Manga or Graphic Novel Mondays: A Bride's Story Volume 5

A Bride's Story Volume 5 by Kaoru Mori
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Pub. Date: September 24th 2013
Pages: 192

Short Sweet Synopsis: The twins are getting married!!! The traditions test the patience of Laila and Leily causing plenty of drama for their mother and their grooms.

A Bride's Story has continued to captivate me since I first started the series. Anyone can appreciate the beauty of the artwork; I just love showing any volume to people who aren't big fans of manga, they are always blown away by the detail Kaoru Mori put into each page. The artwork was enough for me to fall for this series, but I appreciate the detail to the story just as much.

In Volume 5 of A Bride's Story Mori continues with the story of the twins', Laila and Leily; it is now their wedding day! The twins are such great characters because they do such shocking things. They aren't worried about what other people think of them, they are just true to themselves. Sami and Sarm must try to help the girls through the long wedding traditions without getting caught when they break these customs.

One of my favorite aspects of each volume of A Bride's Story is how we see the relationships develop with all of the couples. I love seeing how Laila an Leily interact with Sami and Sarm. Sami and Sarm are pretty reserved so seeing how they handle the rambunctious girls makes me smile.

Another aspect of A Bride's Story is how the reader gets to learn about more of the culture of each village throughout the series. You don't feel overwhelmed with information because of the way Mori adds it in here and there. She also blends the information in smoothly with the storyline, sometimes in surprisingly comical ways, making it feel like part of the story instead of being lectured.

At the end of Volume 5 we do get to see a little more of Amir and Karluk. They are my favorite couple because I am fascinated by how they handle their age difference. I truly appreciate how Mori handles their relationship throughout the series. When I first started the series I worried that it would be creepy, but Mori made them into such a sweet couple you stop worrying about the age difference.

Manga Mondays: XXXHolic

"XXXHolic" Vol. 1
by CLAMP, William Flanagan, Anthony Gerard, Dana Hayward

5

Pages: 208
Pub. Date: April 27th, 2004
Publisher: Del Rey

Synopsis: Watanuki Kimihiro is haunted by visions of ghosts and spirits. Seemingly by chance, he encounters a mysterious witch named Yuuko, who claims she can help. In desperation, he accepts, but realizes that he’s just been tricked into working for Yuuko in order to pay off the cost of her services. Soon he’s employed in her little shop—a job which turns out to be nothing like his previous work experience!

Most of Yuuko’s customers live in Japan, but Yuuko and Watanuki are about to have some unusual visitors named Sakura and Syaoran from a land called Clow. . .

This manga was really awesome.  XXXHolic combines a witch, philosophy, a medium, some annoying children, and a bit of romance to create a fascinating storyline.  Yuuko is really interesting because she is seemingly trying to help people by fulfilling wishes, but her methods seem pretty depraved.  She is a complete seductress, I picture her having a husky voice, and everything from the artwork to the dialogue creates her vibrant character.  Even though Yuuko works Watanuki like a slave, it is pretty funny to see the chores she makes him complete.  It should be annoying that there are two kids mocking Watanuki throughout the manga, but it makes it even more amusing.  Watanuki is just one of those characters you can’t help but love seeing him suffer, even though you want good things for him!

I love the situations that Watanuki finds himself in.  I like the idea that people are pulled around life by a force they can’t describe or even begin to comprehend.  Yuuko spouts all these really interesting philosophies and some seem to even conflict with one another, but it is still really interesting.  I found myself stopping and thinking about what she was saying a couple of times while I was reading, but then I wanted to find out where the philosophy would take them next! 

This manga is very fast paces and I read it in one sitting.  I think it only took me an hour and a half to read it.  I like the fact that it is a crossover by having Sakura and Syaoran crash the story.  I used to watch Cardcaptor Sakura when I was a kid, so I was excited she made an entrance.  I have already started “Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles” to see how the stories intersect!  I definitely recommend this manga to people who enjoy the kooky aspect of manga and people who have a bit of cynicism. 

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Manga Mondays: Fairy Tail Volume 1

Fairy Tail Volume 1

Hiro Mashima

4

Pub. Date: March 25th 2008

Pages: 208

Publisher: Del Rey

Synopsis: THE WICKED SIDE OF WIZARDRY

Cute girl wizard Lucy wants to join the Fairy Tail, a club for the most powerful wizards. But instead, her ambitions land her in the clutches of a gang of unsavory pirates led by a devious magician. Her only hope is Natsu, a strange boy she happens to meet on her travels. Natsu’s not your typical hero–he gets motion sickness, eats like a pig, and his best friend is a talking cat. With friends like this, is Lucy better off with her enemies?

"Fairy Tail" was recommended to me by one of my friends and I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I am happy to report that it was pretty great!  It was a very entertaining mixing comedy with adventure.  I liked the mystery of Fairy Tail and how it seemed like this very posh guild for wizards, but it turns out to be the exact opposite of what I expected- kind of like Natsu.  It is really funny to see the different sides of his character; one minute he is really funny and a bit of a pig, and the next he is a total bad ass.  Natsu's character is complex and it adds some depth to the story.  Lucy is a fun character because she is pretty shy, but she doesn't run screaming from fights.  I really enjoyed learning about Fairy Tail and other wizards with her.  Happy, the talking cat is priceless and I couldn't help but adore him. 

The artwork was perfect for the tone of the manga.  It was a good balance between goofy and violent depending on the scene.  The characters' expressions were fantastic and added to the humor.  Lucy did have the stereotypical ginormous breasts that all graphic novel females seem to possess, but I liked her character too much to let this annoy me too much.

I definitely would recommend this manga.  It was fun to read, fast paced, and kind of kooky- just like good manga should be!  I think this series would appeal to males and females.  The story line is full of action and some of the characters are kind of rough, but Lucy is a great female character that will charm any reader.  I'd say more about "Fairy Tail", but it would get kind of repetitive.  Just read it!

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Manga Mondays: Mushishi

Mushishi Vol. 1
Yuki Urushibara

5

Publisher: Del Rey
Pub. Date: January 30, 2007
Pages: 240

Synopsis: THEY HAVE EXISTED SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME.

Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. Shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze, these deadly creatures, mushi, came into terrifying being. And they still exist and wreak havoc in the world today. Ginko, a young man with a sardonic smile, has the knowledge and skill to save those plagued by mushi . . . perhaps.

I loved this manga. I haven't read a whole lot of manga and most of what I have read has been shojo, so this was very refreshing. The plot about mushi that live in human hosts affecting them in different, many times horrifying, ways is very unique. Even though this isn't going to be as action packed as other manga, the tension builds in a way that keeps our interest peeked. The horrors of the mushi are enhanced by the artwork, I don't know if words would have the same effect in describing the ways that the mushi take control of their hosts. Each encounter with a mushi is different and not all have happy endings. Some mushi are thought of as a blessing while others destroy their human hosts.

If these terrifying creatures aren't enough to pique your interest then maybe the character Ginko will. Ginko is one of the only remaining mushishi, people who know the techniques and tricks to assisting with mushi. He travels around helping people and learning more stories about the mushi. He is pretty quiet, but is very compassionate with the people he helps. It is interesting to see his interactions with the mushi because he seems to respect and possibly admire the creatures. Ginko comes up with some interesting techniques to helping people with their mushi problems.

I really like how the mushi are such mythical beings. All the myths and fables behind them made the world that Yuki Urushibara created feel real. Even though "Mushishi" is overall a very serious manga, it still had heartwarming and hilarious moments. The complexity that the mushi and Ginko bring to the book combined with the haunting artwork creates a wonderful graphic novel. I will definitely be reading more in the series. Both males and females will be able to enjoy "Mushishi".

I first saw Manga Mondays on Alison's blog Alison Can Read.

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