Recent Manga Reading
Borrowed some manga from shoujo85 and managed to put some thoughts together coherently on a few of them to the point a writing little mini-reviews.
But, I borrowed a rather wide range, so the majority of them I haven't done. My brain just wouldn't sit still long enough for that. I can say that the others were generally enjoyed too. Bride of the Water God was interesting and hadn't wandered over into the continuing angst that long series manwha tends to crutch itself up on. Goong is suffering a bit from the angst, but the characters keep me coming back. Otomen makes me laugh (is that bad?). Flowers & Butterflies isn't as racy as some of the mangaka's other works, so didn't surprise me that much. Not a bad read but not something that I'd consider buying or worry about continuing.
Bunny Drop
Plot: Daikichi's grandfather has passed away at a ripe old age. On attending his funeral, the whole family is surprised to discover that the old man had secretly had a lover and that the two of them had a child together.
Everyone is aghast at the revelation and the question of who will take care of Rin since her mother can't be found doesn't make for a pleasant discussion.
Annoyed and disgusted at the whole process, Daikichi impulsively nominates himself as Rins guardian. However, suddenly going from a 30-something singles life-style to a parental role has it's fair share of ups and downs.
Me: shoujo85 recommended Bunny Drop to me saying "It's a bit like Baby & Me" and after reading it I'd have to agree that it's in the same vein, although aimed at a more mature audience and I absolutely fell in love with the Josei slice-of-life manga. XD Really would like to read the next volume whenever it comes out, so I'll have to put it on the 'to buy' list.
The fact that it's aimed at a more mature age bracket shows in the artwork (not at all flowery) and the story (character emphasis placed on problems older audiences are more likely to encounter) which I'm finding really pleasant to read. However, because of the artwork there are some moments while reading were my brain goes "Oh Daikichi, the ugly stick was mean to you today wasn't it?" He's not exactly a handsome main character, which is refreshing to see, but he's not so ugly that I'm repulsed by his presence, which is a fine line for the mangaka to walk.
Haruka ~Beyond the Stream of Time~
aka Harukanaru Toki no Naka de [Within the Expanse of a Distant Time]
Plot: Akane is dragged back into Japans early heian kyou time period [794ad to 1868ad according to wiki] were she is quickly discovered to be the prophesised Preistess of the Dragon God. A Fushigi Yugi-esque plot then unfolds with Akane having to find the eight guardians and defend the capital against the Oni. [Who are not truly oni, just blonde haired, blue eyed people who came from across the sea some time ago and tend to do some evil-type things, but because they look different gained the nickname.] Extra complications happen when Akane seems to fall for the leader of the Oni who is the one who dragged her through time in the first place.
Me: I want to like Haruka, I really do. There's plot potential, interesting characters, pretty artwork and a fanbase willing to go that extra mile for it, but. Yeah... I'm still having trouble loving this like I want to. I think the main problem is how it's being interpreted from it's original game concept [It was one of those 'pick the main characters boyfriend' games] into that of a manga. There's just so many characters all vying for time in the spotlight and no clear cut interest from Akane leaving me feeling that's she's just a little vapid and naive. I honestly feel it could do with a tighter plot and a culling of character spotlight time for some of the guardians.
Still, it's pretty enough for what it is and isn't something that makes me want to go on a burning rampage. Rather, I simply wait for some sign that Yorihisa is making more headway then the other guardians. Go-go silent-type bodyguard!
Stepping on Roses
Plot: Set in the Meiji era, Sumi has the bad luck to have an older brother who can't keep money and continually brings home orphans for her to look after. Facing eviction and loan sharks, Sumi succombs to her last resort and goes to sell her body to try and earn some desperately needed cash. However, she is waylaid by a handsome young man who offers her money to marry him, but not fall in love with him.
Me: I have this love/hate sort of thing going on with works by Ueda Rinko. She draws beautiful characters, places them in interesting time periods and generally just appeals to the romantic sap in me. But she also creates shallow storylines and most of her female leads make me want to slap down some self-empowerment upon them. Stepping on Roses' first volume makes the latter reaction come out in spades.
Sumi has such a weeping, easily manouverable, naive side that it completely overwhelms her other inner qualities of strength of will (although I've only seen her use this at her most desperate) and heart of gold.
I want to say "In comparison to Sumi, the male lead is-", but there's no comparison, he's just an out and out jerk and even one full volume into the story I've yet to see any redeeming qualities.
No matter how pretty the characters that Ueda Rinko draws, this manga just made me want to scream with it's backwards character stereotyping. ~You're a girl and in trouble, weep and wail and then a handsome man might save you, but make sure you're obediant to him and if you question him at all, well that's just bad.~ Ugh.
But, I borrowed a rather wide range, so the majority of them I haven't done. My brain just wouldn't sit still long enough for that. I can say that the others were generally enjoyed too. Bride of the Water God was interesting and hadn't wandered over into the continuing angst that long series manwha tends to crutch itself up on. Goong is suffering a bit from the angst, but the characters keep me coming back. Otomen makes me laugh (is that bad?). Flowers & Butterflies isn't as racy as some of the mangaka's other works, so didn't surprise me that much. Not a bad read but not something that I'd consider buying or worry about continuing.
Bunny Drop
Plot: Daikichi's grandfather has passed away at a ripe old age. On attending his funeral, the whole family is surprised to discover that the old man had secretly had a lover and that the two of them had a child together.
Everyone is aghast at the revelation and the question of who will take care of Rin since her mother can't be found doesn't make for a pleasant discussion.
Annoyed and disgusted at the whole process, Daikichi impulsively nominates himself as Rins guardian. However, suddenly going from a 30-something singles life-style to a parental role has it's fair share of ups and downs.
Me: shoujo85 recommended Bunny Drop to me saying "It's a bit like Baby & Me" and after reading it I'd have to agree that it's in the same vein, although aimed at a more mature audience and I absolutely fell in love with the Josei slice-of-life manga. XD Really would like to read the next volume whenever it comes out, so I'll have to put it on the 'to buy' list.
The fact that it's aimed at a more mature age bracket shows in the artwork (not at all flowery) and the story (character emphasis placed on problems older audiences are more likely to encounter) which I'm finding really pleasant to read. However, because of the artwork there are some moments while reading were my brain goes "Oh Daikichi, the ugly stick was mean to you today wasn't it?" He's not exactly a handsome main character, which is refreshing to see, but he's not so ugly that I'm repulsed by his presence, which is a fine line for the mangaka to walk.
Haruka ~Beyond the Stream of Time~
aka Harukanaru Toki no Naka de [Within the Expanse of a Distant Time]
Plot: Akane is dragged back into Japans early heian kyou time period [794ad to 1868ad according to wiki] were she is quickly discovered to be the prophesised Preistess of the Dragon God. A Fushigi Yugi-esque plot then unfolds with Akane having to find the eight guardians and defend the capital against the Oni. [Who are not truly oni, just blonde haired, blue eyed people who came from across the sea some time ago and tend to do some evil-type things, but because they look different gained the nickname.] Extra complications happen when Akane seems to fall for the leader of the Oni who is the one who dragged her through time in the first place.
Me: I want to like Haruka, I really do. There's plot potential, interesting characters, pretty artwork and a fanbase willing to go that extra mile for it, but. Yeah... I'm still having trouble loving this like I want to. I think the main problem is how it's being interpreted from it's original game concept [It was one of those 'pick the main characters boyfriend' games] into that of a manga. There's just so many characters all vying for time in the spotlight and no clear cut interest from Akane leaving me feeling that's she's just a little vapid and naive. I honestly feel it could do with a tighter plot and a culling of character spotlight time for some of the guardians.
Still, it's pretty enough for what it is and isn't something that makes me want to go on a burning rampage. Rather, I simply wait for some sign that Yorihisa is making more headway then the other guardians. Go-go silent-type bodyguard!
Stepping on Roses
Plot: Set in the Meiji era, Sumi has the bad luck to have an older brother who can't keep money and continually brings home orphans for her to look after. Facing eviction and loan sharks, Sumi succombs to her last resort and goes to sell her body to try and earn some desperately needed cash. However, she is waylaid by a handsome young man who offers her money to marry him, but not fall in love with him.
Me: I have this love/hate sort of thing going on with works by Ueda Rinko. She draws beautiful characters, places them in interesting time periods and generally just appeals to the romantic sap in me. But she also creates shallow storylines and most of her female leads make me want to slap down some self-empowerment upon them. Stepping on Roses' first volume makes the latter reaction come out in spades.
Sumi has such a weeping, easily manouverable, naive side that it completely overwhelms her other inner qualities of strength of will (although I've only seen her use this at her most desperate) and heart of gold.
I want to say "In comparison to Sumi, the male lead is-", but there's no comparison, he's just an out and out jerk and even one full volume into the story I've yet to see any redeeming qualities.
No matter how pretty the characters that Ueda Rinko draws, this manga just made me want to scream with it's backwards character stereotyping. ~You're a girl and in trouble, weep and wail and then a handsome man might save you, but make sure you're obediant to him and if you question him at all, well that's just bad.~ Ugh.