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Yoshikazu Takeuchi
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Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis (Light Novel) (Perfect Blue (Light Novel)) Paperback – February 6, 2018

by Yoshikazu Takeuchi (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 329 ratings
THE ORIGINAL NOVEL THAT INSPIRED THE CULT CLASSIC FILM BY SATOSHI KON 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.
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  1. Part of Series
    Perfect Blue (Light Novel)
  2. Print length
    232 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Airship
  5. Publication date
    February 6, 2018
  6. Grade level
    10 - 12
  7. Reading age
    16 years and up
  8. Dimensions
    5.88 x 0.67 x 8.23 inches
  9. ISBN-10
    162692645X
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1626926455
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"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Yoshikazu Takeuchi is a Japanese novelist best known for Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Airship (February 6, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 232 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 162692645X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1626926455
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 16 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 10 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.88 x 0.67 x 8.23 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 329 ratings

About the author

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Yoshikazu Takeuchi

Yoshikazu Takeuchi

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
329 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book highly entertaining and praise its well-done translation. The story receives mixed reactions, with some finding it brilliant while others express disappointment.

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13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly entertaining to read, though some note that the movie version is better.

"I loved the movie and the twists and turns it had taken and I wondered, how would one put that into writing?..." Read more

"...book I felt like I really love the book version though I think it very interesting and totally recommend if you’re into horror!" Read more

"...never released in English at all, makes this a great book to own. Kudos to all that worked on this!" Read more

"...I would say it was fun to read despite that since the characters were more likeable and the atmosphere wasn't as depressing at times...." Read more

3 customers mention "Translation quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the translation quality of the book.

"...Some parts were written simply yet had that gory cringe to them but you have to keep reading to know why and how things turn out...." Read more

"...The translation is well done, the graphics/design are pleasing, and of course the story is brilliant...." Read more

"...The translation is a lot smoother than most English releases of Japanese novels that I've read, but it still suffers a bit from being so careful in..." Read more

7 customers mention "Suspenseful story"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's suspenseful story, with some finding it brilliant, while one customer describes it as little more than attempted suspense with no substance.

"...like the film had actually taken both books into account and combined it into one story, minus the gore and sexual parts...." Read more

"...novels written in any language, and there is little to no substance beyond attempted suspense in this one...." Read more

"...well done, the graphics/design are pleasing, and of course the story is brilliant...." Read more

"...thriller, while the book starts out as one, the second half is straight horror. The antagonist is basically Jason...." Read more

Quick shipping; great condition
5 out of 5 stars
Quick shipping; great condition
The book came in pristine condition. I got the soft cover so with any other soft cover book you should be careful with bending the book so it keeps it shape. I’ve started reading it and so far I’m enjoying the story. I also bought the second book in this series and it came in the same great condition so I would definitely recommend this seller. I’ll be looking out for more books to purchase from them!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Janie Palmer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bought the book because of the movie
    Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I loved the movie and the twists and turns it had taken and I wondered, how would one put that into writing? I bought the book and it was a whole new story from what I had expected. Some parts were written simply yet had that gory cringe to them but you have to keep reading to know why and how things turn out. I feel like the film had actually taken both books into account and combined it into one story, minus the gore and sexual parts. I just wish Yoshikazu Takeuchi had written more books to read.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Andrew J Welch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the movie in my opinion
    Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I decided to get this book after falling in love with the movie but was a bit hesitant because everyone says the movie is way better and the story is different now the story is definitely a lot different the movie is much more inspired then based on the book I felt like I really love the book version though I think it very interesting and totally recommend if you’re into horror!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Angelo Catalano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Happy
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I ordered this in late August after finally watching the anime and it came on time this afternoon. The translation is well done, the graphics/design are pleasing, and of course the story is brilliant. The fact that the rights were acquired not that long ago and it had been out of print for, what, over two decades in Japanese and (at least I think) never released in English at all, makes this a great book to own. Kudos to all that worked on this!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Miguel Guerrero Jr.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Much different from the movie
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    After watching the movie for the first time, I had seen that the book temporarily was on sale for a shocking price of only $4! I couldn't pass up that deal and decided to get it. Like I had heard before, the characters and story are different from the anime. I would say it was fun to read despite that since the characters were more likeable and the atmosphere wasn't as depressing at times. I will say the stalker's skin obsession creeped me out a bit and seemed to come out of nowhere. I would say if you liked the movie, go ahead and get the book. Just know that the source material is a completely different experience from the movie.
    13 people found this helpful
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  • Alex
    5.0 out of 5 stars Quick shipping; great condition
    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The book came in pristine condition. I got the soft cover so with any other soft cover book you should be careful with bending the book so it keeps it shape. I’ve started reading it and so far I’m enjoying the story. I also bought the second book in this series and it came in the same great condition so I would definitely recommend this seller. I’ll be looking out for more books to purchase from them!
    Customer image
    Alex
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Quick shipping; great condition

    Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
    The book came in pristine condition. I got the soft cover so with any other soft cover book you should be careful with bending the book so it keeps it shape. I’ve started reading it and so far I’m enjoying the story. I also bought the second book in this series and it came in the same great condition so I would definitely recommend this seller. I’ll be looking out for more books to purchase from them!
    Images in this review
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    3 people found this helpful
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  • Goats
    3.0 out of 5 stars Solid enough release, disappointing story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    My copy arrived fast and in perfect condition. It was larger than I expected, and the words are also larger than you'd think on wide-margined pages, so the book overall is a fairly short one. The translation is a lot smoother than most English releases of Japanese novels that I've read, but it still suffers a bit from being so careful in following basic writing rules that you can almost feel the writer straining as you read it. The most common example of this is the way it insists on referencing characters by their job titles, i.e., "The singer," to avoid repeating their names. It can be a good technique but it's used far too often and they should've rephrased some sentences instead in my opinion. There are two afterwards by the original author in the back, one from an earlier edition, one following the release of the movie. These are a nice bonus.

    Although this book is probably a huge treat to diehard fans of the famous anime film (which I have yet to see!), as a book in itself it is very flat and disappointing. There are far better mystery, thriller, and horror novels written in any language, and there is little to no substance beyond attempted suspense in this one. True, it does address the issues of fame and the obsessive fans, but it certainly isn't the only (or best) book to do so. It is not structured in a particularly suspenseful or interesting way. It includes details that aren't particularly relevant or interesting, and it jumps around from one dull scene to another, each from the perspective of a flat character. The most interesting character is the antagonist, but even he isn't too fleshed out. The author does have a good understanding of human emotions and how they change and develop during unusual situations, and I appreciated this, but it doesn't make up for the overall shallow book.

    Just an FYI in case anyone wonders, this book contains graphic sexual and violent content, so be forewarned. It is not excessive or out of place in the slightest, and the sexual content is brief enough to skip if you so desire. The book also has disturbing elements such as child molestation.

    Overall, I think whatever caused the film to be a "cult classic" isn't in this book, and I can only assume that's because the movie did in fact deviate a great deal from its source material. Worth the read for a diehard fan only.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Hailey Pedro
    5.0 out of 5 stars A cool book for fans of the Film
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The events in the book differ from the film, but its cool to read the origin story for the Satoshi Kon film. I love both the book and film as they both have something special to offer.
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  • Chance Moore
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read
    Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I have seen the movie a few times but I liked the book better. Quick read I finished it over a weekend, it drew me in right off the jump. Highly recommend for fans of the film or any thriller fan.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Dans
    2.0 out of 5 stars Muy esquemática
    Reviewed in Spain on December 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Le falta mucho trabajo
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  • Natasha
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in Canada on July 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Keep in mind that this isnt a manga its just a regular book
    Report
  • C.Orza
    5.0 out of 5 stars Oh gosh
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Have you ever read something with one hand in front of your face half the time?

    That’s what this book does
    Report
  • Emily
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in India on November 1, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The book arrived on time and in good condition.
    The content is obviously amazing. I would definitely suggest reading the book first n then watch the movie.
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    Emily
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Excellent read

    Reviewed in India on November 1, 2020
    The book arrived on time and in good condition.
    The content is obviously amazing. I would definitely suggest reading the book first n then watch the movie.
    Images in this review
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  • Antonio VE
    5.0 out of 5 stars The novel that inspired one of my favorite movies
    Reviewed in Mexico on February 24, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    It is different, very different from the film, but still retains the same spine-chilling suspense it has. A perfect companion for the movie, as in a different version with most of the same characters and new ones.
    Pick this up if you really liked the film, or if you're into books with suspense stories with a straightforward plot..
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