Disturbing books: Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi - full series review

[@lyndaslittlelibrary]

Luckily my public library carries these, I was able to traumatize myself for free!

[@miewiii0]

where do you live.

[@PlayFlux]

Free of cost

[@alexandragabitto2573]

Great review! This was a very harrowing story about unlearning trauma that isn’t just inherited by parents, but that was STRATEGICALLY PLANNED by said parents to cause a literal child psychological distress. The fact that the main character was still able to find understanding was really poignant to me. Amazing job!

[@rachellindon]

I actually found out about this manga from one of your earlier videos and I just want to thank you so much for recommending it! As the child of a mentally ill parent myself and who had a very similar childhood to Seiichi, it felt as though I was reading about my own life and then by the end, setting myself free. I always enjoy reading things I can relate to the most. So truly, thank you!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Glad you enjoyed it (if that’s the right word)

[@Dreadheadezz]

You nailed it. It’s psychological disturbing. It was really hard to get through chapters but I couldn’t stop myself from reading. I picked up volume 1 from a bookstore and pirated the rest. I read like a 100 chapters in one day. Oshimi writes in a way where the dialogue is very minimal but he powerfully crafts art that portrays Tons of emotions. While reading this you’ll have an intense feeling of dread. You’ll be gritting your teeth.

[@joinbookland]

My library had the first 7 which I read, and at my request they'll be purchasing the rest of the ones that are currently published. Looking forward to continuing with them!

[@HorrorDeconstruction]

I think this is the best way to cover manga, when it's complete... having read the series the ending half with the hospice material was brutal having gone through it myself with relatives, i was like what am i doing reading this.. but all in all it was an excellent, unique manga

[@spacedog644]

Great review! Shuzo Oshimi is my favorite manga creator so I’m always glad to see people enjoying his work. If you haven’t read any of his other series already I would highly recommend them (particularly Flowers of Evil, Inside Mari, and Happiness) as they all share that same creepy/claustrophobic atmosphere that he does really well.

[@rachelpadilla9368]

The way you described this book. Made me want to read it, but worried about the psychological damage.

[@eriebeverly]

Nicely handled review. Nothing spoiled and solid warnings about both the emotional and economic damage.

[@sarahcountryman1776]

I started reading this series this year based on your recommendation. I've read 5 volumes so far and it is excellent! I'm also trying to space them out and not read it in one sitting.

[@Twoseconds001]

I don't even know how to feel after I just finished the Manga but what I do know is that it changed me and I cried lot. I've read all of his Manga and one thing I can say is that shuzo knows how to write a good ending just like flowers of evil till date one of the best ending to a series I've seen.

[@MoltandMigrate]

It's terrifying throughout, but that final section is particularly harrowing to me as an adult. I hugged my aged mother very tightly afterward.

[@richardaviles353]

Right? It makes me fear my parents getting old

[@edlewisnoctreviews]

Interesting and you're right, definitely beautiful artwork. There's several manga I'd like to get into, but the cost puts it on hold for me. Great review!

[@gh0rochi363]

I read it online until I buy it

[@CleaSelene]

The depth and complexity people always seem to discuss when talking about this sound so interesting - buuut as a kid of a narcisstic mother I ain't touching this with a mile-long pole 🤣

[@kd8663]

That may be for the best. It is some of the most realistic gaslighting I’ve ever seen depicted in general, but more specifically of a parent to a child.

[@katrinabrown]

Ahh!! I want to read these so bad! Great review!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It's really great!

[@shakenbake3249]

Sounds like an awesome series and I’ll try and check it out. Definitely recommend you check out Junji Ito’s manga rendition of the book No Longer Human. The original book is a phenomenal book and Ito’s manga horror masterpiece recreation of it is truly wonderful and a must read for anyone a fan of horror and manga. The art work and how it blends with the story and characters is really brilliant. Definitely read up on the original author who wrote the novel No Longer Human before you read the manga of No Longer Human because with the knowledge of who the author is and what the story he wrote means with that knowledge makes the book (manga and the novel) so much more impactful. Some very disturbing and very depressing stuff but definitely something worth checking out if you haven’t already and if you have then I’m glad you have because it’s great!

[@Twoseconds001]

Junji ito No longer human was a trip I tell you it was very detailed and fked up but Blood on the track still tops it

[@BeyondTheBlurb]

So, I've never read Manga and I'm curious. Since it's a lot of images and not so much text, would you say that a large part of the story is what you make up from 'reading' the artwork? Could it be possible for different people to glean a different narrative from the story because of the lack of text?

[@schexylady]

I’m currently on Volume 3; it’s a wild ride.

[@privilegedchromosome]

Just finished volume 15 and I still love it! Great review!

[@mzcyberbat]

Oh so its finished, brilliant

[@somedude7281]

You should check out the Authors other manga Flowers Of Evil. It’s an excellently written psychological horror/thriller series with some incredible pacing,art,and character writing

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I've heard that's great - definitely interested to read it

[@DDB168]

I wonder how the fan translations will compare to the (eventual) professional translations? Do you know if the fan translation was done by a native English speaker, or a native Japanese speaker ? 140 GBP - ouch !

[@Godzilladad]

I’m almost done reading Junji Ito series. So good

[@jordanandre8367]

great review

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@kirkwallmage]

I found them on Libby and will definitely dive in!

[@wendyvilla2904]

🖤💚

[@Jackeduphobo33]

Disturbing and brilliant! Probably the only manga (so far) that has been able to make feel not only sad, but also a bit depressed. Its greatest strenght (aside from artwork, composition etc) is how isolated you feel when reading it. Since everything is told and ONLY told from the boys perspective, the reader feels just as "left in the cold" as he is. There are no different perspectives from the father, the boys friends or even his mother. That can sometimes be a detriment to the writing, but here it makes us FEEL what Seiichi feels.

[@SheilaTheGrate]

Oh. My. God. So I just went to go check this out and 𝒻ᵤ𝒸ₖ, on the FIRST PAGE!! The First 𝒻ᵤ𝒸ₖᵢₙ𝓰 PAGE I'm like ₑₘₒₜᵢₒₙₐₗ DₐₘₐGₑ! Olly, you weren't kidding when you said that it had an effect. For those that haven't checked this out yet, but have seen Full Metal Alchemist, imagine seeing the Father of the Year for bringing together his daughter and her bestest friend together (IYKYK) in the FIRST SCENE of FMA. That is the level of gut punch. ICK ICK ICK