Book Review: Solanin by Inio Asana

Solanin

By Inio Asana

Finished reading: 25/4/21

My rating: 4/5 stars

‘I wondered if the Demon that whispered "Why not be free?" was Freedom itself.’

Solanin is a two-issue manga that reads as a standalone graphic novel. The story follows a group of Japanese college graduates living in Tokyo as they enter the adult working world.

I think this is the only book I have read that perfectly captures the void between education and work in your early twenties. It accurately presents the ups and downs of life, unemployment, and the monotony of work. There were so many incredible quotes scattered through the inner dialogue of each character. I really struggled selecting just one for this review. Every word truly reflects the cynicism of young adults coming to terms with what it is to be an adult. But also, the sense of clinging on to what brings us joy.

I liked how all the characters provided their own individual slice of graduate life. They all choose different paths but all equally miserable about life. And yet, music brings them together and allows them to forget about their misery and reflect on their student life. The story was emotive and beautiful in a pessimistic, emo kind of way.

I found that certain parts may have gotten slightly lost in translation at times. I don’t know if this was a cultural barrier or whether it was due to the actual translation from Japanese to English. I just got a little lost at times trying to follow the dialogue. It definitely had the quirkiness of manga which I really loved, but sometimes was confused by.

Having said this, the artwork was beautiful. I loved how the actual panels were split up by urban landscapes of Tokyo and little motifs representing each chapter. It was just such a unique way of telling the story. The cityscapes in particular made me feel like I was a lost soul wandering through Tokyo. It felt ordinary, pedestrian and, at times, claustrophobic. It worked so well at creating a sense of place and atmosphere.

Asano said that he wrote this when he was 24 years old, having just graduated from college and feeling insecure. In the afterward, he says ‘Lovers, friends, money, jobs, a society with an unclear future, one’s own pride […] The only thing that’s certain is that [you] can never return to the days gone by […] the most important messages in our lives […] come from the average people all around you, the ones who are just feet from where you stand’. This message resonates clearly in the story that Asano has expertly constructed through his striking words and illustrations. You can tell this book has come from personal experience and this is what makes it so genuine.

Overall, this was such a pleasurable read that massively exceeded my expectations. It’s such a deep and easy-going read at the same time. I’m sure many twenty-somethings can relate to this regardless of which city they live in. We all share a universal dread of living an ordinary life, and this book nurtures this fear into something else.