1 to 4 of 4
Review Date: 10/25/2009
Well, I came to rate this book, as I'd just finished reading it. Not that I got it from this site, as none of the really good ones ever seem to get posted. (what a surprise, right?)
I did see that someone had already rated it, and I couldn't believe that it was given only three stars. And on top of that, subsequent volumes were given one! Now, to be fair I havent' read further than volume one yet... but highly doubt that this is accurate. I find it more to be a joke.
The premise of the story is inventive. And while the first volumes job is to set up a story line and add intrigue and questions, this story never forgets what it is, a story. Well told, might I add.
It doesn't wax philosophical but it does raise eloquent questions. It helps you rethink our position on the food chain and our perspectives are thrown against the concrete wall of reality till they crack.
So maybe that's why this other person only rated it a three? Did it disturb their sense of place in the world? Did they perhaps not like any opinion but thier own?
This book balances logic against the fantasy aspect that plays out a 'What if?'. It has great illustrations but throws off the bishie and lets the art alone speak. They even throw in humor and irony to keep the story from going Darth Vader.
I love the fancy way she makes the aliens. They are clearly the most fascinating aspect to the story. Though they really respresent the catalyst, in a more perverse fashion, they also represent our collective conscious as a human being.
This story is out there. You'd be a fool to miss one of the best manga I've ever seen put out.
(and I'm more the type for romance, not sci-fi. that should tell you something)
I did see that someone had already rated it, and I couldn't believe that it was given only three stars. And on top of that, subsequent volumes were given one! Now, to be fair I havent' read further than volume one yet... but highly doubt that this is accurate. I find it more to be a joke.
The premise of the story is inventive. And while the first volumes job is to set up a story line and add intrigue and questions, this story never forgets what it is, a story. Well told, might I add.
It doesn't wax philosophical but it does raise eloquent questions. It helps you rethink our position on the food chain and our perspectives are thrown against the concrete wall of reality till they crack.
So maybe that's why this other person only rated it a three? Did it disturb their sense of place in the world? Did they perhaps not like any opinion but thier own?
This book balances logic against the fantasy aspect that plays out a 'What if?'. It has great illustrations but throws off the bishie and lets the art alone speak. They even throw in humor and irony to keep the story from going Darth Vader.
I love the fancy way she makes the aliens. They are clearly the most fascinating aspect to the story. Though they really respresent the catalyst, in a more perverse fashion, they also represent our collective conscious as a human being.
This story is out there. You'd be a fool to miss one of the best manga I've ever seen put out.
(and I'm more the type for romance, not sci-fi. that should tell you something)
Review Date: 9/11/2009
It's absolutely amazing.... how the description for this book sounds absolutely and utterly boring.
But then again, they are simply not telling you the key feature that brings the beauty of this story to shine like the Maharaja's diamond.
Prose. Oh beautiful, elegant and not so obvious that it's a thumb in your face prose. The whole book. From the first sentence to the last, she dips you in the color and flavor of her world through analogy and an inventive turn of phrase.
It's true. This book is not going to be for everyone. If you were miss popularity in school, or managed to be perfect in any way that kept you in the gilded world of social acceptance the greater part of your life, you'll not find much to interest you in the story. I'd suggest those types go find something happier, like Snoopy and the peanut gang.
But if you've struggled in school, growing up with your family and living life in general, then this is for you. If you've been the withdrawn type or find you've become reclusive and wonder how you got there, this is a book for you.
Or, if you like to study mental diseases, then yeah, this is a book for you too!
To which, my point is, that this is introspective and told from an introverted point of view. It's colorful, but one sided. You have to have the capacity to understand the situation and realize the reality maybe different than what she describes and then relate or scorn appropriately.
Basically, it's a beautiful tale that asks you to either come in and sleep over in an intimate fashion or just turn and go home.
The choice, as always, is yours.
(but your not getting my copy. it's one of my favorites)
But then again, they are simply not telling you the key feature that brings the beauty of this story to shine like the Maharaja's diamond.
Prose. Oh beautiful, elegant and not so obvious that it's a thumb in your face prose. The whole book. From the first sentence to the last, she dips you in the color and flavor of her world through analogy and an inventive turn of phrase.
It's true. This book is not going to be for everyone. If you were miss popularity in school, or managed to be perfect in any way that kept you in the gilded world of social acceptance the greater part of your life, you'll not find much to interest you in the story. I'd suggest those types go find something happier, like Snoopy and the peanut gang.
But if you've struggled in school, growing up with your family and living life in general, then this is for you. If you've been the withdrawn type or find you've become reclusive and wonder how you got there, this is a book for you.
Or, if you like to study mental diseases, then yeah, this is a book for you too!
To which, my point is, that this is introspective and told from an introverted point of view. It's colorful, but one sided. You have to have the capacity to understand the situation and realize the reality maybe different than what she describes and then relate or scorn appropriately.
Basically, it's a beautiful tale that asks you to either come in and sleep over in an intimate fashion or just turn and go home.
The choice, as always, is yours.
(but your not getting my copy. it's one of my favorites)
Review Date: 9/11/2009
Helpful Score: 2
Hmmm... To actually take the time to review a book, there really has to be something amazing about it. Not that I'm lazy, I just value my time. And if you value yours as well as money worth being spent, then this is a great book for you.
I got tired of waiting for this book to become avialable on this site so I broke down and bought it. I'm so glad I did.
Usually, when you have a book of short stories, they are not worth reading. Usually the art is beautiful if it happens to be a graphic novel artist but other than that, you wind up no more emotionally invested in what happens at the end of the story, then when you had first read the beginning line. I think some authors forget that when dealing with short story, everything that is said or done needs to work overtime to mean multiple things or express a deep impression of that person or the situation. You have to have enough common thread to connect with the reader emotionally, so that the story pulls them in quickly and leaves them a little breathless in the end.
This author, however, seemed the impatient type that seems like she can't finish anything. Perhaps the concentrated intense 'shine and leave' behavior is what makes her such a compelling short story writer. I don't know.
All I can say is the stories were not only beautiful to look at, but excruciatingly well told. I only wish I could read Japanese kanji and katana so that I could read the doushin that must have followed in its wake.
Needless to say, I'll not be posting my copy on this site either. You'll have to get it yourself! :P
I got tired of waiting for this book to become avialable on this site so I broke down and bought it. I'm so glad I did.
Usually, when you have a book of short stories, they are not worth reading. Usually the art is beautiful if it happens to be a graphic novel artist but other than that, you wind up no more emotionally invested in what happens at the end of the story, then when you had first read the beginning line. I think some authors forget that when dealing with short story, everything that is said or done needs to work overtime to mean multiple things or express a deep impression of that person or the situation. You have to have enough common thread to connect with the reader emotionally, so that the story pulls them in quickly and leaves them a little breathless in the end.
This author, however, seemed the impatient type that seems like she can't finish anything. Perhaps the concentrated intense 'shine and leave' behavior is what makes her such a compelling short story writer. I don't know.
All I can say is the stories were not only beautiful to look at, but excruciatingly well told. I only wish I could read Japanese kanji and katana so that I could read the doushin that must have followed in its wake.
Needless to say, I'll not be posting my copy on this site either. You'll have to get it yourself! :P
Review Date: 9/11/2009
Helpful Score: 1
Wow. In reading some of the other reviews for this first volume, I have to admit that I was hesitant as to whether I would actually enjoy reading it. (or to be able to stomach it, for that matter)
Though, with all the uproar in the reviews and outcries of it being creepy, I have to say that it did manage to also arouse my curiousity. Being that I've read so many manga, doushin and watched tons of truly bizarre animes... I braced myself.
What a laugh!
I really crack up at the reviews this got.
First of all, the main female character Suki.... is beyond annoying. If she were three years old, I would find her cute. But casting a highschooler as emotionally deep and aware as said three year old.... is flat out stupid and short sided. If they continued on that and played her out as mentally retarded but functionally, I could accept that. But oh no, they then show her as intellectually (when it comes to school)intelligent as a young Einstein. Please spare me!
But what's a hoot is all this outcry of the whole story being super creepy. I mean, first off, anyone who reads manga regularly would know that the theme of a young girl falling into an affair with her teacher to be a common theme. They really have a fetish with that over there. I don't remember being attracted to any of my teachers, but whatever floats their boat. It's fun to read anyways.
And beyond that, they simply 'actually' allow the male teacher to act like the 32 year old man that he is in the story and not some emotionally stunted or prince charming type of guy. Therefore, it's hard to find him attractive to you as the reader, and therefore acceptable.
On top of that, the author was TRYING to creep her readers out. She wanted a reaction and then obviously decided to lighten the theme by throwing in pathetically obvious clues that the male teacher could have other motives then what you think they are.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Just someone with an open mind. And if you're getting into reading manga that from an entirely different culture on the other side of the planet, and OPEN MIND is absolutely essential.
I wouldn't say this is the best beginning book to a series I've ever read. Frankly, it's ok and nothing more. But, it's still fun to read, just because the author was open enough to not care about ruffling feathers.
If you're a light weight with an iron barred mind, DON'T READ THIS!!!
You have been warned. :P
Though, with all the uproar in the reviews and outcries of it being creepy, I have to say that it did manage to also arouse my curiousity. Being that I've read so many manga, doushin and watched tons of truly bizarre animes... I braced myself.
What a laugh!
I really crack up at the reviews this got.
First of all, the main female character Suki.... is beyond annoying. If she were three years old, I would find her cute. But casting a highschooler as emotionally deep and aware as said three year old.... is flat out stupid and short sided. If they continued on that and played her out as mentally retarded but functionally, I could accept that. But oh no, they then show her as intellectually (when it comes to school)intelligent as a young Einstein. Please spare me!
But what's a hoot is all this outcry of the whole story being super creepy. I mean, first off, anyone who reads manga regularly would know that the theme of a young girl falling into an affair with her teacher to be a common theme. They really have a fetish with that over there. I don't remember being attracted to any of my teachers, but whatever floats their boat. It's fun to read anyways.
And beyond that, they simply 'actually' allow the male teacher to act like the 32 year old man that he is in the story and not some emotionally stunted or prince charming type of guy. Therefore, it's hard to find him attractive to you as the reader, and therefore acceptable.
On top of that, the author was TRYING to creep her readers out. She wanted a reaction and then obviously decided to lighten the theme by throwing in pathetically obvious clues that the male teacher could have other motives then what you think they are.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Just someone with an open mind. And if you're getting into reading manga that from an entirely different culture on the other side of the planet, and OPEN MIND is absolutely essential.
I wouldn't say this is the best beginning book to a series I've ever read. Frankly, it's ok and nothing more. But, it's still fun to read, just because the author was open enough to not care about ruffling feathers.
If you're a light weight with an iron barred mind, DON'T READ THIS!!!
You have been warned. :P
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