Manga Tuesday; Gokinjo Monogatari

Manga:  Gokinjo Monogatari    

Written by: Yazawa Ai

Genres: Drama, Romance, School life, Comedy, Shoujo, Slice of Life

Volumes:  7

Anime: Yes, and for some reason it reminds me a bit of Doraemon

own/ library/ borrowed/ read online

read online via the sites: www.manga.animea.net and www.mangareader.com

completed/ ongoing

publisher: Shueisha

Summary:[From ShoujoMagic]: Ever since he was small, all the girls in the neighborhood have fawned over Tsutomu Yamaguchi, whose name came from a song and whose adorable face closely resembles the monkey character Monchichi's. Even back then, it was enough to make his friend and neighbor Mikako sick. Now that he's a little more grown, Tsutomu looks like the lead vocalist of Manbou, Ken Nakagawa (Midori friend/boyfriend from Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai; we meet main characters from Tenshi on market/fest), and that makes him even more popular with the ladies. But Mikako--now a trendy teen with modern sensibilities--couldn't care less. Or could she...? Gokinjo Monogatari is a sharp-witted and stylish slice-of-life story! 

Review:

This is Paradise Kiss

I really love this story. It's really funny and sweet and girly and there is lots of arty stuff and fashion and guess what? Those are all things I absolutely love! And even though it's old, you don't actually notice it, like you normally do with mangas, really, I only know it's old because the change in drawing through the years of Ai Yazawa's work and because I saw it on wikipedia. The clothes are stylish, even now, the art is original and cartoon-like and apart from technology, it could have been written today.

The story has a kind of a part two: Paradise Kiss (I will probably review this sometime as well). You can read both stories apart, but I would recommend reading Gokinjo Monogatari first, since some characters will be in Paradise Kiss as well, and it's nice to see what they turned out to be while you already know them.  Furthermore Paradise Kiss is, I think, a very different story. It's a lot more serious and stuff. It's really a josei story, while this is really a shoujo.

Rating:

5/5

Some things about manga for non-manga readers :P :

Manga is a Japanese cartoon or comic. There are lots of them in all kind of different genres (really from porn to manga for little girls). Of most mangas there is a new chapter released every month, so that's why some are ongoing (it also can be that the translation group is a bit slow. DON'T EVER GET ANGRY BECAUSE OF THAT THOUGH! Manga's are translated by volunteers, and not very much people speak both English and Japanese well enough to translate them. If your bothered by it, join such a group! They are always looking for new members! Also editors and cleaners are needed!).

If you are too lazy to read, of most mangas there is an anime to watch ;)

If you consider reading manga pay attention! Manga is written from right to left!

some terms:

Shoujo= Manga for mostly teenage girls (it can be very childish, it can be really mature)

Shounen= Manga for mostly teenage boys (example: Naruto )

Josei= Manga for older women (the manga site says: late teenage and adult audiences, this is usually because the characters in the manga are not in high school anymore, this doesn't mean it's not fun to read if you are younger)

Seinen= Manga for older men (also for late teenage and adult audiences, also usually fun to read if you're younger)

School life= is sometimes quite interesting because the japanese school life seems very different than what I am used to

Shoujoai= girls love

Shounenai= boys love

Yuri = let's just say: the more advanced version of girls love

Yaoi= the more advanced version of boys love

One last note! I won't be here for the next three or for weeks since I will be in Portugal then! I will post again after those weeks! Laterzz

Manga Tuesdays; Mars

Manga:  Mars

Written by:  Fuyumi Soryo             

Genres: Romance, shoujo, mature, drama

Volumes:  15

Anime: no, there is a drama though, don't know if it any good

own/ library/ borrowed/ read online

read online via the sites: www.manga.animea.net and www.mangareader.com

completed/ ongoing

publisher: Kondansha/ Tokyopop

Summary: Kira believes that Rei and all other men in the world are dirty. She stays away from her classmates, hiding in her art. What happens when the delinquent motorcyclist and playboy, Rei, gets ahold of one of her drawings, and actually wants to keep it?source: http://www.mangareader.net/mars 

Review:

This is from the drama 

I loved this manga sooo much! It's such a basic story and I know it's a bit of a cliché, I mean the nerd and the delinquent theme? Really? But it's such a pure story and it was written/drawn so well! I could seriously feel the butterflies in my stomach and their love and their desire. Also, I usually am very annoyed by the female lead of the story but Kira is amazing. She is the shy, lovable kind of girl, and actually she isn't much different from most female leads, but it just fits her and the story or something, or maybe that's just me, anyway I love her. It also may be because she loves to draw, which is my favourite thing in the world, so yeah. Now you might think that it is really very different from other shoujo's, but it isn't. There still are the usual overdramatic events, like, Rei with his dark past and also Kira's dark past, not getting accepted by family, Rei who gets more and more professional with motercycling, etc.

The art is really cute and beautiful. The manga is pretty old, so the hairstyles and stuff are all pretty old school. but it isn't really bothering.

Now I'm going to watch the drama, if you want to know how it was just leave a comment :P

Rating:

5/5 stars :D

Some things about manga for non-manga readers :P :

Manga is a Japanese cartoon or comic. There are lots of them in all kind of different genres (really from porn to manga for little girls). Of most mangas there is a new chapter released every month, so that's why some are ongoing (it also can be that the translation group is a bit slow. DON'T EVER GET ANGRY BECAUSE OF THAT THOUGH! Manga's are translated by volunteers, and not very much people speak both English and Japanese well enough to translate them. If your bothered by it, join such a group! They are always looking for new members! Also editors and cleaners are needed!).

If you are too lazy to read, of most mangas there is an anime to watch ;)

If you consider reading manga pay attention! Manga is written from right to left!

some terms:

Shoujo= Manga for mostly teenage girls (it can be very childish, it can be really mature)

Shounen= Manga for mostly teenage boys (example: Naruto )

Josei= Manga for older women (the manga site says: late teenage and adult audiences, this is usually because the characters in the manga are not in high school anymore, this doesn't mean it's not fun to read if you are younger)

Seinen= Manga for older men (also for late teenage and adult audiences, also usually fun to read if you're younger)

School life= is sometimes quite interesting because the japanese school life seems very different than what I am used to

Shoujoai= girls love

Shounenai= boys love

Yuri = let's just say: the more advanced version of girls love

Yaoi= the more advanced version of boys love

Manga Tuesdays; Boku No Hatsukoi Wo Kimi Ni Sasagu

funny fact, the background picture is the
same as the photo for the movie

Manga: Boku No Hatsukoi Wo Kimi Ni Sasagu

Written by: Aoki, Kotomi

Genres: Romance, Shoujo, Sliceof life

Volumes:  12

Anime: nope, a movie though, haven't checked it out yet

own/ library/ borrowed/ read online

read online via the sites: www.manga.animea.net and www.mangareader.com

completed/ ongoing

publisher: shogakukan

Summary:Takuma and Mayu's story began when they were only 8 years old. During his childhood, Takuma was constantly hospitalised due to his heart condition. He soon became friends with Mayu, the daughter of the doctor in charge of his case. Day by day they grew closer and closer. However, the summer when Takuma was 8, he made a promise to Mayu that he couldn't keep... Their story unfolds as they grow older and their bond gets stronger...source: http://www.mangareader.net/468/boku-no-hatsukoi-wo-kimi-ni-sasagu.html 

Review:

And here is the
movie picture

This is one of the first manga I read actually (first nana, then kimi ni todoke, then bokura ga ita, then a sad love story and then this one, if I remember correctly). Anyway, it was ongoing while I read it and I think this what actually the first story that finished while I was reading it. That is already a while ago, though.

Back to the point.

It is about Takuma and Mayu and they make a promise to marry each other when they are eight. But Takumi has a heart disease and might not even be able to live till he is 18, so, yeah, that's a problem.

Takumi starts to avoid Mayu, but they still get together and decide to deal together with his disease.

It was nice to read, don't think I would still read it though, a too predictable storyline, but still, especially if you are a fan of shoujo, and you haven't read too much manga yet, it is a good manga. The art is not very special, very shoujo-ish.

I like the ending, it's not very likely that it would happen that way, but I think it was finished nicely, not to rushed, which is often the case.

Rating:

3.5

Some things about manga for non-manga readers :P :

Manga is a Japanese cartoon or comic. There are lots of them in all kind of different genres (really from porn to manga for little girls). Of most mangas there is a new chapter released every month, so that's why some are ongoing (it also can be that the translation group is a bit slow. DON'T EVER GET ANGRY BECAUSE OF THAT THOUGH! Manga's are translated by volunteers, and not very much people speak both English and Japanese well enough to translate them. If your bothered by it, join such a group! They are always looking for new members! Also editors and cleaners are needed!).

If you are too lazy to read, of most mangas there is an anime to watch ;)

If you consider reading manga pay attention! Manga is written from right to left!

some terms:

Shoujo= Manga for mostly teenage girls (it can be very childish, it can be really mature)

Shounen= Manga for mostly teenage boys (example: Naruto )

Josei= Manga for older women (the manga site says: late teenage and adult audiences, this is usually because the characters in the manga are not in high school anymore, this doesn't mean it's not fun to read if you are younger)

Seinen= Manga for older men (also for late teenage and adult audiences, also usually fun to read if you're younger)

School life= is sometimes quite interesting because the japanese school life seems very different than what I am used to

Shoujoai= girls love

Shounenai= boys love

Yuri = let's just say: the more advanced version of girls love

Yaoi= the more advanced version of boys love

Manga Tuesdays; Heaven's Door

First of all I should say that I'm really sorry for not posting last week and for the short and late post of this week. I'm really busy and really lazy and I just forgot to do it last week, since I was too busy and didn't feel like doing it in the weekends and then I wanted to do it on wednesday, what I forgot, and well... okay I should stop with the excuses, I'm sorry for my laziness and stuff.

Manga: Heaven's door

Written by: Hongou Rango

Genres:  Comedy, drama, romance, shoujo

Volumes:  1

Anime: no, but it's actually based on a movie

own/ library/ borrowed/ read online

read online via the site(s): www.manga.animea.net and

completed/ ongoing

publisher: Shogaku Kan

Summary:Harumi has been in the hospital practically her whole life. She has a life-threatening disease, and is kept inside at all times. Her life is incredibly mundane until she meets Masato, a new patient. He isn't the best influence, being a heavy smoker and drinker, but since they've both got nothing better to do, they become friends. This humorous story follows their meeting and the night they spend together, talking about what it means to die early.source: http://manga.animea.net/heaven-s-door-hongou-ranko-.html

Review:

Heaven's door movie

Actually it was a pretty eye-opening story. I mean, both of these (young) people were about to die and you could feel that well. I also liked both of the characters. The art isn't really good, not too bad either, still really shoujo like. I also like the fact that it's definitely a tragedy, but it's really funny as well. Harumi doesn't know anything about the outside world while Masato is the kind of guy who has tried everything (at least, it seems that way).

Actually the whole story is about the last thing they want to do before they die, at least, before Harumi dies.

1. Kiss a cool guy

2. Go to the sea (she only wants that after she has talked about it with Masato)

The journey is hilarious, it's really the kind of journey you only can't afford to make if you are sure you die after it.

The ending is sad, but it's kind of predictable.

Rating:

4 stars

Some things about manga for non-manga readers :P :

Manga is a Japanese cartoon or comic. There are lots of them in all kind of different genres (really from porn to manga for little girls). Of most mangas there is a new chapter released every month, so that's why some are ongoing (it also can be that the translation group is a bit slow. DON'T EVER GET ANGRY BECAUSE OF THAT THOUGH! Manga's are translated by volunteers, and not very much people speak both English and Japanese well enough to translate them. If your bothered by it, join such a group! They are always looking for new members! Also editors and cleaners are needed!).

If you are too lazy to read, of most mangas there is an anime to watch ;)

If you consider reading manga pay attention! Manga is written from right to left!

some terms:

Shoujo= Manga for mostly teenage girls (it can be very childish, it can be really mature)

Shounen= Manga for mostly teenage boys (example: Naruto )

Josei= Manga for older women (the manga site says: late teenage and adult audiences, this is usually because the characters in the manga are not in high school anymore, this doesn't mean it's not fun to read if you are younger)

Seinen= Manga for older men (also for late teenage and adult audiences, also usually fun to read if you're younger)

School life= is sometimes quite interesting because the japanese school life seems very different than what I am used to

Shoujoai= girls love

Shounenai= boys love

Yuri = let's just say: the more advanced version of girls love

Yaoi= the more advanced version of boys love

Manga Tuesdays; Kagen No Tsuki

Manga:  Kagen no tsuki (last quarter)

Written by:  Ai Yazawa

Genres: Mystery, shoujo, supernatural, romance

Volumes:  3

Anime: no, though there is a movie (I think Hyde plays in it)

own/ library/ borrowed/ read online

read online via the sites: www.manga.animea.net and www.mangareader.com

completed/ ongoing

publisher:  Shueisha

Summary:

Mizuki is a girl who wants to run away from her life. As she smiles at everything sad that happens to her, her soul becomes heavier day by day. Her escape door is Adam, an English singer. But is he really real, or is everything they have been through just a dream? Adam sees his dead Japanese girlfriend in Mizuki, but strangely, nobody, apart from a girl who met her at the gates of heaven, can see Mizuki. This is a story that takes place somewhere between dream and reality.

source: http://www.mangareader.net/1409/kagen-no-tsuki.html

Review:

This is Adam, since he wasn't in the upper
picture and he is just too beautiful to not be
in this post, I decided to put him here =)

I really love this manga. Ai Yazawa's art is so beautiful and I really love the story line as well. Mizuki is easy to relate with and the kids who decide to help Mizuki are really cute and fun with their child problems. But my favourite character in this manga is still Adam. He is so handsome and broken, just amazing. I also love the way the manga is written. There is one poem in it I really love so I will write it down here =) :

'Like the fading moon,

Ruining the darkness,

Paling these lips.

I sing something

I pray something

As I lose the sun

That is you.'

It's probably even more beautiful if you can relate to the story. The story makes some unexpected twists and is sometimes quite sad, though it has a (bit too) happy ending (for me). Still awesome manga, but since it's Ai Yazawa, I wouldn't expect any different from her.

Rating:

5 stars

Some things about manga for non-manga readers :P :

Manga is a Japanese cartoon or comic. There are lots of them in all kind of different genres (really from porn to manga for little girls). Of most mangas there is a new chapter released every month, so that's why some are ongoing (it also can be that the translation group is a bit slow. DON'T EVER GET ANGRY BECAUSE OF THAT THOUGH! Manga's are translated by volunteers, and not very much people speak both English and Japanese well enough to translate them. If your bothered by it, join such a group! They are always looking for new members! Also editors and cleaners are needed!).

If you are too lazy to read, of most mangas there is an anime to watch ;)

If you consider reading manga pay attention! Manga is written from right to left!

some terms:

Shoujo= Manga for mostly teenage girls (it can be very childish, it can be really mature)

Shounen= Manga for mostly teenage boys (example: Naruto )

Josei= Manga for older women (the manga site says: late teenage and adult audiences, this is usually because the characters in the manga are not in high school anymore, this doesn't mean it's not fun to read if you are younger)

Seinen= Manga for older men (also for late teenage and adult audiences, also usually fun to read if you're younger)

School life= is sometimes quite interesting because the japanese school life seems very different than what I am used to

Shoujoai= girls love

Shounenai= boys love

Yuri = let's just say: the more advanced version of girls love

Yaoi= the more advanced version of boys love

Some things about Manhwa for non-manga readers :P :

Manga Tuesdays; Usagi Drop

Manga: Usagi drop

Written by: Unita Yumi

Genres: Drama, Josei

Volumes:  9

Anime: Yes, and it's seem really nice, I really got caught up watching it, sorry, it makes that this release is even later :P O, and there seems to be a movie as well :)

own/ library/ borrowed/ read online

read online via the sites: www.manga.animea.net and www.mangareader.com

completed/ ongoing

publisher: Yen Press

NOTE: I just wanted to let u guys know, I'm open for requests!

Summary:Going home for his grandfather’s funeral, thirty-year-old bachelor Daikichi is floored to discover that the old man had an illegitimate child with a younger lover! The rest of his family is equally shocked and embarrassed by this surprise development, and not one of them wants anything to do with the silent little girl, Rin. In a fit of angry spontaneity, Daikichi decides to take her in himself! But will living with this overgrown teenager of man help Rin come out of her shell? And hang on, won’t this turn of events spell doom for Daikichi’s love life?!http://www.mangareader.net/1618/usagi-drop.html

Review:

Well the first half of the story is really cute and lot of fun. It just about Rin and Daikichi and there 'little adventures' (< those quotation marks make it seem very wrong, I'm sorry about that). Anyway Daikichi is really fun to read about, as he makes al kind of mistakes, but slowly starts to act like a parent.

The second half of the story is about when Rin is in High School and a little spoiler, she falls in love with Daikichi. That's like falling in love with your dad... IT'S JUST GROSS OKAY! Anyway, it's also about the love that blooms between one of her childhood friends and her, and you may read it yourself to see who she ends up with.

It was really nice to read, very calming and fun to read. At least the first half. The art was very pretty and all characters are very enjoyable. The second half is a bit disturbing,  but if you get over that, it's still good, though I liked the first part waaaaay better :)

Rating:

3.5

Some things about manga for non-manga readers :P :

Manga is a Japanese cartoon or comic. There are lots of them in all kind of different genres (really from porn to manga for little girls). Of most mangas there is a new chapter released every month, so that's why some are ongoing (it also can be that the translation group is a bit slow. DON'T EVER GET ANGRY BECAUSE OF THAT THOUGH! Manga's are translated by volunteers, and not very much people speak both English and Japanese well enough to translate them. If your bothered by it, join such a group! They are always looking for new members! Also editors and cleaners are needed!).

If you are too lazy to read, of most mangas there is an anime to watch ;)

If you consider reading manga pay attention! Manga is written from right to left!

some terms:

Shoujo= Manga for mostly teenage girls (it can be very childish, it can be really mature)

Shounen= Manga for mostly teenage boys (example: Naruto )

Josei= Manga for older women (the manga site says: late teenage and adult audiences, this is usually because the characters in the manga are not in high school anymore, this doesn't mean it's not fun to read if you are younger)

Seinen= Manga for older men (also for late teenage and adult audiences, also usually fun to read if you're younger)

School life= is sometimes quite interesting because the japanese school life seems very different than what I am used to

Shoujoai= girls love

Shounenai= boys love

Yuri = let's just say: the more advanced version of girls love

Yaoi= the more advanced version of boys love

Manga Tuesdays; Lying Mii-kun and broken Maa-chan: Precious Lies

Manga: Lying Mii-kun and broken Maa-chan: Precious Lies

Written by:  author: Iruma Hiruma

                         Artist: Satou Atsunori

Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Romance, Seinen, Slice of Life, Tragedy

Volumes:  1,  5 chapters

Anime: no

own/ library/ borrowed/ read online

read online via the sites: www.mangareader.com

completed/ ongoing

publisher: Kadokawa

Summary:        
The setting is a rural city in which kidnapping and series of murders are happening simultaneously. Eight years ago, a boy and a girl were kidnapped and suffered through the hands of their perpetrator. The victims, the compulsive liar "Mii-kun" (the narrator), and "Maa-chan" (Misono Mayu) reunite and start living together, despite the fact that the recently reported missing children were within Mayu's apartment...source: http://www.mangareader.net/lying-mii-kun-and-broken-maa-chan-precious-lies

Review:

Oh, how I love this manga.... Though it's just 5 chapters long, I could read it three times without getting bored of it, because it's quite complicated and I just understood it the second time I read it. Now I believe I've already read it like five times, just because I love it's wickedness :D

I actually want to tell a lot more about this story but since it's a mystery I will spoil it...  anyway in this manga there are a lot of surprising events, lots of people are not who you think they are and even in the last few pages the story is a twist. I really would recommend reading it at least twice because it's cool to see the hidden like 'messages'.  

I think I also really loved it since it includes three of my favourite genres (tragedy, psychological, romance, though the romance is lacking) especially the psychological part is really good in this manga.

The art is also very nice, quite simple, more like most animes are drawn, but I think it fits the story and I like it more than in most mangas with seinen.

For the ones who are into it, it also contains a bit of blood and stuff, not too much, but what do you expect for a manga of 5 chapters.

Overall it's really good, you should just go and read it :D

Rating:

5 stars

Some things about manga for non-manga readers :P :

Manga is a Japanese cartoon or comic. There are lots of them in all kind of different genres (really from porn to manga for little girls). Of most mangas there is a new chapter released every month, so that's why some are ongoing (it also can be that the translation group is a bit slow. DON'T EVER GET ANGRY BECAUSE OF THAT THOUGH! Manga's are translated by volunteers, and not very much people speak both English and Japanese well enough to translate them. If your bothered by it, join such a group! They are always looking for new members! Also editors and cleaners are needed!).

If you are too lazy to read, of most mangas there is an anime to watch ;)

If you consider reading manga pay attention! Manga is written from right to left!

some terms:

Shoujo= Manga for mostly teenage girls (it can be very childish, it can be really mature)

Shounen= Manga for mostly teenage boys (example: Naruto )

Josei= Manga for older women (the manga site says: late teenage and adult audiences, this is usually because the characters in the manga are not in high school anymore, this doesn't mean it's not fun to read if you are younger)

Seinen= Manga for older men (also for late teenage and adult audiences, also usually fun to read if you're younger)

School life= is sometimes quite interesting because the japanese school life seems very different than what I am used to

Shoujoai= girls love

Shounenai= boys love

Yuri = let's just say: the more advanced version of girls love

Yaoi= the more advanced version of boys love