Bike's manga / #bildungsroman(2)

About leaving home, falling in love, and growing into yourself as a person. First volume set in the 1970s + timeskips. Sequel to Rumspringa. == Spoilers under the cut. I liked Rumspringa, but I fell in love with Dear Gene. Both feature similar themes and ideas, but I found it better executed with its slower, more elongated pacing. It's a different style of love, too---more longing rather than young passion---but it's one that I personally preferred. The story fleshed out the one character who remained an enigma throughout Rumspringa: Gene, the older brother of Rumspringa's "antagonist," Danny, who had left following his Rumspringa. This is the story of Gene's journey throughout the 1970s and furthermore---everything that's happened since he left. A man named Trevor bumps into Gene, after he had broken up with his to-be-wife, hires him as his housekeeper soon after. While Gene struggles with reconsolidating his past, he grows closer to Trevor, who offers him everything: income, housing, and even his study. It's with the latter that Gene desires to further his education, attending community college with Trevor's help, then, soon after, additional studies in Montreal. Before they depart, they break up; sixteen years later, they meet again, and Gene moves back in with Trevor. This story is all told under the backdrop of 1970s NYCs, a changing, yet still staunchly conservative time---Stonewall, the Vietnam War, and the further recognition of women's rights. It's an element within the story that, while not prominent, exists throughout the series as a reminder of the times then. Trevor's struggles with happiness stem from his perspective as an outsider, unable to fit in, unfortunately propounded by his status as a homosexual. Volume 1 provides, effectively, a portrayal of Trevor through Gene's eyes in the past; meanwhile, Volume 2 gives an illustration of Gene through Trevor's point of view with the journal, set within the moments following their get-together. Additional Scrapped Notes (to get back to later) - Lawyer, women's right and feminism - The fiancee and their friendship - The timeskip (16 years and implications behind the nature of their relationship) - Rumspringa, the family he left behind (his conflict--how it built up and was "resolved" by the end) - Parallels between Gene and Oz (what it means to achieve something in NY) - Amish identity and heritage (sensationalism and making a difference. heritage) - Viewing as an outsider (Gene and Trevor) - Character perceptions and self-realization of flaws (selfishness, stubbornness, and running away/avoidance [the window] amidst conflict) - God and giving - Hiding relationship - Portrayal of secondary education - Rumspringa element within last two chapters (Elizabeth?) - Gene (Jr.) and Jean as a reflection of Gene, legacy and what that all means - Romantic tension and sex - Cameos of Oz and Rumspringa - Change over time - The portrayal of nudity - "You are my god" - "Glasses" - The study...the plants... - Being grateful for being raised happy in spite of abandonment 37/50 Reminded me of Timeless Melody. Also a bit of the Blind and the Homeless. And Don't Call me Daddy, too. It was soul-crushing. But also tender with its portrayal of feelings. Felt like watching a film. --- I love whenever they cut back to the study because with all the plants you can really see how things change with time It's a beautiful location filled to the brim with important moments from this series Also sets in one of my favorite panels with Gene writing The idea of legacy gets carries through into volume 2, with not only Gene reading Trevor's notebook, but also the ending, where it cuts to Jean writing her letter. It all connects together and it absolutely breaks my heart thinking back on it The open arm gesture that Trevor does also hurts, reflects how he's so open when it comes to Gene, how he just wants to give him everything because he's so enamored by him...oh how I adore them both Just thinking back how it hurts that Gene never did meet up again with Danny. But the fact that their eldest daughter is named after him, despite the amount of pain he had felt after he left...it hurts, real bad. I know it's sex but I love how the author portrays it, especially the first time they're together. Their skin's heated and slicked with sweat. It feels so intimate and it hurts all the more to imagine that they were separated for 16 years . Y'all are complaining about Trevor not meeting with Gene for 16 years when you guys know he never went to since he left for New York. Even though Gene got them to meet again, old habits die hard, This fucking study ruins me. The desk by the window which opens up to the world. Also is where he found the romance novel that got him doing. -- i adore that study room and how much it meant to gene. the translucent curtain bellowing in the wind, as the window lets light into the room...it's a beautiful location. i understand why the author kept referring back to that location. I love how things get referred back to as well, like lending the umbrella or the callback with the old telephone --

Fake incest, an uncle and nephew. Uncle was adopted into the family, so they’re not blood related. Uncle doesn’t pursue the kid, iirc it’s all the nephew. He did raise the kid, so there’s some dubiousness there. Ultimately, though, it’s quite compelling. Something about the way hideyoshico builds things up hits just right. Wished the scans were completed. Might consider getting the raws myself because I really want to see the end of this.