[REVIEW] Perfect Blue

title: Perfect Blue (Pāfekuto Burū: Kanzen Hentai)
author: Yoshikazu Takeuchi;  Nathan A. Collins (translator)
genre: adult fiction, thriller
published: February 6, 2018 by Seven Seas (first published in March 1991)
format: paperback, 288 pages
purchase: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository
rating: 4 / 5 stars
goodreads

Kirigoe Mima is in the third year of her career as a pure and innocent pop idol. Feeling like something big needs to change, she plans to give her image a major update. When the new Mima is revealed, complete with a sexy outfit and a risqué photo book, one of her most obsessive fans refuses to accept her transformation. To restore Mima to the innocent girl of her debut, he puts a terrifying plan to action that throws her life into chaos and mortal peril.

horrifying, disturbing, and nightmarish obsession

This landed on my radar because of Satoshi Kon who directed the anime adaptation of this novel. Satoshi Kon is the author of Opus, a metafiction novel I read late last year as well as directed and written the the psychological thriller anime Paranoia Agent.

Perfect Blue follows Mima, an idol who wants to give her image a boost but doing risque photos. However, there's an obsessive fan lurking who wants to stop this change. And he will do whatever it takes to stop Mima from changing her "innocent" idol image. Simple plot but really big execution.This is a short 200+ pages novel that's hugely gripping and horrifying. TRIGGER ALERT FOR RAPE, STALKING, EXTREME OBSESSION, GRAPHIC GORE AND VIOLENCE, AND SEXISM.

I was extremely curious of this novel. I know nothing of the Japanese idol world or anything about extreme obsession and stalking. And reading this was a bit unsettling, to be honest. I was not expecting the graphic content that really stimulated my mind into imagining the things this stalker is doing. I don't get a lot of imagery in my head when I read (which is why I don't read a lot of fantasy) and this book has put all those violent images in my head and had my heart pounding while I read.

This is told in several points of view but nothing is confusing. If there's anything, I'd say it's quite engaging. The writing and cuts were very thrilling that there were times when I'd have to stop for a few seconds to actually digest everything and breathe. The obsessed fan feels unreasonable but really, what do I know? The fear on Mima's side is also very strong and, in my opinion, felt real. However, there's a part of her and maybe of her manager that feels a tad bit carefree (?) or should they really not overthink everything? But the characters and their dynamics as a whole were all good for the story.

A huge part of this book, I have to admit, really puts a lot of questionable things in my mind. As a whole, I don't understand the mind of an obsessed stalker/fan. I haven't had the chance to watch those series at c/i which I am extremely curious about but reading this really makes me think that there is something very wrong with him and how he wants to protect Mima. It's all very disturbing to be honest and even though it's been a month already (I think?), this book still feels fresh in my head.

OVERALL, Perfect Blue is a disturbing horror novel about an extreme fan obsession. It's one of those stories I'm extremely intrigued by. And it's also one of those books that's not for everyone. Please take note of all the mentioned trigger points.

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