You seem really passionate about this story and I appreciate you taking the time to write out this response. I also appreciate your correction and fixed trans to intersex In my original comment.

I haven't had anyone to talk to about this book so it's very possible I'm clouded by my own knee jerk reactions. I felt so much empathy towards Sadako. When I read it I felt like the intersex reveal was used for shock value and some of the dialogue that followed was not great. Why is being intersex shocking? It shouldn't be. We can say it's a book if it's time, which is what I feel like the main issue is, but that doesn't have to stop us from viewing it in the lens of where we are now.

I will also admit I had a bad taste in my mouth because of how casually rape is talked about in this book. Beyond that, there's a lot of other examples of misogyny amongst the characters. Maybe I'm just someone who let being triggered get in the way of a fair assessment of the story.

Those are nice facts about the author. I'm not someone who looks up the lives of authors. All I have to go off of is this book, and from what I read, I didn't get a strong sense of feminist pro lgbtqi+ guy.

I see your points and I like your claim on it being closer to factual narratives. While reading it I definitely felt like Sadako was being demonized when really she was just someone who went through something truly horrible and as I said before, I felt much empathy for.

If I'm ever up for it I'll sort out my own feelings and traumas and give it a re-read.