Latest booktore visit

Went to the bookstore to look for Ichigo Jikan (草莓时间) which I remember seeing before (now wondering if I saw wrongly as baka updates says there are zero volumes out?? But really thot I saw it cos I remember thinking the girl looks like a elementary schoolgirl...sidetracking) and ended up with Watashi no + Okusuri (baka updates link) (我的爱情魔药) because the cover was somewhat cuter than the rest of the limited stuff there. I didn't even know the Japanese title and had to google for it. Cos the Chinese title is just "My love potion". I was wondering where the other volumes are, but came to realise it's complete at one volume. I'll write a review once I complete it. Hopefully the impulse buy will prove to be interesting, but I should really stop buying on impulse!

Kitchen Princess

Brief Summary: An orphan girl who's very talented in cooking/baking enrolls in a school for chefs to find the boy that saved her from drowning many years ago.

I don't know if I could give a proper review of this seeing as how I read vols 3 and 5 and skipped all else. I couldn't resist and wiki'd it before I started and realised that there's something that happens later I'm not quite sure I like but it's just a personal preference cos I'm such a sucker for happy endings.

The drawing is very cute and sweet and plus, all the characters' eyes are drawn in (ok, another personal preference. ;p). However, the art doesn't go into details and is not very intricate. Besides the pastries, details on clothes and backgrounds are close to nil. In fact, if you notice, most of the panes have no backgrounds at all, except some splotches. But then again, quite a few manga series don't have backgrounds. The two main male characters are cute, but could be twins if not for the difference in hair color. Generally, probably because they are around 14 years old, the characters look very young and child-like. They are the very typical Jap anime/manga cutesies.

The story is quite simple up to vol.5 but I read from the author's notes that from there onwards, she is heading it in another direction. I can't give more details without spoiling but there is a major happening in Vol. 5 that may take the overall story a notch up in complication.

The recipes of the pastries/cakes/etc that are featured in the story are found at the back of the book, together with a few pages preview of the next volume, the latter albeit in Japanese.

I don't have the urge to finish this at the moment.

My Rating:
Story: B-
Art: B+
Recommended? Very simple, sweet story of a girl and two cute boys.

More info:
Wikipedia
Vol. 4 Review and Vol. 6 Review at Comics Worth Reading
Vol. 4 Review at Manga Life


Visit the forum to discuss this!

Beauty Pop

Ongoing Manga

Thought this would be a bit different as there is some refreshing storyline about the girl having some talent (hairdressing), but in the end, I don't think I'll continue to follow this as they just keep showing episodic makeovers of different people in different situations, and there isn't much interaction between the girl and the guy and if you're looking for romance it's kinda disappointing when you don't find any after a few chapters. Ok, so I didn't finish this so perhaps it gets better. Those who read it will have to enlighten me cos I'm dropping this from my reading list until I get really bored/free.

My Rating:
Story: C-
Art: B-
Recommended? As far as the first two volumes or so goes, I don't think so.

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.