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Hidden Gem Novel Review, Welcome to the NHK

What is the Premise?

22 year old Satou knows a little secret, or at least he tells himself that he does! The conspiracy of the Japanese Broadcasting Company, N. H. K. but even knowing the facts he has become an unemployed hikikomori, a shut in who has withdrawn from the world. One day he meets Misaki who invites him to join her ‘project’. The mysterious young girl offering to save him for no disclosed reasons.

What type of Novel is it?

A somewhat of a coming of age story staring Satou. While the story focus on him and him being a hikikomori, the story also deals with characters that experience intense feelings of depression and loneliness.

Is it a Hidden Gem?

I give both the Anime and the Manga, both of which expand on this novel both five stars. I always liked both of them even though they have different endings. The Novel how ever don’t seem to really hold up. To me I think it’s how we move from one subject to the next without a real ‘how did we get here.’ For example. At one point in time Satou had issues with his computer. In this book he had issues and suddenly someone was getting on to him for ‘issues’ without really explaining why they even got included. The anime including details that connect the two events.

Over all, the Arthur of Welcome to the NHK the book didn’t seems to be one of the better writers, though this seems to only be his second book. What it does well though is bring across the story of Satou, his struggles. It felt the story was written from experience. Giving a more raw feeling to the struggles of Satou and how he avoid viewing his own issues while he still acknowledge them.

Rating : A Shinny Gem!
An book worth going out of your way for, Easy liked but not quite a true Gem.

How much of it is there?

1 book, released in English.

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