Reviews for What a Wonderful World!, Volume 2

The average rating for What a Wonderful World!, Volume 2 based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-03-04 00:00:00 Jason Choate The second half of Inio Asano's short story collection is every bit as beautiful, wise and harmonious as the first half. Part 1 presented us with characters who had been existentially cornered in their lives. Every story climaxed into a bold refusal to succumb to circumstances. Part 2 has a similar structure in each of its stories, except that this time the cathartic climax comes through acceptance, not defiance. It's a celebration of the human capacity for adapting and finding new viewpoints.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-03-25 00:00:00 Steven Mason [The main character Kasukabe works for an indie porn magazine. Preoccupied with his job, he's lost track of his responsibilities at home. His newborn daughter's 100th days is approaching and his wife expresses her gratitude and understanding toward her husband's breadwinner negligence. He ends up working tirelessly to complete the newest issue motivated by the tragedy of their editor getting attacked by gangbangers. Then upon completing the issue and receiving praise from his colleagues, Kasukabe rushes home in the night rain in hopes of making it back before his daughter's birthday ends. He passes by some gangbangers assaulting a pedestrian and stops to fight them -- his act of revenge. But at the end of it, he's hospitalized. His wife and daughter are close beside him hoping for his quick recovery. This short is bizarre because I don't know if Kasukabe is a hero or an idiot at the end of it all. I don't know if the wife means her words or is being sarcastic. I don't know if working for a porn magazine warrants his distant parenting. Those ambiguities challenge me as a reader, allowing me to question my judgement and preconceived ideas of what it means to be a good parent, good friend, and good employee. Ideally, I think Kasukabe should've prioritized his family connection over his porn mag gig, but there's probably more there than bubbled. It's a thinker and an almost laughable situation. (hide spoiler)]