While the artwork is enchanting, the graphic version assumes that you have read the original novel by Rick Riordan. So the swooping summaries of many While the artwork is enchanting, the graphic version assumes that you have read the original novel by Rick Riordan. So the swooping summaries of many key events may be a bit confusing, either if you are a new reader or have read the series a very, very, very long time ago. As I come under the latter category, it took me a while to gather the spool of the narration. But I do remember how much I had loved and fawned over the original work.
In conclusion, beautifully illustrated but I prefer the big, chonky novel to it's graphic novel descendent....more
The year is 2017, and as Takemichi Hanagaki, a go-nowhere adult watches the news in his shabby apartment, he learns that the city’s disreputably powerThe year is 2017, and as Takemichi Hanagaki, a go-nowhere adult watches the news in his shabby apartment, he learns that the city’s disreputably powerful Tokyo Manji Group’s latest conflict has led to civilian casualties. And one of the deceased is 26-year-old Hinata Tachibana. Takemichi is shocked because Hinata was his middle-school girlfriend back in the day. As he is coming to terms with all the things going south in his life, Takemichi has a near-death experience and is transported back to 2005 : his middle-school year.
Various events lead Takemichi to realize that this time-leap might just help him prevent Hinata’s death in the future. But to do so, he will have to make tectonic shifts in his delinquent, cowardly school persona and face all the demons head on.
Okay, I did not expect to like this book. Adult or middle-school Takemichi is not exactly a likeable character and the school bullying and bloody violence were unsavory to boot. But as you reluctantly plod on, the plot picks up. In Hinata’s loyal, brave and cheerful presence, we see Takemichi in a different light. Takemichi’s almost-suicidal bravery to change the course of time is painful but oddly heartwarming to watch. Powerful characters promise to pave or shake the way for future mayhem and I want to know if and how Takemichi will be successful.
The villains, even in their fledging state, are drawn with flair and simmering menace and have an undeniable presence as you know they will be the future kingpins who will wreak havoc in Tokyo and be the architects of Hinata’s fate.
Book 1 sets the stage effectively and I want to know what happens next.
Merged review:
The year is 2017, and as Takemichi Hanagaki, a go-nowhere adult watches the news in his shabby apartment, he learns that the city’s disreputably powerful Tokyo Manji Group’s latest conflict has led to civilian casualties. And one of the deceased is 26-year-old Hinata Tachibana. Takemichi is shocked because Hinata was his middle-school girlfriend back in the day. As he is coming to terms with all the things going south in his life, Takemichi has a near-death experience and is transported back to 2005 : his middle-school year.
Various events lead Takemichi to realize that this time-leap might just help him prevent Hinata’s death in the future. But to do so, he will have to make tectonic shifts in his delinquent, cowardly school persona and face all the demons head on.
Okay, I did not expect to like this book. Adult or middle-school Takemichi is not exactly a likeable character and the school bullying and bloody violence were unsavory to boot. But as you reluctantly plod on, the plot picks up. In Hinata’s loyal, brave and cheerful presence, we see Takemichi in a different light. Takemichi’s almost-suicidal bravery to change the course of time is painful but oddly heartwarming to watch. Powerful characters promise to pave or shake the way for future mayhem and I want to know if and how Takemichi will be successful.
The villains, even in their fledging state, are drawn with flair and simmering menace and have an undeniable presence as you know they will be the future kingpins who will wreak havoc in Tokyo and be the architects of Hinata’s fate.
Book 1 sets the stage effectively and I want to know what happens next....more
And just when our wolf-boy Yu decides to stop letting his traumatic past overshadow his future and reciprocate Komuki’s love�.Kuro Yata, the three-legAnd just when our wolf-boy Yu decides to stop letting his traumatic past overshadow his future and reciprocate Komuki’s love�.Kuro Yata, the three-legged crow, powerful Ayakashi and Sensei to Yu and his friends throws a spanner into the budding romance.
With a tantalizing twist, this short yet endearing manga draws to a satisfying conclusion. Tsundere Fox-Boy Fushimi continues to be my favourite, but the highlight of this volume was the melancholic yet heartwarming insight into our two-tailed cat Senri’s past. Our feline-boy needs a big, reassuring hug because he truly is the sweetest.
The town delinquent, Morio Kurokawa (who goes by the moniker Black Panther) has an intimidating aura, a knife-scar on his face that makes him look unaThe town delinquent, Morio Kurokawa (who goes by the moniker Black Panther) has an intimidating aura, a knife-scar on his face that makes him look unapproachable, and has never lost a fight. But he falls like the proverbial pack of cards after his encounter with the visually-impaired Yukiko Akaza. The Panther melts into a lovable golden retriever who wants to do everything he can to make the self-possessed Yukiko traverse through life with as few hinderances as possible. The startled Yukiko, in turn, ironically enough, sees the kind-hearted boy behind the façade of his menacing appearance.
This hilarious yet thought-provoking manga turned out to be such an excellent read! The interactions between the ever-blushing delinquent and the restrained but equally enchanted Yukiko make you smile with such fond affection. Add to that, the manga has a truly brilliant ensemble cast which includes Kurokawa’s gang-leader rival and the Bengal Tigress that is Yukiko’s elder sister. Nobody is as they seem, and unfurling the layers of every character just made my reader-heart brim with so much love for all of them.
The creator manages to explain the lives of differently-abled people and senior citizens, their struggles, their frustrations and their hopes without ever coming across as preachy or pedantic. And they also dwell upon the mind-set of the caretaker, which often gets quelled under the mantle of responsibility and humanity.
As for our gangster hero, I have unofficially adopted Kurokawa as my manga book-son, because this mad, chaotic, caring, hardworking, intuitive, golden-hearted lad would make any parent proud. The boy is the greenest of green flags, and his determination, unwavering loyalty, and those crippling blushing bouts make me want to protect his goodness with all my heart.
Set in an alternative 1940’s world where Gods who were slumbering, now rise to wreak havoc and destruction, two young reporters Iris Winnow and Roman Set in an alternative 1940’s world where Gods who were slumbering, now rise to wreak havoc and destruction, two young reporters Iris Winnow and Roman Kitt are playing out the classic enemies-to-lovers trope as they fight for a promotion at their workplace: The Oath Gazette.
The two bicker constantly and are poles apart, but only in terms of their social status. Beneath Iris� tart tongue and sassy quips, lies the worry of no news from a brother who has gone off to war while their mother has taken to the bottle. Under Kitt’s elite, polished exterior lies the pressures of a demanding father and a burdensome guilt that he has carried from his childhood.
When a lonely Iris starts writing letters to her missing brother and slips it under her wardrobe door, they vanish, only to return with a response.
You must have guessed who Iri’s mystery pen pal is and what could have been a soft romance soon mushrooms into something deeper, stronger, and even heartbreaking, as the two soon find themselves in the eye of the ongoing war.
I am reading a YA Fantasy after a very long time, and the only thing that drew me towards it was the possibility of two gifted writers falling in love with each other through their words.
And boy…the words. The wonderful, eloquent, heart-wrenching words.
Iris and Roman’s letters are works of art. Just teetering but never plunging into the abyss of shmaltzy cringe, they are filled with longing, pain, loneliness, the tiny tendrils of finding a soulmate who gets the scruffiest, most jumbled up corners of your heart, the banter, the written laughter and the promise of a love that will, if compelled, take on even the Gods.
I want to know what happens in the sequel but for me, this book which was just an appetizer for the real action to come, was more about the beautifully penned words. When writers fall in love, their verbal and written exchanges better be rich in meaning and nuanced implications. And boy, Rebecca Ross makes their conversations sparkle and shine, even as an imaginary typewriter ribbon spools away with languid grace.
Forget the story, I fell in love with the words of this book....more
With the adorable second-lead professing his love for our heroine, the newly hatched relationship between Yoi and Ichimura hits yet another roadblock.With the adorable second-lead professing his love for our heroine, the newly hatched relationship between Yoi and Ichimura hits yet another roadblock.
Honestly, I did not enjoy this volume so much. Yoi apparently being scandalized every time Ichimura asks her out is growing old fast. And it jars even more when she easily agrees to go out with the handsome Ohji on the one free day that she had during her self-imposed packed summer break schedule. To then express anger over Ichimura’s expected insecurities felt very foreign to the kind of personality that I had come to associate with the fair and straightforward Yoi.
Ichimura may have been a callous love-and-leave-‘em kind of entitled rich boy. But watching him trying to handle Yoi’s inscrutable moods pains me a bit because I feel he is the only one wanting to change for the better.
I do hope this series improves because I genuinely loved the premise and would hate to see it become a predictable, blithering mess of teen hormones. ...more
Yoi and Ichimura are finally dating, much to the delight of their friends. But when Ichimura asks Yoi to accompany him to a two-day trip to Kobe, she Yoi and Ichimura are finally dating, much to the delight of their friends. But when Ichimura asks Yoi to accompany him to a two-day trip to Kobe, she panics and invites her giggly but loyal girls along. Ofcourse, Ichimura’s friends are also on for the unexpected treat and soon, the newly forged group are off to a tourist’s paradise.
But will this yet again hinder the growing intimacy between Yoi and Ichimura?
This series is such an easy read, and yet, it handles the changing dynamics of our two main leads� relationship with intuitive grace. The push and pull between Yoi’s low self-esteem and natural shyness, and Ichimura’s hitherto callousness that is slowly shifting as he realizes that Yoi is someone very special to him is endearing to watch. ...more
As the two Princes continue to wade through the dating waters, they both realize that their feelings may run deeper than they thought. And when a new As the two Princes continue to wade through the dating waters, they both realize that their feelings may run deeper than they thought. And when a new handsome entrant arrives on the scene (giving us some serious second-lead-syndrome), Yoi and Ichimura will have to decide exactly how invested they are in each other.
This has become my no-fuss, feel-good, comfort-read. I am way beyond the age of feeling high-school, first-love flutters but there is still something endearing about Yoi’s blush-fest whenever the supposedly shallow Ichimura makes a deep statement or unexpectedly possessive gesture.
Being aware of the comet’s impending arrival and its disastrous outcome for the rural town of Itomori, Taki starts setting his disaster-evasion plan iBeing aware of the comet’s impending arrival and its disastrous outcome for the rural town of Itomori, Taki starts setting his disaster-evasion plan into action. He wants to save the girl he has been swapping bodies with but never met, and all the people that he has inadvertently grown closer too, when he was in Mitsuha’s body.
Will the race against time, fate, and the unexplained magic work?
And will Taki and Mitsuha finally meet or be separated forever?
All this and much more are answered in Your Name 3, the concluding novel. The series had a wonderful premise and I was quite invested. However, I wished for more from the finale. Then again, keeping in mind, the ephemeral bond between the two body swappers, maybe this is exactly how it should have ended…a hint of a forever-after with no need to explore it further. ...more
Rural high-school girl Mitsuha and Tokyo high-school boy Taki were, by some strange magic at work, switching bodies. While the two were initially shocRural high-school girl Mitsuha and Tokyo high-school boy Taki were, by some strange magic at work, switching bodies. While the two were initially shocked, they had soon fallen into a kind of resigned acceptance and were enjoying each other’s lives, whenever the switch happened.
And then suddenly, the body-swap stops. And Taki feels lost and adrift. He has unexpectedly formed a bond with Mitsuha, and wants to know why this connection has suddenly broken.
Relying only on his memories, and his flair for drawing, Taki will return to Mitsuha’s small, isolated town, Itomori. He hopes to meet her and understand why this remarkable phenomenon occurs. But what awaits him will be more startling than he ever imagined.
Book 2 is a slow, introspective filler that sets the pace for what will undoubtedly be a tantalizing finale. The story tends to get a bit confusing at times, and you need to have a smidgen of patience to connect the threads. But it is a thrilling tale, and the artwork is exquisite.
MinaLima is my official hero of January 2024. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was always a powerful read, but it has been adequately gilded byMinaLima is my official hero of January 2024. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was always a powerful read, but it has been adequately gilded by the studio’s illustrations, interactive pop-up elements, and their unerring ability to jolt the slumbering hearts of hibernating Potterheads.
Whether it is Harry’s disastrous first attempt at using Floo Powder, or the crotchety Whomping Willow unleashing its ire, or the Mandrake plant baby which you can actually pull out from its pot, or pompous Gilderoy Lockhart’s narcissism in full display all over his office room, or the painful Polyjuice Potion transformation, and most eerie of all, the legendary monster of Slytherin finally making its sinister appearance�..these and so many more interpretations left me starstruck.
And yet, this is but a handful of MinaLima’s contributions. The opulent, green hardbound book is teeming with enough memorable moments to leave a loyal returnee to Hogwarts feel like they have just been awarded a hundred points by Professor Dumbedore himself.
As always, I need not say anything about the story. It was, is, and will continue to remain a magnificently woven mystery. Even after all these years, the tension, drama, panic, hilarity, action, and Harry’s unflinching bravery remain intact. This, THIS, is what story telling (at its finest) is all about.
My bookish/Potterish/art-adoring heart is very very full and ever so grateful....more
The magic of discovering the Wizarding World for the very first time remains intact, and is greatly enhanced by MinaLima’s creative additions. I had cThe magic of discovering the Wizarding World for the very first time remains intact, and is greatly enhanced by MinaLima’s creative additions. I had convinced (not promised) myself that I would not succumb and crumble to the siren call of yet another version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. But as wise Olaf once said “Some people are worth melting for� and I did just. I succumbed and I crumbled without a smidgen of regret. MinaLima’s stunning adaptation is a muted red, gold-foiled, embossed, hardbound beauty brimming with intricate illustrations, exciting pop-up elements, and intriguing details chasing the pages.
As an unofficial but certified Potterhead, how am I not supposed to be excited when the Hogwarts Letter is an actual crisp letter, rich in all the astonishing elements that must have made neglected little Potter feel like there is finally a welcoming world out there for him? Diagon Alley with all its enticing shops unfolds in a lovingly painted pop-up that you could spend a good hour poring over just to soak up everything. The Fat Lady’s tiny eyes move! And let’s not forget Quirrell’s turban that can be unraveled to reveal the monstrous creature within. There are loads of other such drawings and interactive additions that can entice a first-time reader, and also feel like returning to a refurbished but beloved home for the seasoned old timers like yours truly.
Madam Rowling’s writing needs no further adulation. Her flair, wit and empathy are intact. This book that first released in 1997, has aged gracefully, manages to stay relevant, makes you chuckle and sniffle in equal parts…and has your heart still brimming with proud affection when nervous, bullied Neville Longbottom gets an extra ten points from Dumbledore because..... it does indeed take a great deal of bravery to stand up to your friends....more
I could not have started 2024 with a better or more cherished read. While I have loved the world of Harry Potter in its entirety, it is the third bookI could not have started 2024 with a better or more cherished read. While I have loved the world of Harry Potter in its entirety, it is the third book that will forever have my heart. And when I came across this stunning new version, designed and illustrated to the rafters by MinaLima (the award-winning studio behind the graphic style of the Harry Potter films), I knew that yes�.I did indeed�.most certainly need yet another version of the third book in my life.
And boy, what a treat this was.
Filled with enchanting illustrations, chuckle-worthy design details chasing every other page and mesmerizing interactive pop-ups that left me sighing with appreciation, I rediscovered one of the best friendships in the wizarding world as Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs united for one memorable night to deliver a climax for a story that captures your imagination from start to finish.
I have written innumerable reviews on every book of the Potter series, so this is just me being a Potterhead, returning to a favourite fictional world, swirling in the magic of Madam Rowling’s imagination, remaining in complete awe of her stellar ability to hold the reader in the palm of her hand, and being ever so thankful that some bright souls somewhere decided that we needed this lush, intricately drawn, painstakingly detailed version in our lives.
Thank you, Madam Rowling, for a story that taught me the value of true friendship, that made me laugh and well up in equal measure, and introduced two of my favourite fictional characters, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. I think I have a very special spot in my heart for Black because he was the bookish embodiment of my dearest Uncle whose rakish charm, devil-may-care attitude, oodles of unaffected wit and wisdom, and kind heart spread his special brand of magic in this muggle’s life.
Thank you, MinaLima, for your devoted rendition of this adaptation, that made this sometimes-cynical adult feel like a hopeful child again. ...more
Gu Miyoung is an eighteen-year Gumiho (the legendary nine-tailed fox of Korean mythology). Daughter of the seemingly immortal and powerful Gu Yena, MiGu Miyoung is an eighteen-year Gumiho (the legendary nine-tailed fox of Korean mythology). Daughter of the seemingly immortal and powerful Gu Yena, Miyoung needs to feed on the “gi� (life force) of humans to survive. But unlike her cold and seemingly ruthless mother, Miyoung kills only those guilty of terrible acts.
Out on one of her nightly hunts, when she inadvertently saves Ahn Jihoon, a human boy, from the clutches of a dangerous Dokkaebi (goblin), it sets off a chain of unforeseen events. As she separated from her yeowu guseul (fox bead which is the Gumiho’s soul and a source of great power) in the fight, Miyoung and Jihoon find themselves stuck in the throes of a decade long feud and their own fledgling emotions.
The Wicked Fox is YA-Fantasy at its angsty best. With Seoul as its atmospheric playground, the book acts as a cross between a beloved supernatural K-Drama and an infinitely better version of the Twilight cringe-fest. Both Jihoon and Miyoung come with loads of emotional baggage, and watching them warily help each other unravel a lifetime of abandonment, familial expectations and their own undeniable attraction was healing in its own way. The strength of a good K-Drama lies in its ensemble cast, and The Wicked Fox has enough nuanced characters to keep you entertained but also emotionally invested.
My only grouse, if any, is that that the feisty Miyoung who met us at the start of the book somehow got diluted as the book progressed. I understand the immense pressure on the conflicted teenager but I just wish she would have retained some of her original steel and no-nonsense approach. However, there is a sequel which will tie up the tenuous cliffhangers of its predecessor, and I have hopes for our young Gumiho.
Thrilling, engaging, packed with the now oh-so-familiar elements of Korean culture and colloquialisms…this fantasy novel delivered. ...more
Harry Potter is forever. But I will always refer to Percy Jackson as my fictional son. I spent many engaging years gobbling up the adventures of the rHarry Potter is forever. But I will always refer to Percy Jackson as my fictional son. I spent many engaging years gobbling up the adventures of the reluctant ‘half-boy, half-god, all-hero� as he saved the world time again with his personal brew of bravery, foolhardy courage, sarcasm, kindness, a ballpoint pen that morphed into a sword, his magical affinity to water bodies but most importantly, his unshakeable loyalty to the all who placed their trust in the often mocked but sometimes underestimated Percy Jackson.
And if Mr.Rick Riordan comes out with yet another trilogy about Percy Jackson, I will gobble it up with nostalgic affection and undeniable relish.
Percy thought that his days of almost dying at every turn as he put his life on the apocalyptic edge were over now that he is on the cusp of adulthood, ready to enjoy college life with his wise and powerful girlfriend, Annabeth Chase. But when he is informed that he needs to get three Godly recommendation letters to get into the university of his choice, he knows that the saga of new quests, temperamental Gods and their twisted demands, life in routine peril has begun.
Again.
The return to Percy Jackson’s world with some of our cherished characters and engaging new celestial entrants is filled with hilarity, warm and sometimes insane conversations, a lot of family-bonding (both mortal and mythological), homicidal chickens and horned reptiles, dangerous dunks into the pools of Vipassana loving Gods…and as always, Mr.Riordan’s ability to keep you at the edge of the seat with delightful twists and turns. There are some moments that made me tear up but maybe that’s just me�.being immensely proud yet again of the boy who refused the gift of immortality and continues to be a son, a boyfriend, a friend, an ally and a hero that makes my heart brim with fictional maternal pride.
Tradition demands that when a young witch comes of age, she must head out on her thirteenth birthday to make her mark as an independent witch in a towTradition demands that when a young witch comes of age, she must head out on her thirteenth birthday to make her mark as an independent witch in a town of her own, using her special powers to have enough to live comfortably, while forging a bond with her new community.
And strong-headed Kiki, with her adorable and opinionated black cat Jiji in tow, does just that. As they make their new home in the seaside town of Koriko, she decides to use her one magical skill of flying on her broom to open Kiki’s Delivery Service, an aerial courier service. Soon Kiki is plunged into the world of odd customers, bizarre requests, the hesitant acceptance of a new society, uncertainty, mistakes and moments of brilliance as she learns how to be truly independent.
Hayao Miyazaki’s gem by the same title was based on this book and anything that is connected with Studio Ghibli piques my interest. I loved the animated version which I felt was a wonderful ode to young girls stepping out of their family’s comfortable embrace to make their way in the world. It had a hitherto unexpected level of maturity for a children’s film and remains one of my adored Ghibli creations. This book has a charm of its own and is more tightly aimed at a young audience. It encourages the young reader to not rely on magic alone, as Kiki armed with only her flying prowess, must employ her brains and courage to deal with all kinds of situations.
A cute and inspiring coming-of-age story by Eiko Kadano, one of Japan’s most celebrated children’s authors....more
In his foreword for this classic, Neil Gaiman tells us that Hayao Miyazaki is basing his next film on *How Do You Live?* and indeed, the master creatoIn his foreword for this classic, Neil Gaiman tells us that Hayao Miyazaki is basing his next film on *How Do You Live?* and indeed, the master creator did just that with his 2023 Studio Ghibli release : The Boy and the Heron (Japanese title : Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka (How do you live?)). While the plot may differ, the intent is clear and the impact that this book had on someone who inspired generations is a book that must be read.
The book revolves around 15-year-old Honda Jun’ichi nicknamed Copper after the astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. It follows the life of an intelligent and playful boy, small for his age but definitely on the verge of adulthood as he navigates school in 1937 suburban Tokyo. Raised by his intuitive widowed mother and tutored informally on life and all that it has to teach us by his young Uncle, Copper will come of age amidst lessons on astronomy, human relations, production and consumption, art, the social and economic divide, friendship and betrayal, and most importantly, the difficult art of becoming a decent human being.
I had this book for the longest time but it got lost in the pull of much more exciting reads. Then I was gifted another copy by my fellow Ghibli fan, and I don’t know why, but I now devoured it with quick yet quiet relish and respect.
Some may find it didactic with the life-lessons inserted at the end of each chapter on Copper’s school episodes. Others may find it a bit of a rambling journey as it hops from one seemingly unrelated topic to the other. But as Gaiman Saab rightly points out: For me the joy is that the book contains both parts, pulling at each other, each informing the other side, and that if you removed either part you would have a less interesting book.This is exactly what this beautiful gem was for me. What bored me once now made complete sense. I was meant to read it at this stage of my life. I may not be a bright-eyed child on the enticing cusp of maturity, but I feel that the lessons imparted will still hold me in good stead in my meagre but earnest attempts to live my life as a better human being.
Not a book for all and yet... ... shouldn't it be?...more
Mitsuha Miyamizu, a high-school student in a rural town of Japan is bored of her limited surroundings and wishes to be a handsome boy in Tokyo in her Mitsuha Miyamizu, a high-school student in a rural town of Japan is bored of her limited surroundings and wishes to be a handsome boy in Tokyo in her next life. Her wish comes startling true when she wakes up one day to find herself in the body of city boy Taki Tachibana. And Taki is equally shocked to find himself in Mitsuha’s body. The two intermittently switch bodies in their dreams and form an unlikely bond as they try to improve each other’s lives in unexpected ways. Though they never meet, they set rules for body-switching and leave messages for each other on paper, cellphones, and their skin.
Soon, the pang to know the person at the other end deepens but will the two youngsters be able to cross the constraints of time, magic and the ineffable but very real force that is fate at play?
Vol.1 of the 3-part manga series sets the stage effectively and leaves you with a tantalizing cliffhanger. Written as an accompaniment to Makoto Shinkai’s celebrated 2016 film, this series has been on my list for the longest time, and I am glad to finally delve into it....more
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