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Monogatari
Bakemonogatari, Part 2: Monster Tale
Bakemono, literally "altered thing," which translates as "monster." Monogatari, literally "thing narrated," which translates as "tale." Combined into a neologism by he of the reversible nom de plume, they yield BAKEMONOGATARI, the monster tale that kicked off a series whose anime adaptations have enjoyed international popularity and critical acclaim.
A self-described loser, Koyomi Araragi is struggling at a prep school that he should never have gotten into. He has all but quit caring, but as a senior, he faces the chilling scenario of not being able to graduate. It's time to cram, but the supernatural aberrations that keep on popping up in his provincial town won't let him be.
Previously, our hero turned into a vampire and back, gained an acid-tongued girlfriend, and couldn't find his way home thanks to a lost child. In this second of three parts, which introduces Suruga Kanbaru and Nadeko Sengoku, he becomes embroiled in a case that riffs on a classic English story from 1902.
A self-described loser, Koyomi Araragi is struggling at a prep school that he should never have gotten into. He has all but quit caring, but as a senior, he faces the chilling scenario of not being able to graduate. It's time to cram, but the supernatural aberrations that keep on popping up in his provincial town won't let him be.
Previously, our hero turned into a vampire and back, gained an acid-tongued girlfriend, and couldn't find his way home thanks to a lost child. In this second of three parts, which introduces Suruga Kanbaru and Nadeko Sengoku, he becomes embroiled in a case that riffs on a classic English story from 1902.
323 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
230 people are currently reading
1095 people want to read
About the author
NisiOisiN
288 books966 followersNisio Isin (西尾維新 Nishio Ishin), frequently written as NisiOisiN to emphasize that his pen name is a palindrome, is a Japanese novelist and manga writer. He attended and left Ritsumeikan University without graduating. In 2002, he debuted with the novel Kubikiri Cycle, which earned him the 23rd Mephisto Award at twenty years of age.
He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.
In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.
He currently works with Kodansha on Pandora, the Kodansha Box magazine, and Faust, a literary magazine containing the works of other young authors who similarly take influence from light novels and otaku culture. He was also publishing a twelve volume series over twelve months for the Kodansha Box line; Ryusui Seiryoin was matching this output, and the Kodansha Box website stated that this is the first time in the world two authors have done twelve volume monthly novel series simultaneously from the same publisher.
In February, 2008, his novel Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases was released in English by Viz Media. Del Rey Manga has already released the first volume in his Zaregoto series. His Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari and Katanagatari novels have been adapted into anime series. Nekomonogatari (Kuro) has been adapted into an anime TV movie, and Kizumonogatari will be release in theaters this year. Monogatari Series: Second Season, adapted from 6 books in Monogatari Series will air in July 2013. Another of his works, Medaka Box (manga), has been adapted into a two-season anime series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 18, 2017
For the most part it's very well translated but I can't get over the fact that "senpai" and "oniichan" are literally translated as "my senior" and "big brother." Maybe I'm just too used to the subtitles in the anime, but I would've much preferred they kept the original words as loans for a matter of textual flow.
August 17, 2017
Loved this book! Again, NisiOisiN nails the dialogue and banter between characters. Some of the conversations were so quick witted and funny, I would find myself re-reading them and laughing all over again. Also, Kanbaru is my new favorite character. The way she interacts with Araragi is so engaging.
July 22, 2020
I still don't know my personal rating for the first novel due to conflicting feelings about it, but i have enjoyed the sequel so much more! I especially enjoyed reading about Kanbaru, one of the new characters introduced in this book, who was very lively and countered Araragi's personality really well during their dialogues. (which is a positive, because one of their witty combacks back-and-forth conversations lasted for about 50 pages)
I wish the second arc in the book had more to offer and focused a bit more on the character it has introduced.
I wish the second arc in the book had more to offer and focused a bit more on the character it has introduced.
November 23, 2017
I ended up liking this part 2 better than part 1. Suruga Kanbaru might be tiring sometimes, but overall both stories (Suruga Monkey and Nadeko Snake) were quite darker than I expected them to be when I started.
The first is a take on the Monkey Paw horror short story.
The second is a tale about a snake curse, with some nice twists in the end.
Really liked this volume and I'll say it again, it felt like reading a more mature version of xxxHolic.
The first is a take on the Monkey Paw horror short story.
The second is a tale about a snake curse, with some nice twists in the end.
Really liked this volume and I'll say it again, it felt like reading a more mature version of xxxHolic.
February 6, 2025
Jak 1 tom był trochę ciekawy to ten był po prostu obrzydliwy
January 8, 2021
Be careful of what you wish for or it might consume you.
Continuing this tale of abominations the main character Koyomi Araragi is adjusting to life as his new girlfriend does what she can so he is not a complete scholastic loser (outside of math which he is actually not bad at.) However something seems off as we are treated to the stories of Suruga Kanbaru and Nadeko Sengoku which build upon the original part of the story wonderfully without burdening the reader to have to read it to understand what is going on (though I still suggest you read it anyway.)
Like part 1 of 3 this story is split into two stories with people who have come into the life of our quasi vampiric main character while his experiences with the supernatural world continue to affect those around him and himself as we are treated to a tale of wishes gone wrong and how sometimes affections can really crush when a curse takes on a life of its own. Onward and upward to part 3 which if I am not mistaken has been hinted at in the first 2 parts. Let's just hope things don't go to hell as we reach the finale.
Continuing this tale of abominations the main character Koyomi Araragi is adjusting to life as his new girlfriend does what she can so he is not a complete scholastic loser (outside of math which he is actually not bad at.) However something seems off as we are treated to the stories of Suruga Kanbaru and Nadeko Sengoku which build upon the original part of the story wonderfully without burdening the reader to have to read it to understand what is going on (though I still suggest you read it anyway.)
Like part 1 of 3 this story is split into two stories with people who have come into the life of our quasi vampiric main character while his experiences with the supernatural world continue to affect those around him and himself as we are treated to a tale of wishes gone wrong and how sometimes affections can really crush when a curse takes on a life of its own. Onward and upward to part 3 which if I am not mistaken has been hinted at in the first 2 parts. Let's just hope things don't go to hell as we reach the finale.
May 10, 2020
There are few, if any, recent authors I've read as witty as NisiOisiN. He's consistently hilarious and works the humor into the plot naturally and often. He also plays at deep moral quandaries fairly well and is undeniably creative when it comes to unique plot concepts. All of his characters have depth and development, and he enjoys taking standard archetypes and twisting them around to where they're barely recognizable.
Long story short, he's brilliant. This one is not one of his deeper novels, but it's probably the funniest one so far. Kanbaru is a delightful character and getting to know her is really the main focus of the novel. We get a glimpse of Sengoku, but we have to wait a bit to really get to know her.
I hope that these novels keep getting translated to English, because I hope to finish reading the series. The anime is brilliant in it's own right, but it misses out on some things that can only really be done well in print.
Long story short, he's brilliant. This one is not one of his deeper novels, but it's probably the funniest one so far. Kanbaru is a delightful character and getting to know her is really the main focus of the novel. We get a glimpse of Sengoku, but we have to wait a bit to really get to know her.
I hope that these novels keep getting translated to English, because I hope to finish reading the series. The anime is brilliant in it's own right, but it misses out on some things that can only really be done well in print.
June 11, 2024
Was really cute
October 2, 2025
por favor paren con los chistes de colegialas
September 7, 2020
On his second attempt, NisiOisiN pulls out all the stops and manages to craft an elegant two arcs that build on the first with a deeper narrative, intriguing mysteries, complex characters, and an intensity that wasn’t present in Hitagi Crab and Mayoi Snail.
While the focus is not on them, Hachikuji and Senjougahara provide a great source of comedy and intrigue, while newcomers Kanbaru and Nadeko prove to be fascinating characters in their own right. Each character is built out with such uniqueness and excitement, each having distinctive relationships and dynamics with Araragi which each make for original conversations and comedy for every character. In particular, Kanbaru is the only character whose perverseness exceeds Araragi’s, making him uncomfortable, which—if you can handle very sexually charged flirting and comedy—is absolutely hilarious. I ended up liking Kanbaru more here than in the show. Nadeko’s dynamic is different, as the innocent and oblivious character who has a hard time keeping up with Araragi’s mile-a-minute conversations. It’s easy to classify Nadeko as having the weakest characterization, but, hey, you have to start somewhere, and it makes me excited and anxious for the directions her character take in Second Season. And she’s a fun character in her own right regardless, even if her conversations don’t have the same entertaining back-and-forth energy as everyone else.
NisiOisiN crafts two unique mysteries which build on themselves in fascinating ways and culminate in exciting climaxes. I’m probably a bit more a fan of Nadeko Snake, although I give credit to Suruga Monkey for adding depth to my least favorite arc from season one of the show, even if the fight scene at the end couldn’t quite compare to the frantic and hyper-violent animation in the show. Nadeko Snake presents a moment I didn’t feel got enough attention in the show with a lot more weight:
I also think it’s worth noting that NisiOisiN really does a much better job with his fanservice and ‘flirting’ this time around. While Vol. 1 was full of sexually charged moments that translated well onto the screen with appropriately over-the-top sound effects and a comedic tone, but failed to illicit the same response on the page, Vol. 2 seems to have a better understanding of what feels like comedy and what doesn’t, and dials back what doesn’t. One moment that I feel was still a bit of bad choice is Aside from this moment, however, I really think NisiOisiN has much better control of the moments which have turned so many off from the series. Now I simply have to wait and see how he pulls off the toothbrush scene…
While the focus is not on them, Hachikuji and Senjougahara provide a great source of comedy and intrigue, while newcomers Kanbaru and Nadeko prove to be fascinating characters in their own right. Each character is built out with such uniqueness and excitement, each having distinctive relationships and dynamics with Araragi which each make for original conversations and comedy for every character. In particular, Kanbaru is the only character whose perverseness exceeds Araragi’s, making him uncomfortable, which—if you can handle very sexually charged flirting and comedy—is absolutely hilarious. I ended up liking Kanbaru more here than in the show. Nadeko’s dynamic is different, as the innocent and oblivious character who has a hard time keeping up with Araragi’s mile-a-minute conversations. It’s easy to classify Nadeko as having the weakest characterization, but, hey, you have to start somewhere, and it makes me excited and anxious for the directions her character take in Second Season. And she’s a fun character in her own right regardless, even if her conversations don’t have the same entertaining back-and-forth energy as everyone else.
NisiOisiN crafts two unique mysteries which build on themselves in fascinating ways and culminate in exciting climaxes. I’m probably a bit more a fan of Nadeko Snake, although I give credit to Suruga Monkey for adding depth to my least favorite arc from season one of the show, even if the fight scene at the end couldn’t quite compare to the frantic and hyper-violent animation in the show. Nadeko Snake presents a moment I didn’t feel got enough attention in the show with a lot more weight:
I also think it’s worth noting that NisiOisiN really does a much better job with his fanservice and ‘flirting’ this time around. While Vol. 1 was full of sexually charged moments that translated well onto the screen with appropriately over-the-top sound effects and a comedic tone, but failed to illicit the same response on the page, Vol. 2 seems to have a better understanding of what feels like comedy and what doesn’t, and dials back what doesn’t. One moment that I feel was still a bit of bad choice is Aside from this moment, however, I really think NisiOisiN has much better control of the moments which have turned so many off from the series. Now I simply have to wait and see how he pulls off the toothbrush scene…
January 14, 2020
Vertical presents two more tales of the Monogatari series by NisiOisiN in Bakemonogatari Part 2. Despite being the same style of witty banter and fast-paced writing fans of the series will expect from the author, this duo of tales is a smidge weaker than those that came before.
Let me start with Vertical and Ko Ransom's issue which I have brought up in previous novels--these need a better editor. The fact Suruga's name was misspelled at one point in the book is perhaps the worst faux pas an editor can let pass. I understand that light novel releases in America aren't given the fine-tooth comb approach because they are rather niche and don't afford a ton of editing--fans will buy it regardless--but I feel like all someone needs to do is read the book once to correct any offensive mistakes. The rest of the issues can be attested to light novel style writing (discussed in my review of Part One).
Suruga Monkey is a fine riff on the Monkey's Paw story but lacks the charming discussions of the Hachikuji and Senjogahara arcs. Kanbaru is my favorite character in the series but it takes both of these tales to give her enough time to really display her full and rather eccentric character. Her feelings toward Senjogahara are explored pretty decently and the ending has good emotion--in fact the story really deals with the idea of unrequited love in the context of same-sex romance quite well. But I only wish Kanbaru had been given more time for witty conversations. Her bits in Nadeko Snake are where she begins to finally gel in the overall "harem" of the story which I think is a little late.
But that's really small nitpicks compared to Nadeko Snake, which is the weakest story Monogatari has offered yet. The only entertainment value it has is the interactions between Araragi and Kanbaru. Everything else from the story of a snake curse to Nadeko herself is absolutely weak and pathetic. Nadeko has a pretty bad rep among fans of the series and I am removed enough from the show lately that I can't remember how I felt about her. And this story cements why I can't remember anything...she's entirely forgettable. Which in a way plays into who she is as a character and maybe that was the author's intent. But in a series that thrives on having really well-fleshed out characters Nadeko is super boring. Nadeko Snake is this flatlined little adventure where I didn't even feel any sort of emotional connection--something that was always if not effective at least there in the other tales. Here she's cursed because she turned down a guy, we find out about it through Araragi's discussion with Oshino rather than from her own mouth, and the majority of the expository dialogue, generally reserved for the girls to build emotion and connect you with them, is given to Araragi in an overlong chapter with Oshino. It's all extremely amateur and surprisingly weak for as consistently excellent as Monogatari has been.
Bakemonogatari Part 2 has a great new character in Kanbaru, even if it takes a while for her to get interesting, and an entirely forgettable character in Nadeko. It's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination--I enjoyed reading it wholeheartedly. Half the mature, interesting YA tale I expected but half is just a lot of nothing. Hopefully there aren't any more stories quite as flat as Nadeko's.
Let me start with Vertical and Ko Ransom's issue which I have brought up in previous novels--these need a better editor. The fact Suruga's name was misspelled at one point in the book is perhaps the worst faux pas an editor can let pass. I understand that light novel releases in America aren't given the fine-tooth comb approach because they are rather niche and don't afford a ton of editing--fans will buy it regardless--but I feel like all someone needs to do is read the book once to correct any offensive mistakes. The rest of the issues can be attested to light novel style writing (discussed in my review of Part One).
Suruga Monkey is a fine riff on the Monkey's Paw story but lacks the charming discussions of the Hachikuji and Senjogahara arcs. Kanbaru is my favorite character in the series but it takes both of these tales to give her enough time to really display her full and rather eccentric character. Her feelings toward Senjogahara are explored pretty decently and the ending has good emotion--in fact the story really deals with the idea of unrequited love in the context of same-sex romance quite well. But I only wish Kanbaru had been given more time for witty conversations. Her bits in Nadeko Snake are where she begins to finally gel in the overall "harem" of the story which I think is a little late.
But that's really small nitpicks compared to Nadeko Snake, which is the weakest story Monogatari has offered yet. The only entertainment value it has is the interactions between Araragi and Kanbaru. Everything else from the story of a snake curse to Nadeko herself is absolutely weak and pathetic. Nadeko has a pretty bad rep among fans of the series and I am removed enough from the show lately that I can't remember how I felt about her. And this story cements why I can't remember anything...she's entirely forgettable. Which in a way plays into who she is as a character and maybe that was the author's intent. But in a series that thrives on having really well-fleshed out characters Nadeko is super boring. Nadeko Snake is this flatlined little adventure where I didn't even feel any sort of emotional connection--something that was always if not effective at least there in the other tales. Here she's cursed because she turned down a guy, we find out about it through Araragi's discussion with Oshino rather than from her own mouth, and the majority of the expository dialogue, generally reserved for the girls to build emotion and connect you with them, is given to Araragi in an overlong chapter with Oshino. It's all extremely amateur and surprisingly weak for as consistently excellent as Monogatari has been.
Bakemonogatari Part 2 has a great new character in Kanbaru, even if it takes a while for her to get interesting, and an entirely forgettable character in Nadeko. It's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination--I enjoyed reading it wholeheartedly. Half the mature, interesting YA tale I expected but half is just a lot of nothing. Hopefully there aren't any more stories quite as flat as Nadeko's.
December 25, 2019
This is part two of my ongoing read of the series. Being a huge fan of the anime I decided to sit down and read the source material and see what I like about it
Now Bakemonogatari part two is the second part in what I consider the prologue or act one of the series. The series is divided currently into 3 Seasons (4 for the untralsated ones) that make a fantastic story arc of Araragi Koyomi. You can look at his works like three act structure. Season 1 sets up a premise that might be generic, season 2 subverts your expectations and actually deconstructs your original perception of the series, season 3 being conclusion the deconstruction with a little bit of reconstruction of the genre. Bakemonogatari does the same thing with its stories. Crab and snail from part 1 sets up Araragi as this force of good helping people with their problems. Actually solving the issue and having a good ending. Part two has two stories which we can label monkey and snake that completely subverts your expectations of what the story should be.
Monkey and snake do a great job presenting the issues and flaws in Araragi’s character and how he can not always find a solution. He wants to save everybody and has a bad case of risking his life to save everybody. But sometimes that is not the solution, the solution is not to make everybody happy but to compromise and save who you can. That is the beauty of these stories in this book. They completely break down your perception of what this series is and shows you the flaws of this.
As well it works to start trying to deconstruct the harem genre as well. Araragi is in a committed relationship and Kanbaru is not a fawning junior trying to get his attention but someone who is a bigger pervert then he is and has feelings for someone else. The relationship between these two characters in this book is a thing a beauty. Their clever word play, the quips, the back and forth, and many more details work so well in building this friendship between them. It’s not about whose going to win a harem but actually this great relationship of friends between the two of them that grows.
Which the word play is on point in this book. The back and forth between the characters is so well done and fun that it’s so much fun to read. Again this is the star of the series, two characters having a conversation that has zero bearing on the plot but is just so much fun.
My recommendation for this series always comes with the biggest but. This series is majority dialogue that doesn’t go anywhere. It’s about two characters having a clever back and forth and then eventually returning to the plot. There is a lot of filler but it is fun filler and if you don’t mind it, this will be a very fun and rewarding experience to go through.
Now Bakemonogatari part two is the second part in what I consider the prologue or act one of the series. The series is divided currently into 3 Seasons (4 for the untralsated ones) that make a fantastic story arc of Araragi Koyomi. You can look at his works like three act structure. Season 1 sets up a premise that might be generic, season 2 subverts your expectations and actually deconstructs your original perception of the series, season 3 being conclusion the deconstruction with a little bit of reconstruction of the genre. Bakemonogatari does the same thing with its stories. Crab and snail from part 1 sets up Araragi as this force of good helping people with their problems. Actually solving the issue and having a good ending. Part two has two stories which we can label monkey and snake that completely subverts your expectations of what the story should be.
Monkey and snake do a great job presenting the issues and flaws in Araragi’s character and how he can not always find a solution. He wants to save everybody and has a bad case of risking his life to save everybody. But sometimes that is not the solution, the solution is not to make everybody happy but to compromise and save who you can. That is the beauty of these stories in this book. They completely break down your perception of what this series is and shows you the flaws of this.
As well it works to start trying to deconstruct the harem genre as well. Araragi is in a committed relationship and Kanbaru is not a fawning junior trying to get his attention but someone who is a bigger pervert then he is and has feelings for someone else. The relationship between these two characters in this book is a thing a beauty. Their clever word play, the quips, the back and forth, and many more details work so well in building this friendship between them. It’s not about whose going to win a harem but actually this great relationship of friends between the two of them that grows.
Which the word play is on point in this book. The back and forth between the characters is so well done and fun that it’s so much fun to read. Again this is the star of the series, two characters having a conversation that has zero bearing on the plot but is just so much fun.
My recommendation for this series always comes with the biggest but. This series is majority dialogue that doesn’t go anywhere. It’s about two characters having a clever back and forth and then eventually returning to the plot. There is a lot of filler but it is fun filler and if you don’t mind it, this will be a very fun and rewarding experience to go through.
February 18, 2021
Good book, lots of foreshadowing and a nice moral pay off in the end. The dialogue was witty and engaging, and you could clearly read the scenes. It wasn't a perfect book since it's part of a larger series, but it was pretty amazing!
May 7, 2017
Eh, at the end of the day I just want some Meme Oshino.
NisiOisiN wasn't being subtle at all about Araragi's motives and failings; which is mostly being 'too kind', oh what a failure! (It is: kindness too the point of idiocy sometimes or a lack of resolve. That's the kind of kindness Araragi has and it's not particularly endearing or worthy of respect but I can live with that except he keeps bringing the point home again and again per chapter. We got it, bro. No need to repeat yourself.)
I like the characters, some observations about them are memorable (like when Araragi mentions how when a shy, delicate character appears in anime/manga he tends to get exasperated easily but faced with Sengoku in real life he just wanted to protect her). Kangaru is nice and fresh and a good counterpoint to Senjogahara (whom I wish appeared more in this volume). Lots more fanservice and exaggeration and I sink more and more into a love/hate relationship with this series.
The problem that people have with the translations for Zaregoto is that they kept the honorifics without explaining what they were whatsoever. My opinion on this really is; if you're reading a thing that was translated it's your job really to know more about this but they totally tried to avoid that here by translating the honorifics as well. A good compromise in theory but giving us stilted shit like 'my senior Araragi' and 'big brother' when 'Araragi-senpai' and 'oniisan' would have served just as well. In fact 'my junior Kangaru' was so foreign to mine eyes I completely failed to translate it back to kouhai. I'm not a big fan, but here we are.
NisiOisiN wasn't being subtle at all about Araragi's motives and failings; which is mostly being 'too kind', oh what a failure! (It is: kindness too the point of idiocy sometimes or a lack of resolve. That's the kind of kindness Araragi has and it's not particularly endearing or worthy of respect but I can live with that except he keeps bringing the point home again and again per chapter. We got it, bro. No need to repeat yourself.)
I like the characters, some observations about them are memorable (like when Araragi mentions how when a shy, delicate character appears in anime/manga he tends to get exasperated easily but faced with Sengoku in real life he just wanted to protect her). Kangaru is nice and fresh and a good counterpoint to Senjogahara (whom I wish appeared more in this volume). Lots more fanservice and exaggeration and I sink more and more into a love/hate relationship with this series.
The problem that people have with the translations for Zaregoto is that they kept the honorifics without explaining what they were whatsoever. My opinion on this really is; if you're reading a thing that was translated it's your job really to know more about this but they totally tried to avoid that here by translating the honorifics as well. A good compromise in theory but giving us stilted shit like 'my senior Araragi' and 'big brother' when 'Araragi-senpai' and 'oniisan' would have served just as well. In fact 'my junior Kangaru' was so foreign to mine eyes I completely failed to translate it back to kouhai. I'm not a big fan, but here we are.
August 1, 2017
Love it! Only thing I disliked is how snakes kept on being referred as poisonous, not venomous.
If it bites and kills you - venomous.
If you bite it and it kills you - poisonous.
If it bites and kills you - venomous.
If you bite it and it kills you - poisonous.
December 24, 2024
Suruga Monkey:
Suruga Kanbaru enters the fray and she's another interesting, engaging character with a rich interiority that we are treated to glimpses of. She contains multitudes, with thoughts and feelings that cross the human spectrum, oftentimes in contradiction with one another. This arc is a great riff on the classic monkey's paw story that takes some twists and turns to reveal more clearly the psychology of our newest heroine. A great depiction of adolescent heartbreak, yearning, and the pain of being a lesbian in love with a straight girl, and the rest of the complicated, messy emotions that come with that. She's also just funny and reading her banter is enjoyable which helps a ton. 9/10.
Nadeko Snake:
Spoiler Warning:
This arc introduces Sengoku Nadeko: a shy, meek, passive girl. Emphasis on the word passive because she's a notable landmark in this series as the first character to be drawn into supernatural peril by no fault of her own. All the others were in some sense, active participants in their unique circumstances. They invited the abberations in. But nadeko is different, she's ultimately just a victim. Which provides a nice twist to the status quo up to this point but does suffer from making Nadeko a character that's not as easy to get invested in. She doesn't have the complex inner world that some of the other characters do by this point. But the arc makes up for it by expressing some really interesting ideas in this arc. The snake curse that afflicts her can be read as a metaphor for the way she's objectified by her classmates. The boy that confesses to her is upset she turns him down and decides to curse her. She is only valuable or precious to him insofar as he can still perceive her as potentially accessible to him. Once he feels she is no longer within his grasp he cares little for her well-being. She's good as an object for him to fawn over but not as a person with her own emotions and thoughts and ambitions. Her supposed 'friend' also curses her out of spite since she had a crush on the boy that confessed to Nadeko. This objectification manifests itself as an invisible snake, constricting various parts of her body. Fear of these snakes being seen make her wear clothes that cover nearly all surfaces of her body other than her face. When our main character makes a sexual remark about her body, she instantly breaks down in tears and decries how she hates her body that she's been cursed with. Her body itself is viewed as an affliction. Sounds a lot like a young girl's experience with objectification and being sexualized for the first time to me. And this arc is a really fantastic exploration of this. 9/10.
Suruga Kanbaru enters the fray and she's another interesting, engaging character with a rich interiority that we are treated to glimpses of. She contains multitudes, with thoughts and feelings that cross the human spectrum, oftentimes in contradiction with one another. This arc is a great riff on the classic monkey's paw story that takes some twists and turns to reveal more clearly the psychology of our newest heroine. A great depiction of adolescent heartbreak, yearning, and the pain of being a lesbian in love with a straight girl, and the rest of the complicated, messy emotions that come with that. She's also just funny and reading her banter is enjoyable which helps a ton. 9/10.
Nadeko Snake:
Spoiler Warning:
This arc introduces Sengoku Nadeko: a shy, meek, passive girl. Emphasis on the word passive because she's a notable landmark in this series as the first character to be drawn into supernatural peril by no fault of her own. All the others were in some sense, active participants in their unique circumstances. They invited the abberations in. But nadeko is different, she's ultimately just a victim. Which provides a nice twist to the status quo up to this point but does suffer from making Nadeko a character that's not as easy to get invested in. She doesn't have the complex inner world that some of the other characters do by this point. But the arc makes up for it by expressing some really interesting ideas in this arc. The snake curse that afflicts her can be read as a metaphor for the way she's objectified by her classmates. The boy that confesses to her is upset she turns him down and decides to curse her. She is only valuable or precious to him insofar as he can still perceive her as potentially accessible to him. Once he feels she is no longer within his grasp he cares little for her well-being. She's good as an object for him to fawn over but not as a person with her own emotions and thoughts and ambitions. Her supposed 'friend' also curses her out of spite since she had a crush on the boy that confessed to Nadeko. This objectification manifests itself as an invisible snake, constricting various parts of her body. Fear of these snakes being seen make her wear clothes that cover nearly all surfaces of her body other than her face. When our main character makes a sexual remark about her body, she instantly breaks down in tears and decries how she hates her body that she's been cursed with. Her body itself is viewed as an affliction. Sounds a lot like a young girl's experience with objectification and being sexualized for the first time to me. And this arc is a really fantastic exploration of this. 9/10.
April 17, 2023
Content warnings: Body horror, blood, animal violence against children, threats of violence
Araragi figured how to get rid of a crab that takes on people’s burdens and uncovered the truth behind the strange young girl with an enormous backpack. But one of Senjogahara’s friends and one of his sisters’ classmates both have aberrations attached to them, and he sees no other option that roping in Senjogahara and Hanekawa into helping him out with it.
This volume does a lot more digging into the world of aberrations and their relationship to what everyday people see, with plenty of deliberate wordplay and theming.
The kids continue to be belligerent and annoying to each other in ways that only teens can be. They’re constantly squabbling over personal philosophies and tripping each other up on relatively minor miscommunications in a way that’s authentically annoying. I think what I also appreciate in this one is that there’s an acknowledgement that, after high school, university isn’t the only path. So much happens to expand the view of what tradition is and how natural paths unfold, especially in the context that every cast member has been haunted by the supernatural on one occasion or another.
Araragi is the best boy. He might not be the smartest (after all, he figures if vampires exist in the world, so can lesbians), but his heart is continuously in the right place. Neither human nor vampire, the teen boy is nigh-unkillable. The violence that happens to his body is unsettling, especially in the context that he’s putting himself in that harm to keep others safe, regardless the strength of the personal attachment. I’d call it a fatal flaw if he weren’t functionally immortal, but, like the girls around him, Nisoisin gives the reader plenty of cause to be worried. As Araragi moves further from his vampirism, I’m looking forward to seeing this evolution.
What I also enjoyed in this one is how Nisioisin flirts with relatively common stories, like that of The Monkey’s Paw, but then twists away from it to make the lore way more grounded in Japanese folklore rather than an homage to something more Western. It’s really well done and suggests that, as exemplified in the long exchanges, he has a command of what he’s doing on page. The fun is in the exploration of common themes with unique twists, which is something I’m appreciating about this series with each volume.
For my next entry into the series, I’m going to read the prequel, Kizumonogatari, as it is largely Hanekawa’s backstory, as a lead-up into Volume 3.
Araragi figured how to get rid of a crab that takes on people’s burdens and uncovered the truth behind the strange young girl with an enormous backpack. But one of Senjogahara’s friends and one of his sisters’ classmates both have aberrations attached to them, and he sees no other option that roping in Senjogahara and Hanekawa into helping him out with it.
This volume does a lot more digging into the world of aberrations and their relationship to what everyday people see, with plenty of deliberate wordplay and theming.
The kids continue to be belligerent and annoying to each other in ways that only teens can be. They’re constantly squabbling over personal philosophies and tripping each other up on relatively minor miscommunications in a way that’s authentically annoying. I think what I also appreciate in this one is that there’s an acknowledgement that, after high school, university isn’t the only path. So much happens to expand the view of what tradition is and how natural paths unfold, especially in the context that every cast member has been haunted by the supernatural on one occasion or another.
Araragi is the best boy. He might not be the smartest (after all, he figures if vampires exist in the world, so can lesbians), but his heart is continuously in the right place. Neither human nor vampire, the teen boy is nigh-unkillable. The violence that happens to his body is unsettling, especially in the context that he’s putting himself in that harm to keep others safe, regardless the strength of the personal attachment. I’d call it a fatal flaw if he weren’t functionally immortal, but, like the girls around him, Nisoisin gives the reader plenty of cause to be worried. As Araragi moves further from his vampirism, I’m looking forward to seeing this evolution.
What I also enjoyed in this one is how Nisioisin flirts with relatively common stories, like that of The Monkey’s Paw, but then twists away from it to make the lore way more grounded in Japanese folklore rather than an homage to something more Western. It’s really well done and suggests that, as exemplified in the long exchanges, he has a command of what he’s doing on page. The fun is in the exploration of common themes with unique twists, which is something I’m appreciating about this series with each volume.
For my next entry into the series, I’m going to read the prequel, Kizumonogatari, as it is largely Hanekawa’s backstory, as a lead-up into Volume 3.
November 8, 2020
I really loved the anime of this despite its moments of weird problematic male gaze, and while for me the light novel suffers from its prose conventions, it still has a lot of things to love about it. These chapters of the story aren't my favourite; Kanbaru's problems
As for Sengoku,
As for Sengoku,
August 24, 2018
I liked this volume substantially more than the first part of Bakemonogatari, maybe because I this time really did get what Nisio Isin is trying to do with the story and its theme, rather than just seeing the good execution but not the real sense behind it, as was my case with the previous part.
If you go into this book already knowing what awaits you prose & dialogue wise, I think this is a book that you can enjoy if you don't fight against it, accept it as an unusual way of telling a story and just stick with it. Also, this is just a part of Bakemonogatari, so ending and conclusion of the whole novel have yet to be experienced by the reader, which makes it hard to rate this fragment of a story. But I'd say that it works pretty well. I am a lazy reader, I like things getting presented to me, and I don't really think that much about what is or was happening. Thus, it really was helpful to get the second (or fourth in total) story about Sengoku, to contrast her from all the other cases and with that also highlight an important factor about all those cases: Every person did bring the aberration upon themselves. This is not a story about a guy running around slaying monsters, this is a story about how things can go wrong if you try to go against fate and fight against things that you shouldn't fight to a certain extent. "Try to shape your life but also try to accept the unchangeable" is what could be said to be the topic of the novel so far, in my opinion.
If you go into this book already knowing what awaits you prose & dialogue wise, I think this is a book that you can enjoy if you don't fight against it, accept it as an unusual way of telling a story and just stick with it. Also, this is just a part of Bakemonogatari, so ending and conclusion of the whole novel have yet to be experienced by the reader, which makes it hard to rate this fragment of a story. But I'd say that it works pretty well. I am a lazy reader, I like things getting presented to me, and I don't really think that much about what is or was happening. Thus, it really was helpful to get the second (or fourth in total) story about Sengoku, to contrast her from all the other cases and with that also highlight an important factor about all those cases: Every person did bring the aberration upon themselves. This is not a story about a guy running around slaying monsters, this is a story about how things can go wrong if you try to go against fate and fight against things that you shouldn't fight to a certain extent. "Try to shape your life but also try to accept the unchangeable" is what could be said to be the topic of the novel so far, in my opinion.
October 31, 2022
Bakemonogatari Part 2 is a fantastic sequel to an already fantastic book. The Bakemonogatari series follows a high school senior named Koyomi Araragi, who turned into an unfortunately weak vampire in an event we don't get to see in parts one or two. Throughout his average high school life, he encounters people with something haunting them, an aberration. Aberrations can be curses purposefully attached by others out of hatred or, most commonly, a manifestation of stress, anxiety, or past trauma. With the help of a creepy homeless man who lives in an abandoned cram school, Araragi saves these people from the aberrations that are haunting them.
This series is hilarious. The dialogue between Araragi and the cast of characters, the people he rescues from the aberrations, is well-written and funny. All the main characters are standard anime/manga archetypes, but NISIOISIN manages to turn your average tsundere into a compelling character with reasons behind how she acts. The characters are the highlight of this series, but the action is nothing to sneeze at. While one page is a casual conversation, the next is an intense battle with an invisible snake. This book has a lot to offer for some people, but it is not for everyone. The dialogue between characters takes up most of the book, so if you don't enjoy it or think it's funny, this series won't have much for you.
This series is hilarious. The dialogue between Araragi and the cast of characters, the people he rescues from the aberrations, is well-written and funny. All the main characters are standard anime/manga archetypes, but NISIOISIN manages to turn your average tsundere into a compelling character with reasons behind how she acts. The characters are the highlight of this series, but the action is nothing to sneeze at. While one page is a casual conversation, the next is an intense battle with an invisible snake. This book has a lot to offer for some people, but it is not for everyone. The dialogue between characters takes up most of the book, so if you don't enjoy it or think it's funny, this series won't have much for you.
February 12, 2021
3/5 Stars: ‘Bakemonogatari: Part 2’ (Book #2 of ‘Monogatari’) by NisiOisiN.
→ Age Range: Adult.
→ Genre: Fantasy, Light Novel.
→ Trigger Warnings: Nudity, Sexual Profanity, Self-Harm.
In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★★
→ Character Development: ★★★★
→ Setting: ★★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★★
→ Writing: ★★★
General Comments: Similar to ‘Part 1’, environments and outside descriptions are mostly absent, unless they directly concern the characters in some way; you are unlikely to get lost in the setting. Instead, the focus is squarely on dialogue, banter, wordplay and tensions between the characters. As convoluted as the chatter can be, the prose itself, the style of the narrative, is very straightforward and often simplistic.
Favourite Quote: ‘It’s impossible for someone to replace someone else. Just like it’s impossible for someone to become someone else. No matter how much like them, no matter how much you adore them.’
Time Read: Two Days.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -
→ Age Range: Adult.
→ Genre: Fantasy, Light Novel.
→ Trigger Warnings: Nudity, Sexual Profanity, Self-Harm.
In-depth Rating:
→ Plot: ★★★
→ Character Development: ★★★★
→ Setting: ★★
→ Entertainment Level: ★★★★
→ Writing: ★★★
General Comments: Similar to ‘Part 1’, environments and outside descriptions are mostly absent, unless they directly concern the characters in some way; you are unlikely to get lost in the setting. Instead, the focus is squarely on dialogue, banter, wordplay and tensions between the characters. As convoluted as the chatter can be, the prose itself, the style of the narrative, is very straightforward and often simplistic.
Favourite Quote: ‘It’s impossible for someone to replace someone else. Just like it’s impossible for someone to become someone else. No matter how much like them, no matter how much you adore them.’
Time Read: Two Days.
→ Audiobook: No.
→ Audiobook Narrator: -
November 21, 2024
I love the banter between Kanbaru and Araragi, and while the feminist part of my brain can nitpick some less than ideal moments the story as a whole is interesting without being bogged down by the unsavory bits like the first book was.
Unlike the first book, this one reminded me of why I love the series so much. I was scared to continue this walk down memory lane but I'm glad I did because the topics hit all the notes I needed at that time in my life. The unrequited and ultimately impossible crush on a straight person, the feeling of worrying that by constantly draining resources from your caregivers makes you a leech who shouldn't even be there, and the seemingly unending search for something, ANYTHING to cure what ails you to no avail is handled so well. It didn't make me cry this time around but God did it hit me in the feels.
Honestly, I'm still not sure if I can recommend this series to anyone, but I definitely think it's worth reading.
Unlike the first book, this one reminded me of why I love the series so much. I was scared to continue this walk down memory lane but I'm glad I did because the topics hit all the notes I needed at that time in my life. The unrequited and ultimately impossible crush on a straight person, the feeling of worrying that by constantly draining resources from your caregivers makes you a leech who shouldn't even be there, and the seemingly unending search for something, ANYTHING to cure what ails you to no avail is handled so well. It didn't make me cry this time around but God did it hit me in the feels.
Honestly, I'm still not sure if I can recommend this series to anyone, but I definitely think it's worth reading.
June 24, 2022
while ill always have some issues with some things about the series (mainly the gross comments about kids), i love it so much. i love all the characters and their dialogues it’s just so funny and entertaining. the writing just flows so well and im glad the translation doesn’t ruin the humor. protag is still pretty flat in my opinion but he’s not awful. senjogahara annoyed me a little bit scratch that their whole relationship annoys me because he’s kind of inconsiderate to her and she treats him like any orher person sometimes. idk the romance felt unnecessary to me and im not too interested in their relationship atm. plus in the second part of this book the araragi barely thought about senjogahara and i just feel like their lack of communication is very immature. anyways most of my issues are pretty small and i overall enjoyed reading this a lot.
August 8, 2022
Narration repeating itself and speaking positively of itself at times is pretty annoying. I'd go as far as to say it takes up 2 or 3 pages of the book, maybe 4. Other than that, the first chapter of this one the new character is a 6th grader, and I the 2nd chapter, she's a dumbass highschooler. Because of that, she's pretty annoying in the first chapter, though in thr 2nd one she's put to great use, and the 4th overall chapter was the dumbest one yet. While both chapters are written a little differently, they still aren't written too well, only cutting down a little on the most annoying aspects I mentioned at the beginning. It sort of feels like it doesn't quite know what it is at times, with the contrast between being funny and serious smooth at times and appalling at times. It's still really funny stuff, though.
May 17, 2018
Another great volume by NisiOisin. We had two arcs again. The first was about Kanbarou and I liked her much more here than in the series. Her dialogues were pure gold in the whole book. Both of the stories were well-constructed and their length was almost perfect too. The other new character was Nadeko who will have quite a big part in the story later. It was a really enjoyable add to the Monogatari series and it displayed the strongest parts of the author: great character dynamics and dialogues.
December 29, 2021
There are two stories in this volume and I enjoyed the second one more than the first one. It still has the same kind of issues the first volume had for me, which is, annoying characters. But other than that it is fun and witty and well written as usual. And I have just noticed this curious thing because I am reading a wheel of time book now, NISIOISIN has a tendency to repeat the same things over and over again about characters and reminding what had happened before a lot like Robert Jordan. And that is kind of annoying but it is not too bad.
April 24, 2020
La Segunda parte de la Historia principal de Monogatari.
Aquí te presentan a dos personajes más Kanbaru Suruga y Nadeko Sengoku, que al igual que la primera parte se encuentran con "Aberraciones" o Mounstros que cambiarón su vida.
En mi parecer Sengoku es uno de mis personajes favoritos, pero la historia de Kanbaru me gusta mucho por la pequeña referencia a "La pata de mono". La primera lectura fue pesada para mí pero es porque no estaba acostumbrado a leer aún en inglés.
Aquí te presentan a dos personajes más Kanbaru Suruga y Nadeko Sengoku, que al igual que la primera parte se encuentran con "Aberraciones" o Mounstros que cambiarón su vida.
En mi parecer Sengoku es uno de mis personajes favoritos, pero la historia de Kanbaru me gusta mucho por la pequeña referencia a "La pata de mono". La primera lectura fue pesada para mí pero es porque no estaba acostumbrado a leer aún en inglés.
October 7, 2021
I really enjoy the way characters are developed in this series. The dialogues are lengthy and really dive into the minds of the characters. It is incredible how quickly 20-30 pages of character dialogue and interaction goes by in this book. There are also some good action moments to break up the pacing. It did feel like some characters from the first book were almost ignored in this book. I hope that as the series progresses, more emphasis is put on all the characters more evenly.
March 21, 2022
Apart from Hitagi End during szn 2, Kanbaru’s arc is probably the most impressionable for me across the span of the Monogatari series. She checks all the boxes for me as a dynamic character. Love her. Seeing her fleshed out in the novels is a real treat.
Nisioisin shines when it comes to dialogue — reading this just further reiterates this point. Not sure if it his best work, but the interactions between Araragi and Kanbaru are next-level.
Good stuff.
Nisioisin shines when it comes to dialogue — reading this just further reiterates this point. Not sure if it his best work, but the interactions between Araragi and Kanbaru are next-level.
Good stuff.
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