talk here, recs here, rants here too

[recs99]

COMP RECS: girls love, please

Something new! 

So far, I usually talk about one specific book and try to explain my feelings about said book. However, it takes quite some time to pull myself together and try to express my feelings into comprehensible sentances, but I have so many things I want to share, so I made this list. 

I love reading an assortment of genres, but sometimes I feel like GL is overshadowed, so I want to share some that I really liked. There’s quite a few, so it’s under the cut. 

It’s not ordered from best to worst or anything, but I put some pretty promising works at the top ( like the first uhh 4/5ish books, after that, its all fair game)...here we go! It’s gonna be informal, a little messy, and maybe not the most informative but with all sincerety please do check out these works. 

TAMEN DE GUSHI - Tan Jiu

Adorable pairing, Comedy, High school, Pretty art, a PINCH of angst, Hard Fluff. Full colour, the gif above

This story tells in clips of a popular tomboyish high school girl and her bold moves to courting the sweet, cute girl in from another highschool. This manhua is debatably the most hilarious and most well known yuri work out there. It is certainly worthy too. I always find myself revisiting this one, and it makes me smile like a weirdo every time. I love how Lover A is usually this smooth cool girl but when she’s with Lover B she gets all excited and shy and happy,...ugh its just so much and I am here for their relationship its so cute and I just get so warm and fuzzy.... okay next.

TANKOBU - Kuwabara

High school, Pretty art, Fluff, what more can I ask for really. 

Starts off sort of like a rivalry, ends with nice nice romance. 

SHE IS STILL CUTE TODAY - Guo Si Te

Cuteness ensues, Comedy, High school, Pretty art, a PINCh and a half of angst, overall cuteness, Full colour

Sort of like, smart-pretty girl x misunderstood silly academically poor girl. Also very cute, how Lover B becomes huge personified samoyed happy dog.

PRISM - Higashiyama Shou

High school, Very Pretty Art, touches on more heavier topics like homophobia (only a bit tho) overall a soft feeling, mild mild angst,

ELEVATOR RIDE IN THE MORNING - Whisky

Short one- shot, Office workers, Full colour, Pretty art

Well it’s pretty clear that this story is about an elevator ride in the morning, and the story is perfectly short. It lets you use your imagination in how the ending continues, which I like. 

INNER REVOLUTION - Yoshitomi Akihito

Seriously cute, Fluff, MILD limey smut, its a smooch mostly, High school, One shot

A short story about the blooming love between two girls in the hot summer. Okay, this is a really short review, but I seriously adore this author's writing and their storylines. They have a few other works too, which are also soft girls love stories. This is super cute, please read it.

SCHOOL NINGYO - Yoshitomi Akihito

Hmm not so its not really gl based but still good, 

s l i g h t horror but only a tiny miniscule amount, Gore, Unrequited love, Mermaids, Love ritual, Fun storyline, Interconnected one-shots A secret love ritual for high school girls. The story goes that if you eat a specific mermaid's skin, your love will be requited. There is of course, a price that may be paid.

There’s one particular arc that had a tablespoon of gl in it and I really liked it so thats why this series is here. (ch9, to be exact.)

ch4 - ch6 is also mild gl so if you’re only here for that then .. yeah here it is. Though I do strongly encourage you to read it all; it’s really interesting.

VIRGIN’S EMPIRE - Kishi Torajirou

Multiple pairings, Highschool, Some nudity..uh but not explicit most of the time, Fluff, More friendship based, 

It’s more undertones of romance between girls; more platonic but mildly spicy. Honestly not my favourite but I put it here ‘cuz I do like their relationships to a certain degree. 

[recs99]

Three Days of Happiness

三日間の幸福 by Miaki Sugaru

DATA? - completed

- originally a webnovel (which I recommend checking out, btw!)

- again, a good afternoon read (in terms of length)

                - it’s sixteen chapters long, to be precise.

- big heart clench (in terms of feelings)

“If you could sell your lifespan for money, would you?”

That is the main premise of Three Days of Happiness. A man in his late twenties is offered money in exchange of his lifespan. He does; selling virtually all his time, leaving only 3 months to spare and is left face the consequences of doing so. 

As this is manga is on the shorter side in terms of total chapters, I’m trying to keep my description as vague as I can. 

For a (slightly) clearer understanding of the story, please check the tags.

There are many comments saying that Three Days of Happiness is ‘depressing’, and understandably so. Regardless of how sad those readers felt after completing the story, I think you definately should check it out.

THOUGHTS WITH SPOILERS UNDER CUT

SELF COMMENT:

The story definately made me feel an assortment of emotions, throughout the sixteen and a half chapters. The ending especially made me think, “should I be happy or sad about this?”

One one hand, it is implied that the couple will die, meaning their happiness shared together as official lovers end in the next few days. 

As a reader, I am satisfied with how this story played out, and the ending for the characters. I think I was able to accept how their relationship concluded because I felt like we as readers were already given a multitude of milestones and moments shared between the two prior to the ending. So even when it all ended, and it was clear that the two were going to die after the three days, I felt that I had already witnessed enough substantial moments between the two that allowed me to let go of the fact that they won’t be able to make more memories with each other ever again, at least in this life. 

[recs99]

Hana and Alice: Manga (and Movies)

What’s this you ask? Haven’t I already talked about HANA AND ALICE the movie? 

When I read the manga of Hana and Alice, I loved it. When I found there was a movie adaptation, I was ecstatic. As both works are so dear to me, I decided to make separate posts to talk about them on their own. Let’s commence!

花とアリス 殺人事件 by Douman Seiman

DATA? - completed

- a small fraction of an afternoon? (12 chapters)

- in terms of heart clenching while reading, its mild; 

(but when I talk about it ohh my heart, calm down calm down)) 

In terms of the basis of the story, it’s not that off from my synopsis in my other post regarding the movie adaptation.

 Rumored murder? Yes. 

Shady shut-in neighbor? Yes. 

Said murder victim having multiple wives despite being no older than highschool students? Yep. 

MORE UNDER THE CUT. NO SPOILERS

CHARACTERS?

As someone who has a pretty low tolerance for annoying characters, I can assure you, there really isn’t anyone I can’t stand. They are all enjoyable characters to read and watch. 

In the manga, more interesting characters residing in the highschool are introduced, as our main character delves deeper to uncover the truth of the rumor of the four wives. I would say that the manga is more mystery based while the movie chooses to side more on the relationships and background of the main characters. 

MORE?

Sometime after I watched the anime adaptation of Hana and Alice, I found out that there was also a live-action film. 

I am including this here for the main purpose of in the case that someone would be interested in watching it, as I know that some people may prefer real people than animation. 

The movie was directed by SHUNJI IWAI, whom I have heard also directed a few other great works such as ‘Love Letter’ and ‘Fireworks’. 

It was honestly surprising to me that I didn’t like this version of Hana and Alice, seeing that I thought the cinematoghraphy was quite pretty in some scenes, and I didn’t see any major flaws in the acting. 

Thinking back to it now, I think the live-action pictures another angle of the Hana and Alice universe. It centers more on the possibility of what if “____” were to happen instead? 

All I can really say is that the live action centers more on the blooming romance factor, while the animation focuses more on the growth of two characters and the struggle to be freed from the past, with a hint of love. 

I think I would conclude that the live action of Hana and Alice is not bad, per say. However, I think for people who have previously followed the manga and animated version, they may feel like it goes completely off the rails on what really happened. My advice is to watch it with an open mind; watch the live action as though it is more of an alternate universe of Hana and Alice. 

[recs99]

The Case of Hana and Alice

花とアリス 殺人事件 

I immensely love this movie. 

Honestly, words cannot properly describe how much I love this movie.

The Case of Hana and Alice, or Hana to Alice: Satsujin Jiken is a movie adaptation of the original manga by DOUMAN SEIMAN. Arisugawa Tetsuko moves to a new town where she is quickly caught up in a strange rumor and is promptly ostracized by her classmates. She begins to uncover more about the truth behind the rumor; about her shut-in neighbor, the mysterious disappearance of the previous seat owner, and the speculation of the possible murder. 

Even if you don’t watch it, please click the video attached. It’s the ending song, and it sounds lovely. 

I am not the best at creating synopsis’, but if you have the time, please, please, please do check this one out. The growth between the relationship of the two main characters, their own character development as more is revealed of them; I love it. I love this whole film so much, I think the animation captures the raw adolescence and pain and overflow of emotions quite well.

The animation art style is a lot different from what I commonly see, but I really love it. 

 I am not one to cry for movies and books and music, but this one touched me dearly. The first time I watched it, I actually cried a bit at a certain part. And when I say first time, it’s because I rewatched it like seven times, and I will continue to revisit this masterpiece in the future. 

For a more in depth study on the versions of Hana and Alice, check out my other post. It talks more about what this movie entails and what can be expected. 

[recs99]

O Maidens in Your Savage Season

荒ぶる季節の乙女どもよ by Okada Mari and Emoto Nao

DATA? 

- completed raws

- a good afternoon read (in terms of length)

- mild heart clench (in terms of feelings)

The story follows five highschool girls, all whom are members of the literary club as they become more intertwined with confronting the topics of sex and intimacy. So I’m going to try and keep the synopsis short, but if you like the coming of age, highschool romance, multiple main character and relationships to root for, I think this one is pretty good at that. 

CHARACTERS:

Focusing on the five main characters, I think they were all enjoyable characters to follow. Though I think it is fair to say that there are some decisions made that are not the most agreeable.

 However! 

I strongly urge you to not be turned off by that, and before you understand the character’s background, and the reasoning behind their drive. 

I would like to say that something I really enjoy seeing in literature is when there is no desigated ‘bad guy’, and honestly I don’t think any of the characters are completely unlikeable. (including the ones that are not the main five) 

Overall a very interesting topic to focus on, in my opinion, as I have rarely ever seen sex and adulthood touched upon in this manner, especially in the form of multiple perspectives.

FEELINGS UNDER THE CUT. MAY HAVE MILD SPOILERS.

It’s just my feelings of the story so far, if you’re interested feel free.

So I’d just like to say, that I really did not expect Momoko to have that twist, She was honestly really under my radar at the start of the story, but wow I’m honestly pleasently suprised. The sweet shy girl type is certainly not my prefered trope but she’s actually not entirely passive.

I definately adore Sonezaki and Amagi’s relationship, I think the rooftop scene and the bonfire scene was definately adorable. I love how uptight Sonezaki is, and how carefree Amagi is. One thing I noticed and thoroughly appreciate is all of the male interests do not behave very despicably. (wait yes, I didn’t forget, Saegusa director man. He is no love interest.)

What about Izumi? I think he definately has his poor points, especially evident in his relationships with Kazusa and Niina. Should he stay with Kazusa? ..  debateable. 

When I found out that the official english title was “O Maidens in Your Savage Season” I was wowed. By far one of my favourite english titles so far. It sounds so fancy (use of poetic apostrophes(?) and all).