My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata is an autobiographical manga that delves into sexuality, mental health, and coping with both parental and societal expectations. Read on to learn the pros and cons of the work, as well as discover other books you might enjoy.
While I can’t remember who recommended this manga to me (or how I heard about it in the first place), I purchased a physical copy via Amazon for approximately $11.
Pros:
- Though the story is set in Japan, the themes of loneliness, self-discovery, and learning to cope with mental illness are globally applicable.
- Though the art could be described as, “simple,” when compared to other contemporary manga, it is still immensely expressive.
- This manga is a quick and engaging read; I finished it in one sitting.
Cons:
- (nit-pick) Though the title trades a least a little on the idea / allure of lesbian sex, less than 25% of the book is dedicated to the act of sex. I wasn’t bothered by this, but those expecting a lurid yuri (“girl’s love”) manga will probably be disappointed.
- (nit-pick) I was disappointed that the author discussed her gender only briefly. Examples include: “It wasn’t that I wanted to be a man; it was more like I hated belonging to a gender at all.” & “I was excessively afraid of being defined as a woman … before I was seen as myself.” Then again, I think the story works without this being elaborated on, and I can’t really fault Nagata for not indulging my curiosity.
Conclusion:
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness was a fun and heart-felt romp through one woman’s journey toward self-actualization. While the simple art style and story means that the book can be finished in one sitting, it is the honesty of the writing that will bring many readers (and especially members of the LGBTQ community) back for more. Nagata’s next book, My Solo Exchange Diary Vol. 1, is on my shortlist of manga to read next.
Check it out here.
You may also enjoy…
- How Do We Relationship? by Tamifull
- Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker
Affiliate Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate links in my content. This won’t cost you anything, but it helps me to offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!
