Gentle Cage by You Shizaki

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Itsuki and Tokiwa were friend when Tokiwa was still a struggling artist. Even if young and without money, Tokiwa was a proud man and also a persistent one; his interested for Itsuki went beyond friendship and he told so to the boy. He was gently wooing the man when sudden and serious family issue forced Itsuki to accept the proposition of an older artist, Yamabe, to become his personal assistant in all for all, almost a pet for the man to play as he please. Itsuki was forced to stop to seeing Tokiwa without giving the man a reason.

Years later Itsuki knocks to Tokiwa's door: Yamabe is dying and the old man wants to make Tokiwa the full recipient of all his possession. Tokiwa includes in them also Itsuki, and with the help of an injury who forces Itsuki to accept Tokiwa's hospitality, Tokiwa takes Itsuki in captivity. Day after day Tokiwa destroys the doll image that Yamabe built for Itsuki, but at the same time treats the man no more than an object, arriving also to rape him.

The rape is dealt as always in the japanese yaoi world, Itsuki protests vehemently against Tokiwa forced seduction, but in the end his body betrays him, arriving to crave Tokiwa's touch. In this novel maybe the contrast is more heavy, since Itsuki's mind doesn't accept Tokiwa, and almost till the end Itsuki continues to refuse Tokiwa's attention.

The book is pretty interesting, I don't know how much realistic... the idea of an adult man who is treated like a doll only for the pleasure of eyes is quite unbelievable; plus Itsuki's behavior is a bit too submissive, first with Yamabe and then with Tokiwa, sometime it makes me want to scroll the boy and push him to react in some way.

There is a lot of sex, Tokiwa and Itsuki's relationship is very intimate, above all since Tokiwa is forced to take care of Itsuki in all the most intimate moment when he is injured; but even if a lot, the sex is almost detached, not very graphic. Maybe also for this reason, when Tokiwa forced Itsuki, it is even more strong and unsettling.

Amazon: Gentle Cage (Yaoi Novel) (Yaoi Manga)

Reading List:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle

Comments

[tiggerpuss.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...interesting review. I've been wondering about this novel on and off for a while - on the whole I've enjoyed most of the yaoi novel's that June releases - with only Gentle Cage and Don't worry mama being two that I really didn't get to grips with. The premise seems like it has potential but I'm not sure the characters seem appealing enough to invest in my reading time (which is both time consuming and in short supply - does that make any sense?)
Thanks again for a great review!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Till now I probably find only one novel worthy to be read, even if it had some problem in having believable characters, Body Language. Gentle Cage was the last yaoi novel I had in my reading list and for now I have no idea to buy more for a bit. Elisa

Opposing Opinions!

[mightymaeve.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review! I had to chuckle when I saw my notification for your review of this novel because I have this book on the top of my 'to review' pile.

We have completely different opinions on this book! I found it to be one of my absolute favourite BL novels. But then, that is why it's great to read another book lover's review: Like a debate, it helps to crystallize, clarify and allow me to put to words why I LOVED this book. You clearly wrote why you found it interesting, but 'almost detached' emotionally. I need to attempt to write why I found it connecting powerfully.

But at the end of the day, it really is all about the ideologies and preferences of each unique individual reader!

Re: Opposing Opinions!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, the world is good since it is different! I can understand that what I found unsettling in this book could appeal another reader. This one is not the worst I read in the yaoi novels, on the contrary, it's one of the better, but it's not my cup of tea :-) Elisa