Manga Review: Kare First Love, Volume 10, by Kaho Miyasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~1.5

Publisher: Shojo (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December, 2006

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Yes.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love?

What Will I Miss?:

• I suppose I did enjoy the drama, at least for quite a bit of the time. I like drama, and sometimes you're just in the mood for the over-the-top stuff that this is. I don't think I'm going to miss anything else.

Review:

I was, um, kind of extremely disappointed with this volume. I really wanted to like it, I was really hoping it would be good. And it wasn’t.

I think my biggest problem is that I just don’t believe in Karin and Kiriya. They’re cute together, I guess, they have fun and get along sometimes. They have disagreements and move past them. They’ve matured, some, since the beginning. I just don’t believe they’re ready or mature enough. I mean, their story ends with a proposal and a wedding and everyone happy, which I guess is what people wanted, maybe? I didn’t want that. I wanted them to separate, grow a whole lot in themselves and their place in the world, and then maybe go back to each other. I mean, in this volume, they take a trip together and then Karin gets depressed when he leaves her alone for a couple of hours. That doesn’t show me that she knows who she is or how to be sufficient on her own.

I just don’t think they’re ready to be together forever, to devote themselves to the other person for the rest of their lives and yada yada yada. I don’t believe that they’re mature enough, or that that was the right ending for them. I can’t say I was surprised, though, because that was obviously where the story was going.

I think that’s really all I had to say about this volume. It upset and disappointed me, and I’m glad I read it but I’m also glad that it’s done.

Manga Review: Kare First Love, Volume 9, by Kaho Miyasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo (VIZ Media)

Release Date: 2006

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Some.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 8. 10.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love?

Review: 

"'I always say if you have a problem, deal with it right away. Especially if it’s a relationship issue.’” Yes.

This volume was much more calm than almost all of the previous ones. Possibly because the series is drawing to a close. In a way it’s nice to take a break from the drama, but at the same time it’s kind of weird seeing as how expected it is at this point.

Mostly this volume was about Kiriya and his family. His dad is pushing, Kiriya has decided to enter a photography contest to prove something to his father, but he broke his leg when he saved his father from an oncoming car. His father is still not being very nice, but Kiriya’s mother wakes up, and forms a relationship with Karin.

Karin and Kiriya have a small fight, but it’s rather understated and both of them are stubborn, and mostly it’s because Kiriya is upset and confused because of his future, wanting to keep with photography but also wanting a good relationship with his family.

I still have a problem with Kiriya and Karin simply because they don’t seem to have learned to actually talk to each other, to have matured as much as I think they should have. I don’t know, they are acting more mature, comforting each other and whatnot, so maybe it’s just the actual development that I’m missing. I’m not sure. I’m a little unsatisfied, though.

Kiriya’s relationship with his family is a lot better now, so that’s good. His relationship with his friends is better, and they all still hang out.

The next volume’s the last one. I’m not sure exactly how it’s going to end, aside from it being happy (because of course it will be), but I’m looking forward to it.

Manga Review: Kare First Love, Volume 8, by Kaho Miyasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo (VIZ Media)

Release Date: 2006

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Some.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love?

Review:

"'Just let me say one thing, you need to realize once and for all that you are not alone. Not now, and not two years ago either.’” This was sweet, and much needed.

I’ve only got two more volumes of this series, and I’m really looking forward to the ending. In that, I’m looking forward to the drama drama drama to stop already.

I like this series, don’t get me wrong, it’s just a bit too melodramatic in places that it doesn’t need to be, and I want these characters to calm down and grow some more.

Although, saying that, this volume was a lot more calm and mature than some previous ones.

So we first deal with Karin’s acting job, and Takagi being a pain, and Saori, Kiriya’s ex-girlfriend, being jealous. But there isn’t much Takagi, and Saori and Karin talk, and seem fine, surprisingly. And then Karin’s acting job, and Kiriya sees the video, and that turns out surprisingly well also.

The big problem with this volume was Kiriya’s father. Kiriya’s mother is ill, and his father has decided to move Kiriya back in, not giving him a choice, and forcing him to focus solely on his studies so he can take over the family business.

This caused some angst for Karin because she can’t get ahold of Kiriya, but then they meet, and he takes her to a business party with him. This is first fine, but then we find out that Kiriya’s father is even more of an unreasonable jerk than we thought, and Kiriya stands up to him, which was nice and much needed.

The volume ends with a not-nice, but expected, cliffhanger, even though Karin and Kiriya seem to be in a good place in their relationship (although who knows how long that’ll last). I’ve got the next volume, and I’ll be starting it about now.

Manga Review: Kare First Love, Volume 7, by Kaho Miyasaka

Rating (Out of 5): ~3-3.5

Publisher: Shojo (VIZ Media)

Release Date: 2006

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: Some.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 6. 8.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Four-eyed high-schooler Karin has never thought of herself as the glamorous type, so why is this hot guy on the subway taking pictures of her? Does he actually like her or is he just some kind of subway perv? Things get complicated when the most popular girl in Karin's school, Yuka, starts showing an interest in Kiriya (yes, that picture-taking guy on the subway) and sees Karin as her rival! Can Karin build up her self-esteem (and ditch her glasses) enough to stand up to jealous Yuka--and experience first love?

Review:

"'We do too communicate well! In fact, we recently communicated naked!!” Ha, part of that is such a lie. But “communicated naked” is just too funny to me

This series is just… so much drama. Too much drama, sometimes. Sadly, I’m ready for these characters to grow up some more and quit freaking out over every little thing. And lying to each other. They need to stop that already, jesus.

Karin and Kiriya make up, Karin doesn’t want to go home, she almost goes home, then she goes to Kiriya’s place and they have sex. They talk some, they fool around, they have sex. There’s joking, sweet words, crying. My biggest problem with them is the fact that they’re not actually talking out their problems. Or telling each other things when they should be.

Kiriya doesn’t tell Karin that he kind of cheated on her, and Nanri tells him not to as it would only freak Karin out even more when she’s finally calmed down, which is true. But I don’t like lying, even a little bit, so I’m not okay with that.

Then Karin takes an actual job for another commercial-thing with Shoko, Kiriya’s sister-in-law. And Takagi, the creep photographer, ends up being the director again. And his assistant is a girl that Kiriya used to go out with. Which, of course, he lies to Karin about.

This is just the epitome of their relationship. They can literally not seem to have one actual conversation about things that are important. It doesn’t matter how you think the other person will react, not telling them the truth only makes things worse. Especially when, if nothing were a big deal, he wouldn’t have lied. But even if something were, that doesn’t make it even slightly acceptable.

But when Karin finds out, the issue is pretty much skirted around and accepted and they make up, even though nothing is okay. Like the fact that Karin makes Kiriya dinner, but when the girl calls him, he goes to help her out, Karin gets tired of waiting and goes home, and he doesn’t explain to her why he had to leave. But then they make up, even though they really shouldn’t.

Their relationship is just outrageous, and gets me a bit angry. Because they are so dumb, and they really need to grow up, and learn how to talk to each other.

Whatever. On to the next volume. Where more drama drama drama will ensue.