Published: 2010
No. of Volumes: 1
Every so often there comes a series so compelling that I feel the need to just keep reading it (over and over and over).
Tomodachi no Hanashi is one of those. I was drawn in by Yamakawa's unique take on the shoujo style - a bit of a stylized realism that you don't find often among the wide-eyed, pretty faced heroines of the genre. It is a nice blend.
The story itself focuses on two best friends, Eiko, often considered a "plain jane" by their classmates, and Moe, who is super popular with boys. It chronicles the type of friendship that comes around once in a lifetime, the kind that creates a type of love that transcends the line of best friend. For Moe, it even trumps the possibility of having a a shot at a real relationship (by her own choice of course).
Eiko and Moe.
Being so popular, Moe's one rule for dating her is that her boyfriend must pay the same attention, if not more, to Eiko. The only one to do so is the sweet Tsuchida. When things do not go according to plan in Moe and Tsuchida's relationship, the reader is then treated to the point of view of Tsuchida's best friend, Narugami.
Tsuchida and Narugami.
The relationships in this series are touching as they intertwine and breathe a life of their own. Different types of love, both romantic and friendly, are represented in a way I feel is often misconstrued in the shoujo genre. It feels genuine instead of contrived.
Tomodachi no Hanashi also touches on other subjects such as first loves, bullying in all its forms, revenge on behalf of a loved one, and how everything that happens in someone's life will build the person they will become. Kawahara's story brings these tropes together in a unique way that really touched me.
It's a short and sweet series that will please fans of shoujo, slice of life, and realistic romance.
★★★★★
Who am I?
Well, my name is Brittney and I am a 20 year old living in Maine. I've been floating around on the internet since 2006, pottering on different sites doing different things. Now that I'm long past my deviantART and FFN phase, I've had the idea that I would like to make a space all my own to rant and rave about something that has always been a constant in my life: BOOKS.
It could totally be that this is a side effect of working in a book store (Books-A-Million, to be exact) and spending most of my summer looking through all the tantalizing titles stocked on the shelves and sitting longingly on the shelves. That, or maybe something in my subconscious is like, "You're a theatre major, but what on Earth will you do with all those years of taking honors and AP English classes?!"
Oh yes, in reality, I freaking LOVE writing stuff about other people's writing. Though essays have primarily been my forte, it's my hope that these skills, so lovingly ingrained in me will allow me to play and have fun with running a Bookish blog.
So, besides knowing my name, my age, where I work, and a bit of my educational history, what else should you know about the Bookish Bear?
As far as books go, I really love fiction, particularly YA; however, as of late I have begun to branch out and really look for books that tickle my fancy outside of my comfort zone. I really like romance, historical fiction (particularly if it's ancient Japan - don't get me started), and classic lit, as well as plays of all varieties. These will all be subject to critique, criticism, and applause here, as well as the newer ventures I plan on having.
Another nibblet of information that might intrigue you is my undying love of manga. Ah, manga. As a avid Japanese animation fan since I was a wee lass, I've been around the block a few times with a bunch of different series spanning a few different genres. Lately, I tend to like the more obscure, shorter titles as well as slice of life and shoujo (tropes and all). I will post about current series I've read, plus some of my favorites I've found over the years. Because I think it counts as reading.
So, THANK YOU for stumbling over my little project. I hope you like it and stick around for all the goodies I have in store!
see you soon!
B
The Bookish Bear
