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divineblkpearl's Reviews (732)
Volume finds the crew a school year later and Ninako is happy to be in the same class as Ren. It's funny what can happen in a year. Ren is dealing with his breakup and Ninako is wondering what to do with the news. This volume also expounds on the friendship of Ando and Ren.
The drama intensifies here for everyone! Loved to see more backstory on the supporting characters like Sayuri. P.s. Tiny Ninako dwarfed large Ren's hoodie is the cutest thing ever.
A summary f this volume: "Manipulative Folks and Misunderstandings really stand in the way of love".
This going back and forth WAS really starting to be repetitive. To be with Ren, to not be. Was I this young once? Did I see my friends run them selves crazy over decisions like the ones in this volume? Yes. Yes and yes.
The end to a shojo manga series, the first that I've read in a while. I originally passed on this manga but eventually read it based on its unique plot: a girl falling in love for the first time...for someone already taken. The last two volumes stressed the decisions of the heart: the going back and forth, weighing feelings against logic...it was being dragged out and that almost lost me.
Wasn't the strongest of endings but we did get closure with Ren and Ninako finally, FINALLY proclaiming their love and getting together. I guess I felt a little cheated because of the side story about Manabu and his love life.
Either way, I'm happy. This story comes to an end. Question: cause I can't remember...did Ren ever find out about Ninako's first kiss being stolen by Ando?! He did, right?
Wasn't the strongest of endings but we did get closure with Ren and Ninako finally, FINALLY proclaiming their love and getting together. I guess I felt a little cheated because of the side story about Manabu and his love life.
Either way, I'm happy. This story comes to an end. Question: cause I can't remember...did Ren ever find out about Ninako's first kiss being stolen by Ando?! He did, right?
A sort of "coming of age story" (to which some are comparing to Miyazaki's "Spirted Away" of a teenager with mixed media illustrations detailing the rich history of Japan. Story wise, I loved the introduction of all the Japanese Gods and folklore.(Especially, the tanuki!) I appreciated the remembrance of history: Japan's involvement in WW II, the horrible catastrophe that befell Japan after and the acknowledgment of being conflicted because of one's heritage (The Japanese occupation of China and the abuse and massacre of Chinese people by the hands of Japanese soldiers).
The themes in this graphic novel are heavy handed, they included: war, processing the problematic aspects or your identify in regards to your heritage (the father of the book's protagonist was American), the loss of a parent, feelings of alienation and isolation.
Ichiro is a beautiful story, gorgeously illustrated with a young protagonist experiencing a familiar struggle: feeling like there is no place where he belongs but with a adventurous journey in which he steps in the footsteps of Gods. The climax of the story seemed awfully rushed to where I was nearing the end of the book with several questions still--the resolution wasn't as fulfilling as I hoped it would be.
A solid read but a bit disappointed in the later half of the book: Ichiro finds his way home with a better understanding of himself but was there any resolution for any of the Gods? Any improvement for the souls and ghouls in the domain of the Gods? What of Amaterasu? Does Hachiman remain imprisoned?
3.5-4 stars
The themes in this graphic novel are heavy handed, they included: war, processing the problematic aspects or your identify in regards to your heritage (the father of the book's protagonist was American), the loss of a parent, feelings of alienation and isolation.
Ichiro is a beautiful story, gorgeously illustrated with a young protagonist experiencing a familiar struggle: feeling like there is no place where he belongs but with a adventurous journey in which he steps in the footsteps of Gods. The climax of the story seemed awfully rushed to where I was nearing the end of the book with several questions still--the resolution wasn't as fulfilling as I hoped it would be.
A solid read but a bit disappointed in the later half of the book: Ichiro finds his way home with a better understanding of himself but was there any resolution for any of the Gods? Any improvement for the souls and ghouls in the domain of the Gods? What of Amaterasu? Does Hachiman remain imprisoned?
3.5-4 stars
