After her parents divorce, Ann moves back to her mother's hometown. Rural Shimane is a lot different to busy Tokyo and at first Ann struggles with theAfter her parents divorce, Ann moves back to her mother's hometown. Rural Shimane is a lot different to busy Tokyo and at first Ann struggles with the lack of anonymity in the small town.
There was so much emotion to this manga and I was surprised at how deeply it made me feel. Ann's mother struggles with depression - her over-bearing mother and the fact she never wanted to return to Simane only makes this worse. Not long after moving, Anna's mother kills herself. After this tragedy, the story advances until Ann is 14 years old. As Ann grows up, she struggles with grief and more common teenage issues of self-image.
The sadness and heartbreak of this story was counter-balanced with the other characters' kindness and warm-heartedness. Ann forms a strong friendship with a neighbourhood boy, Daigo, which verges on becoming something more. Meanwhile, she also starts getting closer to another boy, Fuji. (At the moment, I'm totally team Fuji haha)Â
This story really pulls at the heartstrings. I loved the characters and their interactions; they leapt of the page. The only issue I had was it was sometimes hard telling different characters apart. I suppose the black-and-white drawings make this more difficult.
After reading this first volume, I really want to continue with the rest of the story, as the strong themes of friendship, grief and growing up really appeal to me.
Merged review:
After her parents divorce, Ann moves back to her mother's hometown. Rural Shimane is a lot different to busy Tokyo and at first Ann struggles with the lack of anonymity in the small town.
There was so much emotion to this manga and I was surprised at how deeply it made me feel. Ann's mother struggles with depression - her over-bearing mother and the fact she never wanted to return to Simane only makes this worse. Not long after moving, Anna's mother kills herself. After this tragedy, the story advances until Ann is 14 years old. As Ann grows up, she struggles with grief and more common teenage issues of self-image.
The sadness and heartbreak of this story was counter-balanced with the other characters' kindness and warm-heartedness. Ann forms a strong friendship with a neighbourhood boy, Daigo, which verges on becoming something more. Meanwhile, she also starts getting closer to another boy, Fuji. (At the moment, I'm totally team Fuji haha)Â
This story really pulls at the heartstrings. I loved the characters and their interactions; they leapt of the page. The only issue I had was it was sometimes hard telling different characters apart. I suppose the black-and-white drawings make this more difficult.
After reading this first volume, I really want to continue with the rest of the story, as the strong themes of friendship, grief and growing up really appeal to me....more
When a stranger runs his car into a ditch in dense fog in South Wales and makes his way to an isolated house, he discovers a woman standing over the dWhen a stranger runs his car into a ditch in dense fog in South Wales and makes his way to an isolated house, he discovers a woman standing over the dead body of her wheelchair-bound husband, gun in her hand. She admits to murder, and the unexpected guest offers to help her concoct a cover story. But is it possible that Laura Warwick did not commit the murder after all? If so, who is she shielding?
As soon as I started this book, it began to sound very familiar... then I realised I'd actually seen it performed as a play back in 2007! I remember enjoying it so much, and the novelisation was just as great, without taking anything away from Agatha Christie's original script.
Since it started out as a play, the sharp dialogue really stands out as a highlight. And I loved the mystery. It's a classic closed-circle case, set entirely in a mist-shrouded manor house. The victim sounds like a truly terrible person who made problems for everyone around him, which makes nearly everyone a suspect, and I enjoyed the way the story unraveled, revealing secrets, misdirections, and a satisfying conclusion. ...more
3.5 stars Told in verse, this explores the lives of conjoined twins as they navigate school for the first time. It explores their relationship with the3.5 stars Told in verse, this explores the lives of conjoined twins as they navigate school for the first time. It explores their relationship with the world and each other. It's beautifully told, so I don't know why I felt a little underwhelmed. I enjoyed reading it, but the ending felt rushed - I wanted more closure and a deeper look at what happened after the events of this book....more
I went into this book knowing nothing about it and haven't seen the movie... so at multiple points I questioned if I was reading a thriller where ElioI went into this book knowing nothing about it and haven't seen the movie... so at multiple points I questioned if I was reading a thriller where Elio was going to murder Oliver.
The story revolves around a romance that " blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents' cliff-side mansion on the Italian Riviera." Elio is such an intense narrator. He feels things passionately, almost to the point of obsession. Hence my occasional concern for Oliver's safety. (Though I didn't care that much, considering he does pursue a seventeen year old).
Most of the novel is introspective. We spend a lot of time in Elio's head as he wrestles with self-loathing and the inability to act. It took some getting used to and I would have liked more present-moment scenes to balance out the storytelling. But the writing is beautiful. Yes, it's a little pretentious, but isn't that kind of the point? That's who Elio is as a character. And I don't mind a bit of flowery language if it still has an emotional heart behind it.
Overall, I feel conflicted about this novel. It completely transports you to an Italian summer. I don't know how the author isn't mortified by putting this deeply confessional narration into the world, but good for him? There's a lot of heart and raw emotion behind it. The age gap is certainly questionable. And I'll never look at peaches the same way again. ...more
Loading...
