Category: Reviews

Novel Review: Leo the African by Amin Maalouf

Leo the AfricanLeo the African 

by Amin Maalouf

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was assigned this as reading for a university class… and truthfully of all the books, I was dreading this the most. But so far, of all the books, it’s the one I’ve enjoyed the most. It was a brilliantly written story based on the true-life adventures of Hasan Al-Wazzan. It seems even more remarkable coming off the previous assigned reading which I was looking forward to the most but may be one of the worst books I’ve ever read. Anyways, I liked this book so much that when I’m finished with my degree and am back to “reading for pleasure” I will definitely be picking this up again.

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Novel Review: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

Don QuixoteDon Quixote

by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Maybe it’s because I had to read this in a hurry (for an exam this week) but what can I say — it was tedious. It has always been on my “to read” shelf, and I’m glad to have read it (I’ve always been curious about the windmill scene) but book 1… *yawn* I literally fell asleep half-way into it. I do NOT fall asleep when I read! And personally I DO NOT have time to take naps before my exam! “Cervantes!!!” *shakes fist*

I just couldn’t get into the language, the episodic plot, and the ridiculous protagonist. There’s something about when characters don’t listen to “reason” that really gets under my skin, and I stop paying attention. I ended up skimming through the rest of the the first book (and found a summary online). I hope that’ll be enough to pass my exam. *crosses fingers*

I will admit though, that there were a few moments [in book 1] that made me chuckle. Particularly situations surrounding Sancho (Don Quixote’s squire). The best was when Don Quixote seeing a number of travelers including 2 cloaked friars, believing them to be kidnapping a Damsel in distress, intends to save her. Sancho says to himself, “this is going to be worse than the windmills”. Classic.

The second book was a significant improvement from the silliness of the first (or, maybe because I was well-rested when I read it): actual plot, intelligent conversation, and character development. I may try giving this another chance when I don’t have to read it in such a hurry. It may help to get through the first book knowing that the second book will hold my interest better.

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Manga Review: Red River by Chie Shinohara

Red River, Vol. 1 (Red River, #1)Red River, Vol. 1

by Chie Shinohara

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The unlikely story of Yuri, a Japanese teenager pulled back in time to the 14th century BC by the Tawannana (empress) of the Hittite Empire. Stuck between wanting to return to her home in Japan, and staying to help the man she loves, Yuri becomes Ishtar the goddess of war and has the romantic adventure of a life-time.

This makes it into my top 10 manga (there may be more than 10 in the list, but… this is one of them). An absolute must read. It’s intensely romantic, terribly tragic, and perfectly satisfying. It’s easy to sympathize with the characters being both a well-developed story, and a well translated one. And, such fun when some famous characters from Ancient Anatolia & Egypt are thrown in the mix.

I’ve read it every year (at least once), and the only thing I regret is how much sleep I lose when I’m at it! I really should consider taking a week off of work to dedicate myself to this epic series. I just can’t stop reading when I get started!

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Manga Review: Magical x Miracle by Yuzu Mizutani

Magical X Miracle, Vol. 1 (Magical x Miracle, #1)Magical X Miracle, Vol. 1

by Yuzu Mizutani

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s not my normal genre, fitting somewhere between shoujo, fantasy, magic, and adventure. I’ve enjoyed it on several occasions. It has enough character development to be satisfying, and few enough of the usual scenarios to keep my interest. Nice and sweet. And, as my usual pattern, will probably read it again this year.

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Quick Review: Beauty is the Beast by Tomo Matsumoto

Beauty is the Beast, Vol. 1Beauty is the Beast, Vol. 1

by Tomo Matsumoto

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is one of my favourite shoujo series (considering how much I read, says a lot for it). I love Matsumoto’s delicate art style combined with a story relatively devoid of angst (at least on the girl’s side). Eimi is the perfect protagonist fully-formed; she already knows exactly who she is. And it’s this characterization which becomes the catalyst for Wanibuchi’s own self-revelation.

It’s lightly funny, lightly romantic, and mostly just a slice-of-high-school-living-in-dorms-kind-of-life. It’s perfection!

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Manga Review: Samurai Champloo by Masaru Gotsubo

Samurai Champloo, Volume 2Samurai Champloo, Volume 2

by Masaru Gotsubo

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I don’t put high expectations on manga that are based on other sources…

Especially when those original stories are as undeveloped as video game and anime plots. This is the latter. It seems unfare to judge the manga harshly because I’ve watched the original work — which I thought was brilliant, btw. Truthfully, what I found great in the animation doesn’t hold up in the manga, and that’s the dynamism of the fight scenes. Yes, the fighting is exciting here, but it misses that glorious hip hop vibe… the humour and amazement of “break-dance-fighting.

However, I don’t think the manga can really be separated from the anime. Without it, it becomes an incomplete humorous and uninteresting story about random people who meet and form a shallow bond that involves travel and fighting. There’s no depth of character, or actual plot. It’s just barely a story. it must be read with a complete understanding of the original form to be enjoyed… It’s almost like these short vignettes were storyboarded for the anime, but just didn’t quite make the cut… So they decided to use their scraps to write a quick manga.

Obviously, I’m not super impressed. But, I still give it a high ranking because the anime is that worthwhile. If you’re going to read this… Also plan to watch it at some point. Otherwise, in my opinion, you’ll just be wasting time.

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Quick Review: Boys Over Flowers by Yoko Kamio

Boys Over Flowers: Hana Yori Dango, Vol. 1 (Boys Over Flowers, #1)Boys Over Flowers: Hana Yori Dango, Vol. 1

by Yōko Kamio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tsukushi is a poor girl, from a poor family… and her family has placed her (at great expense) in the most prestigious high school in Japan, in the hopes that she’ll make great connections to benefit her in the future. The student body is made up of kids from Japan’s most powerful families, including the F4 who rank heads above the rest. Not only are they obnoxiously rich, but they are beautiful too. Doumyouji leads the group — and cows the student body with extreme bullying tactics. He sets the entire student body against anyone who “displeases” him. Tsukushi finds herself on the other side of the student body… and becomes a weed that just won’t be trampled.

It’s the classic pride & prejudiced story, modernized, and with a few twists. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch. But, I’d take Doumyouji anyday over Mr. Darcy. This series can get a bit arduous at times, with tsukushi’s pride being a major stumbling point for the couple’s relationship. But, it’s still one of my favourite series to date, to the point that I’ve even bought the Japanese role-playing/dating game (among other things).

p.s. Doumyouji really hates it when you tickle him under the chin. Just saying. (。_゜)

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Manga Review: Princess Prince by Tomoko Taniguchi

Princess PrincePrincess Prince

by Tomoko Taniguchi

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I love Taniguchi’s other series which usually involve a sweet/doe-eyed girl falling in-love with a relatively cute “metal-head”. The stories are sweet to a fault — and I love that!

This story too is beyond sweet and has the same style of pacing and art. But has the fantasy element of magical kingdoms, angel-birds, and prophecies.

I bought this without reading the synopsis and I probably should have. All I was thinking is that I own all her other works, and I found this volume for a decent price online. It completes my collection of Taniguchi in-English.

I gave it a fairly low rating, which I wasn’t expecting to have to do. This story was ordered in a peculiar way (was this taniguchi, or the English editor?). The side stories and other short stories were splayed intermittent between the main “Princess Prince” chapters. Usually this stuff is collected and put at the end of a volume, which works much better. Also, I frankly just miss the metal heads…

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