Botan24's Manga
take a look at Botan24's Anime| Currently Reading▲▼ |
| A Bride's Story (manga) |
| This is a beautifully drawn story. Holy crap is Mori talented! Every page could be framed and hung on a wall. Hell, every panel could be that way. I wish I cared enough about some subject(s) to give it this much love, scope, detail, and depth. As an amateur artist myself it blows my mind to see someone with way more talent than myself. Quite humbling really. Anyway, I listed this under "currently reading" because it is just coming out over here. Therefore I won't be giving it a rating, but as of now I think its excellent. The story itself, about people and relationships essentially, is appealing in a sweet unassuming way. So far all Mori is doing is showing us the daily lives of a husband and wife who have recently married. Its an arranged marriage so they might not "love" each other, but its definite that they care for one another. Their ages are separated by eight years. Now normally one would think that the wife would be the one who is quite a bit younger (young wives were highly sought because they could produce more children). But this story is refreshing because it is in fact, Amir (the wife) who is older. Karluk, the husband, is only twelve while she is twenty. Now some might find that "disturbing" but considering the time period its not unusual. Also, there is nothing "Lolita" about Amir and Karluk's relationship. They are doing their best to cope with the situation and they are not written to be titillating or taboo. I look forward to volume 2. |
| Dawn of the Arcana (manga) |
| Dengeki Daisy (manga) |
| Ōoku: The Inner Chambers (manga) |
| Very good, and I've only read the first volume. Nice artwork, but not too detailed. One standout piece is the outfit one of the male courtesans wears. Its very striking, but simple. I like the politics in this story, and the overall theme thats eluded to; with women being the majority and men the minority. It's kind of funny to hear a family berating their son for not getting married and siring lots of offspring. That is very much a role reversal. But one that doesn't feel forced or silly. The story has impressed me and I want to read more. |
| (The) Story of Saiunkoku (manga) |
| Something I realized after reading volume 8. Shurei is surrounded by all these handsome, gentlemanly, men. However she's not the typical damsel in distress. These men, while attending to their other duties, are simply standing up for her. However, from the beginning, Shurei was the one who made no bones that she wanted to become a member of court. To work in the palace, not as the Emperor's favorite wife, or some concubine. But Shurei actually wants to put her brains to good use. She see's this as her calling, and goes after it full force. So, while the bishounen in her life support her and help her, it's more through indiscriminate means. There's no danger that Shurei hasn't faced head on, regarding her position in the palace. I really like that. |