Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

Book Review of The Lost Souls of Benzaiten by Kelly Murashige

Cover Story: Riddle Me This
Drinking Buddy: Nah
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (death)
Talky Talk: Where in the World?
Bonus Factor: Divine Intervention
Anti-Bonus Factor: Racism
Bromance Status: Amen

Cover Story: Riddle Me This
Evocative cover, one that would certainly pique my attention. The torri gate, the fish, the Ducky Momo…I’m in. If you flip the pages, you get a little animation of a robot vacuum cleaner in the corner. Vroom, vroom!

The Deal:
Machi has stopped talking. Not out of spite, not out of anger…she just can’t speak anymore. Her parents don’t know why. Her rotating parade of doctors doesn’t know why. Only Machi knows why, and she won’t tell. Well, she can’t.

One day, she wanders into a shrine and prays that the goddess Benzaiten will turn her into a robot vacuum cleaner, so she’ll never have to think or make decisions again. This is an odd enough request that the goddess shows up to meet her. Together, they go on adventures, trying to get Machi talking again. And maybe to help them both get out of a rut.

Drinking Buddy: Nah
While Machi can write just fine, she won’t tell anyone, including the reader, why she stopped speaking. We find out around the midpoint of the book. And, well, it left me wanting. I was expecting some sort of trauma so great she can’t even allow herself to think about it. Instead…I mean, it was harsh, it was even scarring, but after reading the scene, I was still waiting for the reason she stopped talking.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (death)
Machi isn’t suicidal. She just kind of wants to negate her existence and become a robot vacuum. Me, I’d go for a toaster oven, but to each his own. She’s not interested in dating, she does whatever her friends tell her to, and isn’t even overly impressed with divine intervention. There were a couple of scenes where Machi, via Benzaiten, experienced the death of some strangers. Those were intense scenes, but they never really went anywhere. Machi goes from being a girl who is bossed around by her friends to a girl who is bossed around by a goddess.

Talky Talk: Where in the World?
So Machi lives in what I assume is an American city, one large enough to have a ‘Japantown’ where she finds Benzaiten’s neglected shrine. And her parents are visiting her mother’s hometown, arranging a funeral for Machi’s grandparents. But we are never told WHERE they are. It’s just ‘my city’ and ‘my mom’s city.’ They honestly could be in England or Australia for all the clues we get. The author is from Hawaii, so maybe it took place there. My point is, we need a lot more context about a book’s setting.

This, combined with Machi’s passiveness, left me underwhelmed. She suffers in agony about how her friends have mistreated her, but when a literal goddess takes an interest in her happiness, she’s just kind of ‘meh.’

Bonus Factor: Divine Intervention
So Benzain, a goddess from Buddhist and Shinto folklore, is intrigued by Machi’s unorthodox prayer, and makes it her mission to help Machi find joy in life again. She takes on the form of a drop-dead gorgeous young woman, and takes Machi out on the town. But Benzain has her own problems. She’s getting over a bad breakup of her own, with a god she hasn’t spoken to for centuries. And she’s a little too enthralled with the mortal world. When gods meddle in the affairs of mortals, it never ends well.

Meanwhile, Machi ignores her parents, her psychiatrists, and her personal goddess, only to find solace in working in an animal shelter and making friends on her own.

Anti-Bonus Factor: Racism
So Machi’s mother grew up in a city that was so racist against her family (the only Asians in town, so I assume it was not in Hawaii) that she fled to wherever they live now. This was hatred so intense that 1980s TV writers might have balked. But our lack of a setting really left me confused. And now Machi’s mother wants to move back there. Why?

Bromance Status: Amen
I think we could have left the goddess out of this book altogether and it would have been a stronger story. Still, we’ve all wished to be household appliances in our darkest moments, so I’ll see what this author cooks up next.

Handling relationships and rejection is never easy at any age. I feel the other did a great job of portraying that in a character so young, and also in the other characters as well.

Machi is done with the disappointment and heartbreak that comes with being human. Drifting through her life and no longer able to bring herself to speak, she finds herself at a shinto shrine praying to the goddess Benzaiten to become a robot vacuum cleaner, but Benzaiten has other plans. What follows is a journey into what it really means to be human in all it's wonderful, messy glory.

This is a different sort of young adult book from the norm. It's about a young woman whose world comes crashing down around her and her coming of age story where she realizes that's just life. All the adults around her have their own troubles including the goddess she suddenly finds in her life. Machi figures out her place in all of it and finds her voice.

I picked this book for the references to Japanese spirituality and the promise of a journey into mental health recovery, I stayed for Machi. It was lovely.

Captures the big feelings and confusion of being a teenager and dealing with losing friends. Handles reactions to grief of all kinds with realistically, providing a perspective appropriate for the main character’s age while not infantilizing her.

Some of the things that might sound “ridiculous” at first, like the wish to be a robot vacuum cleaner or the selective mutism, actually add whimsy to the book and work well within the story and flow naturally.

The interactions with and backstory of Benzaiten elevates this book from a tale of adolescent troubles to a work that blends life’s hardships with the possibilities for improvement.

Light spoiler: love how the cover ties in the story!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had not even heard of this book until I was just browsing netgalley, looking at the titles they had on offer for the month of July, but I found myself intrigued by the synopsis so I decided to give it a shot. First things first, this was pretty darn original. The only part that felt even remotely done before was the idea of a god coming down to interact with a human who made a wish. All the rest of it was basically brand new. And for the most part I enjoyed it. I do have to say though, that I once again feel like I'm getting a little too old to be reading YA contemporary novels. That's not to say there's anything wrong with the novel, I think it's important to show teenagers that losing friends (as in they basically refuse to be your friend anymore) can be just if not more painful than losing a boyfriend/girlfriend/significant other, but the fact that Michi stops talking completely because of this seems...childish. And the resolution to this plot point also seems to come rather abruptly. I think I might also have been expecting something a little more profound in the end, and while there were some nice moments I don't think it got quite as deep as I thought it was going to. So while overall I applaud Murashige for her ideas and originality, I know I wasn't the target audience here and thus it wasn't as impactful as I think it could have been. I do think that this would be a great addition to a school library though, and I have no doubt that there are going to be teens that connect to it a lot, so I'm glad it's out there, and I hope it finds the audience who needs it most.

I'm a therapist and the main character going to therapy is a big thing in this book, so I have Personal Opinions (TM), and I think overall that part was done quite well! Obviously every therapist is different, fictional or otherwise, but I liked how he was almost a neutral character in this story. He could've easily be made the villain "speak now or else", and he wasn't, which I appreciate. Teenager clients being brought to therapy by their parents are a whooooole can of worms and I think the nuances in the relationship between Machi and her therapist were accurate.
As for the story itself: I'm slowly gravitating away from fantasy because I haven't been able to find stories that keep blowing my mind the way they did when I first got into the genre, so I thought this was just okay, but that's fine. The fantasy elements moved the story along well enough, even if I think the baby subplot in the end was a little weird and offputting. The same message could've been conveyed in a thousand different ways than a surprise baby. I would've loved to see more of the male god, maybe a parallel relationship between him and Machi when she started to realize Benzaiten was doing wrong, more than the one-off conversation we got in the end.
The last few chapters were a bit "and then everyone clapped". Which, like, okay. You want a happy ending to your story. But some of the connections Machi was making with people felt like they came out of nowhere because they didn't have enough time to develop.

I wasn't really sure what to expect with this one. A girl who wants to be a robot vacuum cleaner? Sounds silly. But what I got was a beautiful exploration of adolescent mental health and other heavy themes, but the inclusion of the Japanese mythology kept things fresh and interesting without weighing the narrative down. It somehow maintained a hopeful tone, and the writing was excellent.

3.5

After Machi loses her best and only friends, she finds herself unable to speak. After a year of this, she prays at a shrine for Japanese goddess Benzaiten to turn her into a robot vacuum cleaner. Benzaiten decides instead that she'll help show Machi the joy of being human.

Despite how goofy wanting to be a Roomba might be this is a fairly heavy book, so don't go in expecting something light-hearted. The end is filled with hope though. It is much more character-focused than plot-focused.

I get that the author probably couldn't say "Roomba", but the phrase "robot vacuum cleaner" was said a lot and it felt unnatural.

I feel like Machi only ever liked Angel because Angel was the first person to ever reach out. From what we saw of their relationship, I have a hard time believing that Machi ever thought that Angel truly ever cared about her.

Machi's Japanese mother grew up in an extremely racist town, and then tries to convince Machi that they should move there. What kind of mother would willingly put their already struggling child through that?

I liked that there was a positive representation of therapy.

I will try more from Kelly Murashige in the future.

CW: death of grandparents, children, and an infant, car accident, racism, mentions of underage (~12 years old) drug and alcohol abuse

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

I really wanted to entirely like this read but unfortunately I found it to be too frustrating in sections. The constant first person perspective makes the reading experience akin to being trapped in the mind of someone who does not want you there at all.

What I wish could have been done is instead of holding onto the excuse for a trait the protagonist chose to instill in themself, it should have been communicated to the reader from the get-go.

It feels like a significant part of the headspace the reader occupies through the book is denied access until the author opens up the emotional core.

I will express though that as someone who verbally echoes similar sentiments to Machi, like wouldn't life be easier if I was just a keyboard? Or any inanimate object that doesn't have to comprehend existence and purpose- Machi's prayer struck a chord I seldom see tackled in YA works.

Review can be found here. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9x0NbUSLIN/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This is a strong YA debut with a mostly POC cast that kept me invested in Machi’s well being. Her journey to healing is somewhat linear for the purpose of this story, but it’s important to note that this is not the case for a lot of people going through therapy. I like that Machi is ultimately responsible for making her own decisions when it comes to her mental health, and how it contributes to her finding her voice. Grief is something that can be experienced in various types of loss. Empathy is also well represented within these pages. And for a person of color, racism is always very present in how people navigate their demons. This new release is underrated and deserves more visibility.

This heartfelt and quirky young adult fantasy debut follows a young outcast on a journey of transformation . . . into a robot vacuum cleaner.

I can say I've never read this exact story before. It felt like a elastic portrayal of mental health that managed to avoid some of the plot twists you might usually see in a book like this, but I'm not 100% what message the author was trying to get across especially with Benzaiten and her fixation on humans - particularly children. I do like the lesson that sometimes we need people to push us to do what's best for others. The relationship with the parents was really sweet. I think I would've felt seen by this as a teen when it came to the friend relationships.

Machi's greatest wish is to be a robot vacuum cleaner. Based on just that, I honestly didn't know what direction this book was going to take, but I very much enjoyed the journey.

This was a simultaneously quirky and beautiful story about loneliness and identity. It was a lot more heartfelt and introspective than I had thought it was going to be given the description.

Definitely will be looking for other books by this author in the future!

A lot of this was pretty heavy, but in a very relatable and realistic way. I didn't feel like what was happening with Machi was hard to imagine a teenager going through at all. This is very well done, esp for it to be from a debut author! I'm excited to see what she comes out with in the future!

3.5 rounded up because this really felt different than most other YA offerings out there. It is unique.

Thank you to @NetGalley and the publisher for providing early access to a digital copy.

Let me share what I loved about this book:

The premise: A girl prays to become a cleaner robot, and a goddess responds with a counteroffer. Who are they? Why is she praying for this? What's the counteroffer? Intrigued? Yeah, I was too!

The caring and compassionate portrayal of heavy topics like grief, loss, and mental health struggles. Without rose-colored glasses or exaggeration, but with respect, sober eyes, and a ton of love and understanding.

The hopeful tone. Yes this story touches some heavy themes. At the same time, it has second chances, forgiveness, closure, and personal growth, which is totally uplifting!

The Japanese mythology elements of the story: Okay, confession time—I'm a huge fan of books that lead me to research new topics, and I love learning about different cultures around the world. So, whenever a book offers me that opportunity (I didn't know about the Seven Lucky Gods), I can't help but love it!

It's important to note that while the book is categorized as YA, the conflicts, behaviors, and motivations of our main character felt more middle-grade to me. So, as expected, this story leans more towards the "tell, not show" style of narrative often found in that category.

Now, let’s get real for a sec because I promised an honest opinion, and that's what I'm going to give.
For the love of everything that's good and nice READ THE CONTENT WARNINGS

In case it's not clear, this is code for *I haven't been this triggered in a LONG time.* But that's not the author's or the publisher's fault. It's totally on me.

Just to let you know, some parts are tough to handle if you're not mentally prepared (or if you have personal experience on the subject). Like "sobbing and having to stop reading because it's too much" hard 😭 Definitely a heads-up for sensitive readers out there.

So, please don't be like me and check those first pages, OK?

Standing ovation to the author 👏👏👏 who posted one of the most compassionate statements on the matter I've ever read on Goodreads.

The novel doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of teenage life. It portrays how teenage girls can be mean and cruel, often for the sake of their own amusement. This realism adds a layer of authenticity to Machi's struggles and highlights the importance of empathy and kindness in a world where cruelty can seem all too common.

Ultimately, The Lost Souls of Benzaiten is about finding love—in the world, in others, and most importantly, in oneself. It is a reminder that even in the darkest times, there is beauty and joy to be found. Machi's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of healing.

This highly original debut is not only a story about the nature of happiness but also a powerful exploration of the potential for healing. The Lost Souls of Benzaiten is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartfelt, imaginative, and ultimately uplifting tale.

I was drawn to the book based on the premise that a young girl was wishing to become a robot vacuum. I thought, how cool is that? What does she learn by being a robot vacuum? Does she like it? Does she want to take back her wish? Sadly, none of this comes to pass. Machi remains a sullen, silent teenager, drowning in angst over a breakup with two of her best friends. And really, who remembers or cares about something so trivial, ultimately? Enter Benzaiten, who's, honestly, just a Goddessy version of Machi, full of her own angst over dead people, children especially, who she can't keep forever. Oh, and her breakup with god Daikokuten, who's a bit of fresh air in the story.
I finished the book, but would really only recommended it to the teen/YA crowd who might enjoy wallowing in drama a little more than I did.

I enjoyed the writing style and the main character's dry sense of humour. In fact, there was nothing about the book that I disliked... but I couldn't help but find the theme of 'sad girl rediscovers the beauty of the world' a bit cliched. Don't get me wrong, the concept was done well, but the book was described as quirky and original, and I don't think it quite achieved that. There was a disappointing lack of robot vacuum cleaners.

So, while I think that books like this are important and the world can't ever have too many of them, this particular version didn't exactly rock mine.