Don't Call Me Dirty
Ratings5
Average rating3.9
15
Ratings5
Average rating3.9
After some time attempting a long-distance relationship, Shouji is crestfallen when he finds out his crush isn't gay. Having struggled with his sexuality for years, he tries to distract himself from the rejection, in part by helping out at the neighboring sweets shop — but when a young homeless man called Hama shows up at the store, Shouji finds himself curious to learn more about him.
Attempting to make their way in a society that labels each of them as 'outcasts' and 'dirty,' the two men grow closer. Together, they begin to find they have more in common than either of them could have anticipated.
Featured Series
2 primary booksDon't Call Me Dirty is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2020 with contributions by Gorou Kanbe.
Reviews with the most likes.
Art: 3½Plot: 4Characters: 4Overall rating: 4I went into this manga not knowing anything about the story, but it turned out to be such a nice experience! The concept of this one revolves around being perceived as dirty by society. Hama, a homeless man, is seen as dirty, unsanitary, and scary despite his good heart and willingness to help others. Shouji, the owner of a liquor store, is also seen as being dirty, but that is because of his homosexuality. While many people in Shouji's life support him, his boyfriend, Hiro, treats him as something gross and dirty. Hama and Shouji meet one day by chance and, even though Shouji has prejudices against Hama, he quickly learns to see past his dirty exterior to the kind and gentle man inside.Hama and Shouji's relationship develops very slowly, and Hama struggles with his feelings as he is used to being let down and mistreated by people. As for Shouji, he learns to value himself more and that his feelings are not something to be ashamed of. The other characters in the story all contribute to the warm and fuzzy feelings of the manga, and everyone's openness towards Shouji eventually translates into acceptance of Hama as well. Old man Kaji's side story all pulls at the heartstrings, and Mita and Hanao's relationship immediately recall strong family love (see Gorou Kanbe's spin-off [b:Don't Call Me Daddy 51768779 Don't Call Me Daddy Gorou Kanbe https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589257209l/51768779.SX50.jpg 76287185] for more on these two).This manga was honestly very refreshing in the themes it explored, and the characters were all lovable and memorable. I love that this is not a typical BL by the fact that it tackles important social issues such as homelessness, old age, and homosexuality in a clear, non-judgemental approach. All in all, this is a really nice, quick read that is sure to make you smile!
