Manga Review: Behind the Scenes!!, Volume 7, by Bisco Hatori

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2019

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 6.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ranmaru Kurisu comes from a family of hardy, rough-and-tumble fisherfolk and he sticks out at home like a delicate, artistic sore thumb. It’s given him a raging inferiority complex and a permanently pessimistic outlook. Now that he’s in college, he’s hoping to find a sense of belonging. But after a whole life of being left out, does he even know how to fit in?!

The Art Squad has always felt like home to its members, but as their chief’s final year winds down, doubts being to assail them all. Tomu worries he has no talent, Ruka decides to quit the club early to live up to family expectations, Izumi’s amnesia finally starts to get to him, and Maasa plans to give up zombies in order to find a man. Now it’s up to Ranmaru, the newest and most neurotic club member, to save the spirit of Art Squad!

Review:

I really liked where this series went in the previous volume, and for most of this volume. Ranmaru took a drastic turn for the better, finally gained some confidence and some courage. He pushed Goda to get back into his real passion, and along the way several of the other characters finally discovered what they wanted to do.

It was all going so well into a really sweet conclusion, even if some of the romances weren't quite perfect.

I had mixed feelings about where the main romance was going already, and then a curve-ball gets thrown in at the last second. I don't want to spoil how it ends, but I don't appreciate how the main romance concluded. I don't care for that pairing, and honestly don't feel it was necessary. I was perfectly happy with them having a normal relationship, not a romantic one. Basically every other part of the story was great and concluded in a sweet and fun way, and I like how it all wrapped up, even with the jump forward in time. Just that one part that leaves me a little wicked out.

Aside from that, this was a really fun series, and I liked the theme of it, and the characters. I do wish we got a little more with the side characters. And I really hope we get to see whatever Bisco Hatori releases next.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Behind the Scenes!!, Volume 6, by Bisco Hatori

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2019

Volumes: 7.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 5. 7.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ranmaru spends his whole life not fitting in, until the oddballs of the Art Squad adopt him as one of their own.

Ranmaru Kurisu comes from a family of hardy, rough-and-tumble fisherfolk and he sticks out at home like a delicate, artistic sore thumb. It’s given him a raging inferiority complex and a permanently pessimistic outlook. Now that he’s in college, he’s hoping to find a sense of belonging. But after a whole life of being left out, does he even know how to fit in?!

It’s winter break, and the Art Squad is helping a local children’s center put on a holiday puppet show! No classes means the squad can spend loads of time preparing, but all that togetherness is torture for poor heartsore Ranmaru. But just when he thinks he’s accepted that Ruka only has eyes for Goda, he finds out she’s agreed to an arranged marriage after college!

Review:

Ranmaru and Soh are both working hard to better themselves and for their crushes.

Poor Soh is after a guy who doesn't really intend to have a relationship, who's rather unattainable.

Ranmaru likes Ruka, but he believes that she likes Goda. Discovering that she's agreed to an arranged marriage after college gives him new determination, though. It's an interesting theme in both relationships, really. Ruka and Izumi have both resigned themselves to their fates. They've decided to stop fighting it, and take what little they can have for themselves. Ruka fought for school, and she's made herself accept whatever her family wants for her after that.

The real surprise in this volume, though, comes when Ranmaru discovers Goda's secret. It spurs a whole new side of Ranmaru, who starts persisting and even annoying Goda till he wears him down. And it's a surprisingly touching reason, too, what Goda did that had an impact on so many, and his reaction to it.

For a final plot line to the series, I really appreciate this being it. I'm really excited to see how it all wraps up, and am wondering how it's going to happen for them all.

Manga Review: Sweet Blue Flowers, Volume 3, by Takako Shimura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2018

Volumes: 4.

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 2. 4.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A genre-defining saga of love and friendship between girls.

Akira Okudaira is starting high school and is ready for exciting new experiences. And on the first day of school, she runs into her best friend from kindergarten at the train station! Now Akira and Fumi have the chance to rekindle their friendship, but life has gotten a lot more complicated since they were kids…

It’s time for the Fujigaya theater festival again, and this year Akira and her friends have chosen an ambitious Japanese play. Not only will it seriously challenge their acting abilities, but the number of characters in it means they’ll need all hands on deck to pull it off. But ever since Fumi admitted that she had feelings for Akira, their friendship has been a little awkward. Will the forced intimacy of collaborating on the play help them work things out, or make things worse?

Review:

They perform the play in the first half of this volume. The costumes are really good, and a few of them are much better actors than they expected. It goes off really well, with only a little mess-up. I'm not fully sure what the meaning behind the play for this book was, but it was there for a few of the characters.

In the second half, it's another girls vacation. Only, this time, there's more feelings and embarrassment between Akira and Fumi. Fumi is struggling with their relationship, as she knows how she feels and what she wants to do; Akira is very inexperienced and clueless about all of it, though.

There's a surprise move in the second half of the volume, which I didn't see happening so soon. I rather like how it's handled, though. Same as when Fumi talks to Ono about what happened in the previous volume. Fumi is reluctant and unsure, but she's also honest and rather upfront about herself, and I respect that. This isn't a thing talked about much, and could easily cause problems for Fumi, but she's being honest about it, while also quiet and private for the most part. That takes a lot of courage.

I really like this series, it's soft and sweet, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it wraps up in the next volume.

Manga Review: Sweet Blue Flowers, Volume 2, by Takako Shimura

Rating (Out of 5): ~3.5

Publisher: VIZ Signature (VIZ Media)

Release Date: December 2017

Volumes: 4 (Omnibus).

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A genre-defining saga of love and friendship between girls.

Akira Okudaira is starting high school and is ready for exciting new experiences. And on the first day of school, she runs into her best friend from kindergarten at the train station! Now Akira and Fumi have the chance to rekindle their friendship, but life has gotten a lot more complicated since they were kids…

Kyoko’s fiancé invites a group of her friends to join them at his family’s summer home. But the trip ends up including more than just ghost stories and horseback riding—Fumi can now confirm that she has feelings for Akira. And Akira learns more than she wants to about Kyoko’s private life with some accidental eavesdropping. After this, how can the girls just return to school like nothing’s happened?

Review:

The first half of this volume seemed rather slow-paced. We get to know the characters a bit more, including two of the boys, but also the group of girls and their friendships. They're on a trip, so they play some games and stay up late talking, before school starts again.

We get some hints regarding Kyoko and her family, which could turn into drama later. We also see Sugimoto for a brief period; there's some drama there, some hard feelings, but mostly it seems like a farewell.

In the second half of the volume, a new school year has started, and a new school play has been chosen and so has the cast. There are new members now in both schools; there's quiet, library club member Ueda, who's sweet and shy. Then there's Ono, a younger, tiny girl, who's blunt and honest and straightforward in her wants.

Ono has me intrigued, and I think she's a character that both Akira and Fumi need to meet, to give them some perspective. At the same time, there are some confessions. Fumi is honest with Akira, but possibly more than she meant to be, or more than Akira knows how to take. It's made things a little awkward, though this could be good or bad for them.

I like how sweet and subtle this series is. It's rather realistic in how it handles its issues, without being dramatic or exaggerated. The girls discuss these topics sometimes, and they have to consider how to respond to these situations, but also how to talk about them.

This is a rather short series, and I'm looking forward to reading more and following it to the end.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Behind the Scenes!!, Volume 4, by Bisco Hatori

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2017

Volumes: 5+

Spoilers?: No.

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

Volume: 1. 3. 5.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ranmaru spends his whole life not fitting in, until the oddballs of the Art Squad adopt him as one of their own.

Ranmaru Kurisu comes from a family of hardy, rough-and-tumble fisher folk, and he sticks out at home like a delicate, artistic sore thumb. It’s given him a raging inferiority complex and a permanently pessimistic outlook. Now that he’s in college, he’s hoping to find a sense of belonging. But after a whole life of being left out, does he even know how to fit in?!

Ryoji Goda is everything Ranmaru wishes he could be—self-assured, competent and cool. But when the Art Squad works the final film camp of the summer, Ranmaru gets to see a whole new side to his idol—disappointing son! Goda’s dad seems to criticize everything his son does, and they fight constantly. Finally Ranmaru and Goda have something in common! But the pressure of paternal disapproval pushes Goda to do something shocking that might change the Art Squad forever…

Review:

We get to meet Ranmaru's family at the start of this volume. They're odd, in different ways than him, but understandably so. They set him up and follow him, and then leave rather abruptly. And yet it still makes Ranmaru freak out. After that, we get to meet Goda's father, who has a very different life style and yet is extremely similar. During this, we get to see how well Goda can direct. And, he cuts his hair for a shoot.

In the second half of the volume, we get to know Izumi a bit more. He's forgetful, but everyone loves him. After finding out his back story, I think I love him more than I did before. I love seeing how everyone freaks out about it, though. I like seeing how Soh interacts with him, and how she pushes herself a little to be out there more.

I still love all of the antics and theatre club stories and craziness. But now that we're getting to know each of the characters a bit more, I'm getting more pulled into the story. I really like this crazy bunch.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Novel Review: Illyria by Elizabeth Hand

Rating (Out of 5): ~3

Publisher: Viking (Penguin)

Release Date: 2007

Spoilers?: No.

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

Goodreads Synopsis:

Madeleine and Rogan are first cousins, best friends, twinned souls, each other’s first love. Even within their large, disorderly family—all descendants of a famous actress—their intensity and passion for theater sets them apart. It makes them a little dangerous. When they are cast in their school’s production of Twelfth Night, they are forced to face their separate talents and futures, and their future together.

This stunning short novel, winner of the World Fantasy Award, is the perfect introduction to Elizabeth Hand’s singular voice. Her many novels offer a window into what it means to create art, to experience it, to feel passionately about the world. Illyria throws her talent into high relief—it is magic on paper.

The Cover:

This cover is all right. It's not horrible, but it's not very eye-catching. I do think it somewhat works for the book, though. It gives a good feel for it, and the image works.

Quotes:

• "'But talent—if you don’t encourage it, if you don’t train it, it dies. It might run wild for a little while, but it will never mean anything.’” (Hardback, pg. 40)
• "You take all these little things and you build a house. You build a character, a shell, and if you build it right, something comes to live inside it.” (Pg. 80-81)

Review:

This book is extremely short, which is part of why I picked it up. It’s short and very thoughtful, kind of slow, but also a little sad.

It’s about these two cousins, the same age, who are in love with each other. They’re part of a large family that live on the same street, some of whom get along, their parents are strict and they don’t really get along with their siblings.

Their relationship is interesting, and I was actually kind of okay with it. Maybe because I knew ahead of time, though. They clearly are the only ones there for each other, with the same interests. They’re both interested in theatre, and him in singing. But while she wants to be an actor, he starts going down a bad path.

I liked the writing, for sure. It’s very pretty and thoughtful, and the image of the tiny theatre will probably stay in my head because it’s so pretty. But it’s also sad. The ending for both of the characters, but especially for him and their family, is kind of depressing. She has a better time, but only marginally. It doesn’t seem like anyone was really happy to me.

It was a worthwhile, pretty read, but sad.

Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

4 of 5 Stars

Publisher: Speak (Penguin)

Goodreads Synopsis:

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, Will Grayson crosses paths with . . . Will Grayson. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, and culminating in epic turns-of-heart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the high school stage. Told in alternating voices from two YA superstars, this collaborative novel features a double helping of the heart and humor that have won them both legions of fans.

Review:

I've read John Green's other books, but only David Levithans books with Rachel Cohn. I've enjoyed them all, and was looking forward to reading more. I should have read this a while ago, but I kept putting it off. I'm glad I finally got to it, though.

The book is mostly about two boys by the same name meeting. But it's about more than that. They are both having problems with themselves and love. And the book is also about Tiny Cooper.

I didn't particularly feel a big connection to either Will Grayson, but I did really like them both. John Green's Will Grayson has problems accepting love, and he's conflicted about things, and emotional with everything. But in the second half of the book, some good stuff happens with Jane, and then he talks with Tiny, and I liked him even more. Especially because of his talk with Tiny. David Levithan's will grayson has depression, so he's also emotional, but he has a hard time dealing with emotions, and people. So really, Will Grayson is emotional and conflicted and will grayson is moody, and they are both a bit self-centered. But they are also both entertaining.

Will Grayson has John Greens interest if things, so it has lots of Will Grayson thinking about things and realizing things. And will grayson is very funny while also a bit harsh.

Will Grayson has Tiny Cooper, and then Nick and Gary and Jane. They're all good. I like Jane for him, she was fun and works with him. And will grayson has Tiny Cooper and Maura and Gideon, and Simon and Derek. Simon and Derek are entertaining, but we don't see them a lot. Maura I didn't like, because of what she did to will grayson, but I spent most of the book thinking that we were going to get some insight into her and see that will was wrong about her, so I wasn't trying to not not like her. Now I'm still a bit conflicted, because I feel there's something more there, and that we didn't enough closure with her, but I still don't particularly like her. And Gideon, even though we didn't get a whole lot of him, I did like. And he's good for will grayson.

Now, Tiny Cooper. Tiny Cooper is gay and big and energetic. He has had way too many boyfriends that have lasted way too short, and he writes a musical about himself which he changes to be about love. He wants appreciation and he wants to do something good for other people. He tries to set up Will Grayson with Jane, and he tries to be good to will grayson. And he's also the main reason that the rating is as high as it is. Because of the musical, which is brilliant (I wish my school did plays that good and the people were that enthusiastic about it,) and because of what the will grayons' do for him. It was infinitely sweet and also funny. It was awesome.

I did quite enjoy this book, and I'm looking forward to reading more of theirs, as John Green's will be out in a couple of months and David Levithan already has several out.