Mori Kaoru - Emma, vol. 03-04 (Eng. trans.)
Oh, I really love this manga, particularly Mori's attention to the tiniest details, of expressions and movements and still moments.
These two volumes are a little soapier than the previous ones; there's a level of coincidence that I don't quite find believable. But soapy for Mori Kaoru is so many levels below the usual drama of romances (shoujo and the romance genre), and I love the character Emma so much, that I'm willing to overlook that.
Also, Mori Kaoru's author notes are awesome, particularly the one that shows a pie chart of her brain (categories: Victorian-era maids, Edwardian-era maids, corsets, etc.).
So far, I like Emma's new employer. But I found the plot twist with william's mother being Emma's employer's friend a bit unbelievable (I forgot everyone's names again, and a quick Google isn't turning up anything, and I don't want to be spoiled). Emma dressing up and going to the party was also a bit too contrived for me, though I love the parts with Emma not being able to see without her glasses.
On the other hand, the love triangle has yet to annoy me, which is good. I feel so bad for Eleanor, and I love the pages of them watching opera, of her hand hovering just centimeters above his back. And William! So dense! How could he not have noticed?
I also love Monica and am randomly hoping that she and Hakim get to talk more. I think that'd be interesting.
Mostly, though, I'm impressed by how little Emma speaks or thinks in the manga. We don't get her POV very often, unlike most shoujo, but we always know what she's thinking because of Mori's art and Mori's focus on small shifts of expression or gestures or such.
These two volumes are a little soapier than the previous ones; there's a level of coincidence that I don't quite find believable. But soapy for Mori Kaoru is so many levels below the usual drama of romances (shoujo and the romance genre), and I love the character Emma so much, that I'm willing to overlook that.
Also, Mori Kaoru's author notes are awesome, particularly the one that shows a pie chart of her brain (categories: Victorian-era maids, Edwardian-era maids, corsets, etc.).
So far, I like Emma's new employer. But I found the plot twist with william's mother being Emma's employer's friend a bit unbelievable (I forgot everyone's names again, and a quick Google isn't turning up anything, and I don't want to be spoiled). Emma dressing up and going to the party was also a bit too contrived for me, though I love the parts with Emma not being able to see without her glasses.
On the other hand, the love triangle has yet to annoy me, which is good. I feel so bad for Eleanor, and I love the pages of them watching opera, of her hand hovering just centimeters above his back. And William! So dense! How could he not have noticed?
I also love Monica and am randomly hoping that she and Hakim get to talk more. I think that'd be interesting.
Mostly, though, I'm impressed by how little Emma speaks or thinks in the manga. We don't get her POV very often, unlike most shoujo, but we always know what she's thinking because of Mori's art and Mori's focus on small shifts of expression or gestures or such.