apakah monster juga punya hati).
Kemudian ia juga menyatakan bahwa perbedaan adalah suatu hal yang normal. Tidak mengetahui apa yang dipikirkan orang lain dan cara pandang yang berlawanan terkadang membuat kita terbebani. Padahal itu justru normal. That's just how the world works.
Banyak cerita sedih yang digambarkan (juga dengan kalimat penuh makna yang indah) sehingga aku tidak bisa lagi menahan tangis, terutama saat Yano bertanya pada Achi, "Your night... form or your day form... Which is... the real one?"
Dan sekali lagi kutegaskan, bagiku novel ini aneh. Aneh, kenapa aku masih belum memahami seratus persen kalau aku sangat menyukainya.
Cerita yang dibawakan bertemakan perundungan yang terjadi di sekolah. Novel ini juga betul-betul meresahkan. Sepanjang membaca, ia seolah memasukkan berbagai kalimat penuh makna yang aku sendiri bingung memaknainya, tapi aku bisa merasakan keindahan dari kata-kata tersebut.
Yang paling kusukai darinya adalah kenyataan bahwa baik manusia ataupun monster, jika mereka pada dasarnya berhati jahat, maka mereka jahat. Pun sebaliknya, jika mereka berhati baik, maka mereka baik (walaupun aku tidak tau apakah monster juga punya hati).
Kemudian ia juga menyatakan bahwa perbedaan adalah suatu hal yang normal. Tidak mengetahui apa yang dipikirkan orang lain dan cara pandang yang berlawanan terkadang membuat kita terbebani. Padahal itu justru normal. That's just how the world works.
Banyak cerita sedih yang digambarkan (juga dengan kalimat penuh makna yang indah) sehingga aku tidak bisa lagi menahan tangis, terutama saat Yano bertanya pada Achi, "Your night... form or your day form... Which is... the real one?"
Dan sekali lagi kutegaskan, bagiku novel ini aneh. Aneh, kenapa aku masih belum memahami seratus persen kalau aku sangat menyukainya.
February 21, 2022
This book is a provocative reflection on your inner thoughts, how you treat others, how you treat yourself, and your perception of your environment. Particularly thinking about what it is to "fit in", and if that's even something you should desire? The characters feel real, there is no obvious good or bad. Just people trying to survive in school/life, and a protagonist who overthinks (or really, does the same train of thoughts/worry thinking I do) about the motives of others and how they might react to his actions.
Who are you? Who am I?
Who are you? Who am I?
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