Ichigo Jikan

Brief Storyline:
A girl (15 years old) goes to her new school and discovers that the dorm she was supposed to be staying in is under renovation and she has nowhere to stay. After some begging, the school admin gives her the key to an apartment, which she later discovers is where the Chairman (aged 16 yrs!) stays...

As some have already commented, the guy looks like he's around 20 and the girl looks pubescent. The story is quite basic shojo fare and I think if you have read enough shojo you would know what to expect to happen from page one onwards. The guy, despite his cold tsundere look, is actually pretty decent to her. She, on the other hand, is somewhat ditzy but still bearable. She is also supposed to be rather smart, where studies are concerned.

The storyline is a bit confusing at the end where new elements are added in a rush. There are some bits of other plot concerning the guy's competition as Chairman of the school.

Possible Spoiler
The mom is rather silly though IMHO. Actually, her words of encouragement for them to "get it on" were a bit of a put off to me. I mean, she was like meeting that guy for the first time and there was no guarantee he would take any responsibility.

Spoiler (highlight to read)

Also think it would have been nicer if she had actually been proposed to, rather than have the guy tell the whole world that they were getting married without even asking her first.

Storyline: C+
Art: B+
Recommended? Suspend disbelief and just enjoy the art and some sweet moments between the two.

Emma

Manga complete. by MORI Kaoru

Brief Summary: Rich guy falls for maid, and of course society is against it.

Maybe I shouldn't be reviewing this one since I stopped at two chapters, but I just wanted to note down the disinterest (altho to be fair I know this title has a lot of fans and it isn't that the artwork is bad per se, just that the drawing style isn't really the type I like and the storyline was just so flat).

In the first chapter you have the guy falling for the girl already, without exchanging more than ten words (erm, I didn't actually count). Ok ok, so bash me over the head, that's how shojos go right (is this a shojo?)? But the next thing you know, the guy's friend comes (chapter 2 if I'm not wrong) and falls for her too, without even saying a word this time. What gives? Scratch head.

My Rating:
Hmmm...I think I can't qualify to give a rating, as mentioned above. But I would say I'm not reading anymore (that should give you a hint).

On the other hand, I've read many people's comments about how they are fans of her work and this series, so perhaps there is something I'm missing. Also, her art may appeal to some people more than me. I read that this mangaka really does her homework on the eras that she draws.

Actually, she has another one out called Otoyomegatari which I've found quite interesting. The art there is also quite incredible, so it's quite strange that I have such differing views on the two. But at the same time I also find that story quite slow and meandering in a sense.

Hadashi de Bara wo Fume

Manga: Ongoing

Brief Summary: A poor orphan girl who lives with her brother and all the little baby orphans he picks up ends up having to "sell" herself to a rich man (to be his "pretend" wife) when her brother disappears and she is at her wits end trying to make get money to feed the brood.

A few people have already commented that this offering from the author of "Tail of the Moon" will be just another shojo and have even offered up their suspected endings to what is now only a 3 volume complete manga. ;p A few people aren't quite enthused with the girl, who has been described as silly, dumb and unrealistic.

What I really like about this is that the girl is drawn so sweet and cute. The guy is not bad too but of course his character sucks (what'd you expect?) right now so hopefully he'll get better and hopefully the girl, who's innocent and a country bumpkim won't get buillied too much. :)

As this is still in its infancy there isn't much to say yet, but so far so good and will keep following it.

My Rating:
Story: B
Art: B
Recommended? The characters are drawn very pretty so the art itself is quite redeeming. It's actually quite a different feel from her previous works.
Similar to: Hanayomesama wa 16sai

Ouran High School Host Club

Manga: Ongoing
Anime: Season one completed at 26 epis.

Wikipage

Ok, when I first heard about this, it didn't appeal to me, cos well, you know what host clubs are...decided to just have a look at the anime and the first thing was the song - oh my! If you've heard it you know what I mean (heard other reviewers sharing the same sentiments). A friend said she feels embarrassed playing it aloud! Hahahah. In any case, once you get over the theme song, the rest of the story is just as silly and cheesy sometimes, but the characters are quite unique and interesting. There was a review that said at least you can easily tell the difference between the characters (in the manga) and yes, they are very distinct from one another (usually artists tend to draw their characters quite similarly so you can get confused after a while cos there are only so many hairstyles ;p). As the characters are all bishonen (pretty boys) it’s quite easy for the gender bender part whereby the main female character is playing a boy in school.

And finally, we have a girl character who’s not too ditzy but still naïve and quite a block of wood sometimes (so perhaps it boils down to the same thing). She’s also supposed to be very smart. She also doesn’t fall into silliness at the sight of the cute guys.
The format of the manga is also rather easy to follow and the story moves rather easily, though there are a lot of chapters that seem to go off on a tangent, which makes the story now at 12 volumes and still no progress on the main characters' romance. This is yet another reverse harem type.

Personally, I started out not liking Kyoya (the vice prez of the club) very much but as the story progresses I think he’s my favorite character because despite his rather subdued and cold demeanor, he’s actually a very good person who cares deeply for his friends. His actions also bring a lot of balance to the group. Temaki (pres) on the other hand, keep sulking too much.

My Rating:

Story: B

Art: B

Recommended? Purely for entertainment.

Meripuri

Manga: Complete, 4 volumes

Finished Merupuri and managed to get all vols except 1. Sort of bought this on a whim (I didn't even unwrap to look inside!) and discovered quite early on after I bought it that it is a very different genre from the ones I've been reading. I didn't realise that from the synopsis and expected something rather different. Basically the reasons I bought it were that, 1. It was written/drawn by the same author as Vampire Knight, which I quite liked, and 2, it had only four volumes (I was trying to save $$!) ;p ok ok, been telling everyone this (that this is not my usual style) - hmmm..why is that? To justify my read? heheheh One thing's for sure, this is probably one manga my husband would never pick up, though he read most of non shoujo manga.

As a friend says, it's quite a sweet love story, and it moves pretty fast from volume two onwards and most of the plot actually ends in the first part of volume 4 - I think the rest of the last volume was just for the sake of fillers to make one full volume.

The fast pace and short and easy read is good for those who don't like a draggy storyline. There's also a lot of chemistry between the two characters, though I've read at least one review describing the plot as a reverse harem type (i.e. the girl with many admirers). Oh well, it's a fantasy right? ;p

My Rating:
Story: B
Art: A - love the details in the dress, etc. A friend said the bodies of the people are too long, but this is quite typical in a lot of shoujo.Recommended? Ok for a light read, but nothing much in terms of depth. Sweet.

Special A

Manga: Ongoing

Had no special (sorry for the pun) interest in this either, even though I saw it placed on the “featured” shelves of the bookstores. Seemed popular enough. Decided to at least watch one episode and found that it was rather lighthearted and innocent, albeit the characters didn’t seem as interesting or colorful (or rather skewed and tormented?) as those in Ouran High. I think I’m getting hooked on the second opening theme song though. ;p (the others weren't so well done I felt)

The girl is quite spunky and cute, but unfortunately she lacks a bit of depth most times. She is also seen to be ranked second to the guy, Kei (the whole premise of this story actually) and that’s a pity, cos he seems to go so far beyond her despite she being talented and smart. It is hinted that he has natural genious/talent whereas she tries hard. That’s kinda sad in terms of gender equality (but then guess one shouldn’t expect that). In a later episode she even falls to a much lower position/ranking than him at school.

Another difference in this one is that the guy actually likes the girl before vice versa. This means she is not hanging all over him or trying to get his attention romantically all the time. And surprise surprise, despite he being overly calm and collected, I can’t actually classify him as a jerk. The pace of the first few epis was quite slow but the later ones are picking up.

In my opinion the manga is a bit difficult to read and not so clearly laid out. I have stopped following this as it seems these two will just never get together. The romance just doesn't move but stalls and stalls...



My Rating:
Story: B
Art: B
Recommended? There are some interesting elements especially in the later epis.

Author also wrote "You're my Girlfriend" which is a short four chapter read. It's rather silly and unrealistic, because there isn't any endearing reasons for the boy to like the girl so much and do so much.

Bride of the Water God

Manga: Ongoing

My first Korean manga, or rather manhwa. I kept reading it wrong and it should be read from left to right. Only figured that something was wrong after nearly one volume! Hahhaha…

The drawings are nice, as has been consistently reviewed on other sites. I’m constantly wondering how the artist does all those intricate costumes. However, I do find the bodies so long that it becomes too unreal.

The story reminded me so much of Meripuri it’s quite incredible. Take for example, the guy who turns young/old during the day/night, and the forbidding mother, the (initially) reluctant bride, the close rival love interest, magic, etc. etc. etc…But still, perhaps as it’s Korean, there is a different feel to it. A bit draggy and slow so hopefully the future volumes will get going (realized this was the sentiment of Amazon commenters as well). Hopefully it won’t go in the region of 20 volumes either.

My Rating:
Story: B-
Art: B+
Recommended? Let’s see where this goes…

Goong (translated as “Palace”)

Manga: Ongoing
Drama (Princess Hours)

At 18 volumes and still ongoing, I’m not sure if this is going to go on and on forever. I haven’t seen the drama although I’m sure it was probably very popular (and long).

This manhwa has the usual shoujo storyline, involving royalty, but this is where it gets a lot more complex as there is politics involved. Also, the couple is already married though till now it’s pretty much a farce. There are a lot of court rules/etiquette/material and whilst this gives the artist good ideas for the costumes, it also provides a lot of stuff to digest as the dynamics of the couple unfold. This is pretty angsty sometimes and the girl is crying a lot cos she misses home, etc. and the guy is at his meanest and confused best.

The rival plays a significant part and unfortunately (fortunately?) tends to complicate the issue just nicely cos he tends to appear at the most timely (untimely?) situations when the girl and the guy are just about to have a tiff, etc. so he becomes her main confidante and tries to develop her feelings for him that way (like Spiderman my husband would probably say though I don’t know why).

For someone who doesn’t like more than 6-10 volumes, it is a bit long to plough through, esp as the end is not in sight.