🫶REVIEW🫶
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[Firstly, I need to say a huge thank you to @canongatebooks and @netgalley for providing me with an ARC/proof in exchange for an honest review]

Idol, Burning centres around Akari, who finds comfort and strength in following her idol (her 'oshi', i.e. fave) Masaki, from idol group Maza Maza. Unfortunately, Masaki is accused of punching a fan, and a scandal ensues. This gorgeous little novella then explores all of Akaris feelings about the situation, about how she came to be a fan, and about fandom in general.

As someone who is a huge fan of the Korean group, Pentagon (my 'oshi' if you will being, Hui), I related a lot to the fandom elements of the book. There are so many positives to being part of a community of fans, but also many negatives (I quit twitter, I stopped religiously followed LIVES etc.) and it's only as I hit my mid 20s that I started to see fandom in general in a different way, because at some point you have to accept that your idols are human beings who are so much more than just the outward image they project as an idol.

This book specifically also deals with fallout from a scandal which can be devastating. My first group was a korean group called DBSK, and let's just say, one of the members of that group turned out a little darker of mind than expected and so Akaris initial denial (but then acceptance, grief and ultimate inner confusion) very much made sense to me (although I hope she never grew into someone who excuses serious allegations because some of the kpop fans are mad, guys).

Anyway, I related to this a lot. It's a quirky little read for anyone who has been a fanboy or girl or person would love - whether its jpop/jrock (love me a wee bit of Hey!Say!JUMP), k-pop or western idol groups, this is for you. And i imagine it's probably a really insightful little 140 page read for anyone on the outside who wonders what the mindset of someone like this is. Being a fan is a complicated balance but ultimately it comes down to unconditonal love, which sometimes needs to start having conditons. And I think this captures it perfectly.

Excuse me while I go pray for no scandals for Huing now.

Idol, Burning is a novella exploring stan culture, mental health and identity against a backdrop of the stressful high-performance culture of the Japanese education system.

The novel's main character is a teenager named Akari who seemingly suffers from an unnamed condition that impacts her schoolwork and conformity to societal standards of cleanliness and organisation. Akari is devoted to an 'idol' - a boyband member named Masaki Ueno. This obsession swallows every aspect of her life and is closely tied to the foundation of Akari's own identity, so when Masaki is accused of punching a fan at the opening of the narrative, the ensuing fallout has a huge impact on her.

Idol, Burning reminded me a bit of a documentary that aired 10-ish years ago about fans of One Direction, with the focus on unhealthy levels of obsession and parasocial relationships. However, gaving been drawn towards this book by the plot description, I was a little disappointed at how little plot there actually was. Nonetheless I enjoyed Rin Usami's writing, and the way she described the physicality of Akari's emotions was truly compelling if a little grotesque at times.

All in all, this was a nice, short read and provided an interesting take on social media, fandom and the toll of investing your emotional energy in celebrities.

Impressive, thought-provoking and intimate novella about obsessive fandom and what happens when your idol does something transgressive. Akari’s world revolves around her ‘oshi’ (idol) a member of a pop band in whom she finds fulfilment missing from her high school and home life. So when her oshi is photographed hitting someone and the resulting media storm doesn’t show any sign of abating, Akari’s world collapses. She literally likens this to losing her spine, having to learn to walk again.

What made Idol, Burning so compelling, is Akari’s attitude. She is a neurodiverse character whose learning difficulties don’t seem to have been adequately addressed in school or at home. The world of fandom offers support and understanding yet she is clear eyed about its exploitative nature. This applies to Akari’s idol too – Usami explores the effects of childhood fame on a grown man who doesn’t necessarily want to spend the rest of his life in a pop band, always dressed in blue.

I found the afterword particularly poignant, Usami was inspired to write Idol, Burning by her brother who was let down by the educational system. She is only in her early twenties – so impressive. An author to follow, highly recommended.

My thanks to Canongate and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Idol, Burning.

This novella is a fascinating deep dive into Fandom culture - Akari is 16 and totally devoted to her idol, Masaki, a performer in the band Maza Maza. She runs a blog devoted to her 'oshi' which garners her a decent following of Maza Maza fans, and so her online life is much richer than her real one.
But when Masaki is accused of assaulting a fan, Akari's world is rocked. Her devotion never wavers, but Usami nevertheless paints a compelling picture of a huge celebrity becoming cancelled by the wider world; Akari is the exception to this rule, her Devotion never wavering.

I can see why this was such a success in its native Japan, winning prizes and selling thousands of copies. It's an excellent exploration of Fandom from all sides. I had the impression Usami was a follower of idols herself as she deftly portrays the positives of the culture as well as how it can get ugly. The sense of community is fosters is a lifeline for Akari - but she doesn't shy away from how capitalism exploits that community, either.

The assault and subsequent flaming of Masaki feels secondary to Akari's story here, but it is still well developed and fascinating. We never learn if the assault took place - or indeed if it took place at all - imbuing the narrative with the same feeling you get when you're 30 pages into a rumor filled subreddit. We are left without a satisfying conclusion - which is frustrating - to the Masaki story; however, when you remember it's Akari's story, it's more satisfying.

Hugely recommended if you've ever been a teenage girl wildly obsessed by a band or a person, Idol, Burning is a fascinating read.

If we wanted to explain an obsession, as I have often done in my work, I could have borrowed some of the scenes from this book, the impact of which was remarkable for me. It's certainly not the first time I've read an otaku story or heard it told, but I think the author manages to really use striking imagery, so much so that I was happy that this story didn't last that long.

Se volessimo spiegare un'ossessione, come spesso mi é capitato di fare nel mio lavoro, avrei potuto prendere in prestito alcune delle scene di questo libro, i cui impatto é stato per me notevole. Non é certo la prima volta che leggo la storia di un otaku o che la sento raccontare, ma credo che l'autrice riesca ad utilizzare veramente immagini di forte impatto, tanto che ero felice del fatto che questa storia non durasse poi tanto.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done an amazing job at creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

in “idol, burning”, we follow akari who’s a high school student and perhaps most importantly, fan of the idol; makasi ueno. from tweeting and writing blog posts to attending concerts, akari does it all and its great. until masaki ueno ends up in a scandal which more or less ends up ruining his career. we get a look inside the world of fandom, and the escapism it allows. perhaps especially those who struggle with various mental health issues.

“idol, burning” for me was rather interesting. as a person whos been in various fandoms my whole life and whos currently a fan of korean idols, this book hit home in a lot of ways. it was a little uncanny reading x thoughts and feelings toward their idol x when they are rather close to those which I myself experience.

the synopsis of the book does slightly give me the ick, as i personally hate the words “obsess” when it comes to fandom culture and the negative connotation that it gives. as we watch akari’s idol crash and burn, we also get to watch her life fall a little part around her. it is also interesting to see how she is so high functioning when it comes to her idol, and updating news about him and writing, but in her personal life she ends up not graduating and being viewed as a burden by her family. i do not necessarily is a story about obsession, but perhaps about trying to hold on to that one light tha keeps you afloat.

I do wish that it was perhaps a bit longer because I feel like there was a lot more to explore within akari when it comes to her character.

all in all it was a good read.

*this copy was given to me from netgally in exchange for an honest review 📚

Rin Usami’s Idol, Burning examines the relationship between celebrities and the public through sixteen-year-old Akari, devoted to her ‘oshi’ whose reputation is rubbished when he allegedly assaults a fan. Akari first saw Masaki when she was only four and he was twelve performing in Peter Pan. Now he’s a member of a boy band, regularly winning popularity polls. Akari’s an awkward teenager who spends her life recording Masaki’s every utterance, in an effort to see the world through his eyes, eventually dropping out of school and exasperating her family until she’s forced to face the fact of Masaki’s exit from public life and find a reason to live.

In this brief, strikingly written, powerful piece of fiction, Usami explores the world of obsessive fandom and the consequences of flaming those who live their lives in the public eye which, as she points out in her Afterword, affects not just them but their friends and family.

Idol, Burning follows Akari - dedicated stan of pop star Masaki.

Usami captures internet fandom and loneliness really well, as Akari’s obsession isolates her from the rest of her life. There were sections that were excerpts of the comments on forums/twitter were so accurately toxic.

With that said, there were a lot of threads that were I wanted more from, Askari’s potential illness and the incident leading to Masaki’s cancellation.

I would recommend to friends in the J-Pop or K-Pop standom.

Also the cover art and illustrations inside are absolutely beautiful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canongate for access to a digital proof of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for a review!

Idol, Burning is an engaging book about a teenage girl whose idol gets caught up in a scandal, as he supposedly assaulted a woman. The story focuses on Akari, who, as a child, first engaged with Masaki at age 4, when she saw a movie that starred him. It is not until later that she rewatches the movie and resonates so deeply with his character, so much so that she starts revolving her life around him.

The short story didn’t spend a lot of time on the scandal surrounding Masaki, which is what I was expecting. Instead, it quickly moves on and focuses on Akari’s life surrounding him, showing what she does in order to be able to afford all the idol merchandise and CDs, but also her inability to study as well as everyone else.
Although the story was enjoyable, it didn’t blow me away. As I was expecting a bigger focus on Masaki’s scandal, the book didn’t live up to my expectations, but the story was still engaging. Usami’s writing is much like other Japanese writers, in the sense that it’s very descriptive and wants to describe as much as possible without writing florally.

Overall, it was okay, but not mind-blowingly good. The plot didn’t necessarily feel like a complete novel, which ended up leaving me feeling unsatisfied. I’m sure there’s others who this does appeal more widely too, and it’s still not a bad read.

Although it wasn't for me, there's definitely a rabid audience out there for this novel. Steeped in stan culture and speaking with the voice of a true, diehard fan, this book will resonate with a lot of people!

(Actually 3.5 stars)

A short but intense, riveting, and visceral story of idolatry, obsession, and isolation; but also the power and magic and energy we derive from our idols. This one will be familiar to anyone who has ever experienced the highs and lows and total immersion of fandom.

Although I was never a superfan to the degree that the protagonist Akari is, the portrayal of online fandom is spot-on and something I recognised from my own experiences, years ago. I loved how sympathetic the book is towards the teenage girl protagonist and towards fandom in general, which is still culturally stigmatised. While Akari's deep love and devotion for her "oshi", her idol, is looked down and viewed as almost pathological, "Idol, Burning" reveals what many of us know to be true - fandom is happiness, motivation, community, belonging, and escapism in times when we don't have a friend in the world.

At the same time, the book covers how the idol/entertainment industry preys on this very aspect, squeezing every last drop of money and devotion from young and impressionable people desperate to get that little bit closer to their idol. The negative impacts of celebrity culture and constant fan and media scrutiny on idols themselves are also touched on.

Aside from fandom culture, "Idol, Burning" also touches on a young girl struggling with unnamed physical/mental illnesses, unable to cope with the demands of life like everyone else and only finding solace in her oshi. I felt that this aspect of Akari's life could have been explored more, as well as who she was and what her life and relationships looked like prior to having an oshi. Some of the side characters, like Akari's mother and friend, could also have been fleshed out more. The book is perhaps a bit too fast-paced, and there were quite a few time skips/scene changes that felt very sudden and were not explained.

Overall, though, this is a well-written and evocative story that many people will no doubt see themselves in.

2.5 rounded down

This was incredibly well done in its portrayal of obsession and what it means to be a part of a fandom to an extent where it consumes your life. That aside, it didn't feel like a wholly satisfying novel and I finished feeling like I wanted something a bit more from the narrative.

Idol, Burning explores teen obsession, fandom culture and social media and loneliness. Akari is a high school student who is obsessed with her “oshi” Masaki Ueno. Masaki is a member of J-Pop group Maza Maza. Akari runs a blog dedicated to Masaki and spends her time devoted to him. When rumours surface of Masaki assaulting a female fan, Akari is thrown even more into her obsession.

What I enjoyed about the novel was the impact the assault had on Akari. Online, Akari is able to present herself as organised and knowledgable, but in reality, she is lonely and awkward, depending on her oshi for understanding. She sifts through all the details she can find on the assault to try and better understand why her oshi has done it - sharing his pleas of innocence and updating other fans. Akari is hurt by the revelation of the assault and the novel showcases how toxic fandoms can be, putting idols on a godlike pedestal and turning our world upside down when revealed to be ordinary and human.

Not being part of a fandom, some elements of the novel were lost on me, personally. I didn’t relate to Akari and didn’t always understand the interactions between fans or celebrity worship and obsession. I found the novel to be quite young at times and cringed when Akari would compare human expressions to emojis (I know, I know, the lines between reality and online spaces have become blurred due to obsession, but I still found it cringe worthy at times.)

The artwork both on the cover and the interior of the novel was fantastic though and overall the novel was quick paced and easy to get through.

Thank you tot NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC to review.

3 stars!

This was a deep dive into being an fan and being part of a fandom. I have been there. Not that deep luckily but I have also seen people, friends, some even online dive into the deeper part of being fan and letting it consume them.

This was a quick rea and really did hit all aspects of being a fan. We see how Akari devotes everything to her oshi and how she puts him first above herself. Seeing people defend someone they think they know, but do they truly know who they are, everything revolves around their oshi. People sending hate comments etc. It shows how serious people really can take being a fan, although. Akari is the more ‘tame’ fan giving the fact others will stalk their oshi, dream of marrying them, etc

Interesting read, really enjoyed it.

"I wanted to be inside the applause, inside the screaming, and anonymously post my thanks online afterwards."

A really different but interesting novella focusing on the overwhelming obsession of a fan following their favourite idol.

The flow of the story is quite different from a typical reader experience. We are given an intimate insight into the moods and choices of the female lead however the reader is still left feeling lost at times, reflecting the family members, when barriers come and go protecting the inner emotions of the main lead.

It's hard to read the spiral of someone desperately trying to find something to cling onto to keep them afloat but at the same time allowing it to disconnect them from everything else. But at the same time, I liked the twist of using the obsession culture of 'fandoms' and idols.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate Books for an eARC, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Bestseller and winner of the 2020 Akutagawa Prize, Rin Usami’s novella’s a compelling exploration of fandom and identity in contemporary Japan. It’s narrated by Akari, a 16-year-old, high-school student, who’s submerged herself in an obsession with her oshi (idol) Masaki, a member of J-pop band Maza Maza. Like all J-pop stars, Masaki has his own public storyline, carefully crafted by his management but further honed and modified by his fans. Akari’s a superfan. A key influencer via her dedicated blog, she’s carved out a significant space for herself within Masaki’s fan community. But when her story begins Masaki’s public persona - like all idols highlighting his exemplary lifestyle and role-model potential - has been derailed, the result of rumours that he physically assaulted a female follower. Masaki’s sudden fall from grace’s the beginning of a traumatic awakening for Akari.

Usami’s book’s sparked comparisons with Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman. Like Murata’s central character Keiko, Akari doesn’t fit in. Although the reasons for her outsider status aren't explicitly addressed, Akari emphasises an official diagnosis as somehow “abnormal.” And elements of her portrayal overlap with the experiences of Usami’s brother who struggled with the demands of a rigid, mainstream Japanese education. Akari reminded me a lot of Osamu Dazai’s nameless protagonist in his I-novel Schoolgirl, both are confused, alienated figures, overwhelmed by social conventions and expectations. But Dazai’s novella’s from 1939, whereas Akari inhabits a world in which fandom and social media offer different possibilities.

Usami’s narrative probes the complexity and contradictions of fandom and otaku culture: the fantasy of intimacy; the potential for evading social pressures and an emphasis on academic achievement and conformity; the participatory culture in which fans are simultaneously producers and consumers. For Akari, Masaka’s a surrogate figure, offering her a readymade identity, a way of being, and of interacting with the world, that relieves her of the stresses of everyday life. But Usami’s depiction of Akari’s fangirling isn’t unthinkingly positive, she also highlights the ways in which fangirls are open to commodification and commercial exploitation. Usami writes in a direct, informal style, in keeping with her teenage narrator, but her slice-of-life story’s surprisingly intricate, laced with imagery that conjures links to key moments and ruptures in Japanese history - from Hiroshima to Emperor Akihito's abdication. I found some of the detail of J-pop fandom a little distracting, mostly because it’s an area I’m already fairly familiar with; and. although intriguing, I’m not convinced Usami’s symbolism entirely works, sometimes it seemed overly ambitious or just too much for her story to bear. But despite my reservations, and a shaky start, I found myself unexpectedly engrossed, fully invested in Akari’s fate. Translated by Asa Yoneda.

As someone that is a fangirl from a yiung age and thta has a massive interest in fandom, I enjoyed this one more than I thought.

As in j-pop and k-pop, idol and fandom culture is different from the west, I find it fascinating how easily it is to get someone cancelled for something they did in their private life. And the consequences of some actions, how it is perceived by the fabbase and public in general nd the decisions that have to be made.

The main character definitely is in a parasocial relationship with her idol and is so deep in the fandom to the point that she doesn't know who she is without him.

This is very common in fandoms where people go all in, placing their idols before anything or anyone in their life. There are mamy reasons why this happens and I encourage people to read articles, research and books about fandom to understand this behaviour.

This is a short book with lots to unpack.

This was an interesting read! A look into the mind of a J Pop fan and the journey into her mind when her ideal crashes publicly.

In "Idol, Burning" Rin Usami seems to focus so much on the pop star falling from grace, that she misses a great opportunity to explore the complexity of the experience of Akari, who is the narrator.

Rin Usami created a very troubled protagonist, a young woman, who uses her oshi and the internet to distract herself from reality and the suffering that lies underneath. As readers, we get little nuggets of information here and there, that she's been hospitalised and deemed "not normal", that she dropped out of school and struggles to find or keep work, and her seemingly broken family system.

These two stories, of the idol who is removed from the stardom as a consequence of his action, and the experience of a dedicated fan, could've been given equal attention, but for some reason they're not. Therefore the ending lands a bit flat and quite unprobable.