Book Girl - vol. 1 "-and the Suicidal Mime"
My greetings to anyone who passed by,
It's my 1st time writing review of a book. I've read several English books before, but Book Girl is the 1st one that trigger an urge of writing a review in me.
I came to know Book Girl, or rather Bungaku Shoujo in a pretty odd way.
Since when I started getting back interested in anime, Hanazawa Kana has always been my #1 seiyuu. As a fan's duty, it's natural I checked out all of her works, or at least... all the animes she dubbed as the main character. And so, I fell on Bungaku Shoujo like that.
At first I didn't like it at all. To be more precise, the 1st time I watched Bungaku Shoujo, it was the 1st OAV... while I knew nothing about the setting, it was just a weird and boring short anime. Though, again, as a fan, when the movie Bungaku Shoujo was released in Bluray Disk, I couldn't help but checked it out. To be honest, I hadn't give it even just a little hope or interest.
But I was wrong, the movie is simply a masterpiece. From the art, the storyline, the characters' personality, the voice-acting skill, music, sound-fx... to be short, everything is perfect. I love the movie. Well, leave the movie aside (this entry is about the book).
I wiki'd to understand more about the plot and discoverd that, Bungaku Shoujo is in origin a light novel, written by Mizuki Nomura, and since it was a hit in Japan, they made a movie out of it.
It awakened my curiosity! My biggest weakness is my curiosity. I got crazy, I went to Amazon and order all the volume shown there (there were 3, but 2 of them haven't been in stock yet). I don't care, I ordered all. (The 2nd volume came out last week; The 3rd volume will only come out this July, as for your information.)
I didn't expect that were going to happen... well, I thought it'd be like the movie. But I was wrong... the more I read it, page by page, it turned out completely different from the movie.
If the movie gives you a light feeling... the book holds on your heart and make you hard to breath.
If the movie is all about nicely-done artistic setting... the book gives off a mysterious ambiance.
Yes, mysterious atmosphere. I'm not a mysteries' fan. But as soon as I start reading... I couldn't help myself but wondered what that could be, why it was so... etc. Even with my busy schedule, I managed to read it steadily, mindfully...
I got in my heart.
The very first paragraph:
"Mine has been a life of shame.
I'm like the one black sheep born into a pure white flock.
Unable to enjoy the things my peers enjoyed, unable to grieve the things they grieved, unable to eat the things they ate--being born an ignoble black sheep, I didn't understand the things my friends found pleasant, such as love, kindness, and sympathy. I simply dusted my dark wool in white powder and pretended I was a white sheep, too.
I'm still wearing my mask, still acting in this farce."
I was captured right here, exactly here. There are lots of hints, thought lots of misleads.
Was this Kotoha's monologue? Was that what he was suffering after Miu's death (remind: I have watched the movie before reading the book).
But "unable to eat the things they ate"... could it be Tohko's? Since she can only eat books. Though the desperate speech doesn't fit her. She was such a cheerful girl in the movie.
Or could it be Miu's... since in the movie she didn't fit in the class at all, until Konoha spoke to her.
I will stop. I won't spoil here...
I didn't mention, in the sub-cover, they showed another short paragraph
"This is why you have to watch your back around book girls.
Their mind are full of literature without any concept of reality, so if you take your eyes off them, there's no telling what mischief they will get into. They'll drag other people into their schemes without a twinge of regret."
and
"That day, I had killed a person.
I doubt that God will ever forgive me."
Everything just gives me a tons of question mark in my head.
Although the book started with all those heavy quote in the prologue, the 1st and 2nd chapters are pretty amusing. All the events were well chosen to occurs in a correct order, you can do nothing but lazily follow the flow. Under the eyes of Konoha, a 1st-year high school student, and a "former" best seller writer who is the youngest in the history, the characters appears and slowly show their particular, you can say, charming point.
As a tsundere character fan, I can not deny how I enjoy the reaction of Kotobuki, his classmate.
And as an naturally air-head character lover, I can not dislike Tohko and Kotoha's speech fighting.
And like any other Japanese productions, lolis are everywhere.
Yes, even the writer didn't forget to put in time to time those mysterious and yet heavy quote. The ordinary ambiance in a high school life that everyone wishes for is still there.
As the story moves on, it turned out to be a sort of suspense plot, with suicide and suicide note... But it's not like other detective literature, the characters didn't try to investigate or find out the truth... well at least, it's not their main purpose. By trying to protect themselves from lies, by trying to find their true-self, they uncovered the mysteries... again, steadily and naturally.
With the mysteries keep go on and on, we also discovered a part of Konoha's past.
It's a bit sad that I already watched the movie, I already know his past
An advise from me, don't watch the movie (if you haven't watched it yet) before reading vol 1.
Yes, I don't want to spoil you. But sorry, I can't help myself, during her investigation, she made a deal with Maki, a mysterious perv* girl who really want to draw cloth-less Tohko. Be careful at this part... Konoha was there too, to report things of course (he is the narrator after all).
I really want to have more Maki in the next volume.
Well, let's get to the serious part... after the deal, one and one more truth was lighted out. The moment we thought the story ended as they discovered the truth hidden behind the mysterious hidden letter from 10 years ago is when the story is truly getting started. Maybe it's a bit too late for an ordinary novel... but here, I quite like the way the writer made it. He gave us misleads, then untied the nods, then by untying the nods, he intentionally led us to another mysteries...
It kept going on like while you walked in a dark street without any artificial light, by passing a new spot, you discovered another path to keep going on. It describe exactly how those kids struggle to find out the truth, their own truth, the truth just for them. Those young humans, they have made mistake, they have given up on their life, they have given up on believing, but as they are young, their scare will just be healed even they don't want to. Just a little push, they stand up and go on.
"Shizuka Saito died to save a monster named Chia Takeda.
…
I know that I will regret not dying that day.
But I will also be grateful to the two upperclassmen from the book club that I didn’t die.
Of that I am sure.
Also If I come across anyone who sees through my act, I intend to stand tall, laugh, and tell them, “You’re absolutely right. What tipped you off?”
If I ever meet someone like Shii, I don’t think I’ll lie to them."
They made mistake.
They were ashamed.
They gave up.
They were helped.
They regretted.
But they would just go on.
Because time never gives up on its people. As long as they recognize the existence of the time... hope is endless.
Yes, what they need in life to keep going on may not be a warm helping hand... while they have already given up tending out their hand.
It may be not an understanding soul... while they have already given up believing.
It may be not a ton of lessons about responsibilities... while they have already given up their human side.
"...They're both masterpieces that will break your heart. It would be a total waste if you died without reading any of those."
Yah. Since they knew everything they did was wrong. Since they knew how ashamed they were. Since they already gave up in everything.Maybe a little illogical thought... which confirm their wrong (that they clearly are aware of), which confirm how illogical the life could be (that they know better than anyone), which don't stop them from dying... it's just to say "hold on, you can delay your death until you're done that and that".
Yes, sometimes, reasoning can't win people's heart. But being stupid but honest to yourself... it's always an ultimate weapon.
Really, book girls are powerful beings.
As for those who already watched the movie... don't expect a heart-warming drama, romance story in the book.
But the book is worth reading. Read it while thinking of a new setting of the movie...
I started reading few pages of vol 2. It seems to be another series of mysteries. Of course with the same main cast: Konoha, Tohko... and Maki. I want more Maki!!!!
Hm... it won't be weird if I want another movie, nee? Bungaku Shoujo, the movie 2 "Tohko vs Maki".
I would become nut if that happened though.
To enclose that long entry, thank you for reading until the end.
It's my very 1st review, my writting may be confusing, hard to understand. Also, my English still has lots of space to improve. Please be tolerant, and if you can give me any advise/criticism... I'll gladly accept all.
~choco
It's my 1st time writing review of a book. I've read several English books before, but Book Girl is the 1st one that trigger an urge of writing a review in me.
I came to know Book Girl, or rather Bungaku Shoujo in a pretty odd way.
Since when I started getting back interested in anime, Hanazawa Kana has always been my #1 seiyuu. As a fan's duty, it's natural I checked out all of her works, or at least... all the animes she dubbed as the main character. And so, I fell on Bungaku Shoujo like that.
At first I didn't like it at all. To be more precise, the 1st time I watched Bungaku Shoujo, it was the 1st OAV... while I knew nothing about the setting, it was just a weird and boring short anime. Though, again, as a fan, when the movie Bungaku Shoujo was released in Bluray Disk, I couldn't help but checked it out. To be honest, I hadn't give it even just a little hope or interest.
But I was wrong, the movie is simply a masterpiece. From the art, the storyline, the characters' personality, the voice-acting skill, music, sound-fx... to be short, everything is perfect. I love the movie. Well, leave the movie aside (this entry is about the book).
I wiki'd to understand more about the plot and discoverd that, Bungaku Shoujo is in origin a light novel, written by Mizuki Nomura, and since it was a hit in Japan, they made a movie out of it.
It awakened my curiosity! My biggest weakness is my curiosity. I got crazy, I went to Amazon and order all the volume shown there (there were 3, but 2 of them haven't been in stock yet). I don't care, I ordered all. (The 2nd volume came out last week; The 3rd volume will only come out this July, as for your information.)
I didn't expect that were going to happen... well, I thought it'd be like the movie. But I was wrong... the more I read it, page by page, it turned out completely different from the movie.
If the movie gives you a light feeling... the book holds on your heart and make you hard to breath.
If the movie is all about nicely-done artistic setting... the book gives off a mysterious ambiance.
Yes, mysterious atmosphere. I'm not a mysteries' fan. But as soon as I start reading... I couldn't help myself but wondered what that could be, why it was so... etc. Even with my busy schedule, I managed to read it steadily, mindfully...
I got in my heart.
The very first paragraph:
"Mine has been a life of shame.
I'm like the one black sheep born into a pure white flock.
Unable to enjoy the things my peers enjoyed, unable to grieve the things they grieved, unable to eat the things they ate--being born an ignoble black sheep, I didn't understand the things my friends found pleasant, such as love, kindness, and sympathy. I simply dusted my dark wool in white powder and pretended I was a white sheep, too.
I'm still wearing my mask, still acting in this farce."
I was captured right here, exactly here. There are lots of hints, thought lots of misleads.
Was this Kotoha's monologue? Was that what he was suffering after Miu's death (remind: I have watched the movie before reading the book).
But "unable to eat the things they ate"... could it be Tohko's? Since she can only eat books. Though the desperate speech doesn't fit her. She was such a cheerful girl in the movie.
Or could it be Miu's... since in the movie she didn't fit in the class at all, until Konoha spoke to her.
I will stop. I won't spoil here...
I didn't mention, in the sub-cover, they showed another short paragraph
"This is why you have to watch your back around book girls.
Their mind are full of literature without any concept of reality, so if you take your eyes off them, there's no telling what mischief they will get into. They'll drag other people into their schemes without a twinge of regret."
and
"That day, I had killed a person.
I doubt that God will ever forgive me."
Everything just gives me a tons of question mark in my head.
Although the book started with all those heavy quote in the prologue, the 1st and 2nd chapters are pretty amusing. All the events were well chosen to occurs in a correct order, you can do nothing but lazily follow the flow. Under the eyes of Konoha, a 1st-year high school student, and a "former" best seller writer who is the youngest in the history, the characters appears and slowly show their particular, you can say, charming point.
As a tsundere character fan, I can not deny how I enjoy the reaction of Kotobuki, his classmate.
And as an naturally air-head character lover, I can not dislike Tohko and Kotoha's speech fighting.
And like any other Japanese productions, lolis are everywhere.
Yes, even the writer didn't forget to put in time to time those mysterious and yet heavy quote. The ordinary ambiance in a high school life that everyone wishes for is still there.
As the story moves on, it turned out to be a sort of suspense plot, with suicide and suicide note... But it's not like other detective literature, the characters didn't try to investigate or find out the truth... well at least, it's not their main purpose. By trying to protect themselves from lies, by trying to find their true-self, they uncovered the mysteries... again, steadily and naturally.
With the mysteries keep go on and on, we also discovered a part of Konoha's past.
It's a bit sad that I already watched the movie, I already know his past
An advise from me, don't watch the movie (if you haven't watched it yet) before reading vol 1.
Yes, I don't want to spoil you. But sorry, I can't help myself, during her investigation, she made a deal with Maki, a mysterious perv* girl who really want to draw cloth-less Tohko. Be careful at this part... Konoha was there too, to report things of course (he is the narrator after all).
I really want to have more Maki in the next volume.
Well, let's get to the serious part... after the deal, one and one more truth was lighted out. The moment we thought the story ended as they discovered the truth hidden behind the mysterious hidden letter from 10 years ago is when the story is truly getting started. Maybe it's a bit too late for an ordinary novel... but here, I quite like the way the writer made it. He gave us misleads, then untied the nods, then by untying the nods, he intentionally led us to another mysteries...
It kept going on like while you walked in a dark street without any artificial light, by passing a new spot, you discovered another path to keep going on. It describe exactly how those kids struggle to find out the truth, their own truth, the truth just for them. Those young humans, they have made mistake, they have given up on their life, they have given up on believing, but as they are young, their scare will just be healed even they don't want to. Just a little push, they stand up and go on.
"Shizuka Saito died to save a monster named Chia Takeda.
…
I know that I will regret not dying that day.
But I will also be grateful to the two upperclassmen from the book club that I didn’t die.
Of that I am sure.
Also If I come across anyone who sees through my act, I intend to stand tall, laugh, and tell them, “You’re absolutely right. What tipped you off?”
If I ever meet someone like Shii, I don’t think I’ll lie to them."
They made mistake.
They were ashamed.
They gave up.
They were helped.
They regretted.
But they would just go on.
Because time never gives up on its people. As long as they recognize the existence of the time... hope is endless.
Yes, what they need in life to keep going on may not be a warm helping hand... while they have already given up tending out their hand.
It may be not an understanding soul... while they have already given up believing.
It may be not a ton of lessons about responsibilities... while they have already given up their human side.
"...They're both masterpieces that will break your heart. It would be a total waste if you died without reading any of those."
Yah. Since they knew everything they did was wrong. Since they knew how ashamed they were. Since they already gave up in everything.Maybe a little illogical thought... which confirm their wrong (that they clearly are aware of), which confirm how illogical the life could be (that they know better than anyone), which don't stop them from dying... it's just to say "hold on, you can delay your death until you're done that and that".
Yes, sometimes, reasoning can't win people's heart. But being stupid but honest to yourself... it's always an ultimate weapon.
Really, book girls are powerful beings.
As for those who already watched the movie... don't expect a heart-warming drama, romance story in the book.
But the book is worth reading. Read it while thinking of a new setting of the movie...
I started reading few pages of vol 2. It seems to be another series of mysteries. Of course with the same main cast: Konoha, Tohko... and Maki. I want more Maki!!!!
Hm... it won't be weird if I want another movie, nee? Bungaku Shoujo, the movie 2 "Tohko vs Maki".
I would become nut if that happened though.
To enclose that long entry, thank you for reading until the end.
It's my very 1st review, my writting may be confusing, hard to understand. Also, my English still has lots of space to improve. Please be tolerant, and if you can give me any advise/criticism... I'll gladly accept all.
~choco