Manga Mondays: Nana Vol 21

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (abridged to avoid major spoilers): Tragedy strikes the world of Nana. One horrible accident will change the course of everyone's future...

Review: While Volume 20 left me heart broken with lots of foreshadowing, Volume 21 tore my heart asunder. The story is cloaked in sadness and grief as we lose one vital character from the manga series. The main arc of this story is watching how each character reacts and deals with the loss. Once again the art of Yazawa is impeccable. She deftly uses wordless panels to show her characters' emotions without relying on wordy dialogue. It is also obvious that the author isn't shy away from causing her characters pain, but that's what gives this otherwise melodramatic soap opera manga some realism.
 Other readers have Nana complained that the series focused too much on the various character relationships, watching who breaks up and who gets together. I would argue, however, that each relationship regardless how I feel about them adds an additional layer to the character's personality. There is no doubt that Volume 20 and 21 are the climax of the series providing us with a new story arc, however, the series is currently on hiatus since 2010 due to the author's illness. I really hope that author picks up the series again as many fans, including myself, need some closure. Perhaps I can relive the series by watching the anime and/or live action movies based on the series.

Rated: 5 stars

Words of Caution: Mature themes and language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 20

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (from Goodreads): Ren's drug use is spiraling out of control and he doesn't want to drag Trapnest down with him. Neither Takumi nor Reira are willing to let Ren quit the band, and both do their best to give him the time he needs to get it together. But Ren isn't sure this is something he can handle on his own. Will he turn to Nana for help, or will their strained relationship make him try to face his demons alone?

Review: Though volume 20 might be one of the shortest volumes of Nana, but it packed a powerful punch that left me reeling and in tears. It's hard to believe that the story of two girls with the same name has taken place for a year. Do you know the saying, "When it rains, it pours?" Yeah, well it's pouring buckets and buckets in the world of Nana. Blast has had to break up and Nana O. begins to pick up the pieces and start her solo career. This time Trapnest is imploding from within: Takumi crosses the his boundaries with his relationship with Reira in the hopes of containing the damage, while Ren attempts to leave band as he knows his drug use has gotten out of control.
    Yazawa has some of the most beautiful artwork in this volume. The tone of the volume is colored in quiet, dark strokes. There are several panels that are wordless yet the character's body language speaks loudly. There are a few comic intervals than usual and the "look" from the characters clothes, dialogue is suitably oppressive and tense. She really does do an amazing job of keeping it all visually consistent.
   One of the reasons why I love this manga despite its melodrama, soap opera plot line is the way in which its multi-stranded plot jumps back and forth in time. The stories and the character's internal conflicts in their essence is very realistic. Besides the main story line and the inevitable character "back-stories," there are also sections of the story that are set an unspecified number of years in the future, and indeed, much of the continuing dramatic tensions revolves around what happened to Nana Osaki and the rest in-between. We are told that the Nanas have separated and the fiery, strong-willed Nana O. that we have come to love has irrevocably changed. In this volume we now understand what tragedy occurred and how its magnitude is felt with all the characters.
  Another reason why I love this manga is the growing character development for all of the characters. The chapters from the future suggest that characters, particularly Takumi who I find is most striking, have changed. It is as if to suggest that the most single event in this book was a wake-up call for all of the characters. Needless to say, this volume ends with the single event which is likely to begin the ripples which will bring this series racing toward its climax. I don't know how the characters will deal with the present situation and move forward.

Rating: 5 stars

Words of Caution: There are mature themes and depiction of drug use. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 21 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 19

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (from Goodreads): The tabloid feeding frenzy has finally brought Blast down, but Nana is determined to keep hope alive. She's going to take a gig as a solo artist, and even accept acting jobs she has no interest in. As long as she keeps herself in the spotlight, she knows there's a chance Blast can make a comeback. But while all eyes are on Nana, what's happening to her friends in the background?!

Review: Valentines Day is the setting in this volume of Nana and things should be great but since happiness is short term in this manga series you can expect a lot of melodramatic moments. As you may recall, Blast's first major tour has been cancelled due to Shin's sudden arrest. In a last ditch effort, Nana O. tried to save the tour by swallowing her pride and asked Ren to fill in Shin's shoes. Ren flat out refused saying it would be an insult to both of their bands and told Nana O. to stop being selfish. I can see his point. When it comes to music and her career, Nana can have tunnel vision. She didn't stop to consider that Ren is not part of her band and that he won't drop everything for her just because he is her husband. Both Nana O. and Ren want to retain their own individuality. Now Nana O. and Ren are in a fight and not speaking to one another. Nana O. is staying at her old apartment while Ren is trying to overcome his drug addition to either cocaine or heroin (I'm not really sure since it just looks like powder in a pouch). Though we do see Ren dumping the drug in a hotel toilet and trying to recommit himself to his band, the next few panels shows him going through really bad withdrawals and ultimately succumbing to the drug. We also find out that a higher person in Trapnest's agency is Ren's supplier and will continue to supply so long as Ren writes hit songs for Trapnest.
  Meanwhile a weird love triangle has surfaced between Reira, Takumi, and Shin. Reira is refusing to back down from her strong feelings towards Takumi. She gives him a box of chocolate and confesses that she has always been in love with him. Taken aback, Takumi shuts off all of his emotions. He talks cruelly to her in hopes that she would leave him alone. He insists that she has no feelings for him and that she is projecting what she feels for Shin on to him. Reira gets angry and says that no matter who she loves, he will always be the first one on that list. In response, Takumi says that the only way for Reira to be with him is to regulate herself as one of his many mistresses. Reira immediately accepts, which shocks both Takumi and myself. I've never been fond of Takumi and Reira as a potential couple, but Yazawa manages to make us care for them by showing how their relationship has evolved since being introduced to one another as kids. Though it is clear that Reira's feeling for Takumi have never wavered from love. She sees the best in him. Contrastly, Takumi fluctuates between caring and even possibly loving Reira but has always used her as an instrument to get ahead. Perhaps now he's willing to open himself up to Reira.
  What makes the Reira, Takumi, and Shin love triangle interesting is that Takumi is the one who separated Reira and Shin not because he had feelings for Reira but he was afraid that this relationship would bring scandal to the band since Shin is technically a minor. Now that Reira is willing to be his mistress, Takumi is afraid of himself and what he might do. He is clearly attracted to Reira since they kissed passionately a few times and I have no doubt they would have gone further if they weren't interrupted by their assistant manager. Unsure of himself, Takumi actually advises Shin to get back with Reira and hopes that Shin would return to Reira so he doesn't have to think about Reira anymore. I was thrilled to see Shin refusing to rush back to Reira and saying that he has to get his priorities straight. With Shin out of the picture, Takumi and Reira have full reign and I just know things are going to be messy.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: While there isn't strong language or sexual situations in this novel, there are mature themes discussed. I would still recommend this series to mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 20 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 18

Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (from the back of the volume): Things aren't looking good for Blast. Shin, under extreme stress from the band's rising success and his relationship with Reira, seeks out reconciliation wherever he can. Reestablishing ties with his own family turns out to be a horrible failure, and before he can connect Nana with her unknown little sister, Shin gets arrested! Is this the end of Blast?!

Review: I can clearly see why many readers would be incredibly frustrated with Nana. Nothing is simple and all the relationships that I would like to be over and done with continue, which infuriates me to no end. The two story lines, one from the future and one from the present, still remain and are cleverly placed with enough teasers to capture our attention.
In the future, Nana O. remains in hiding and singing in some remote pub in England according to the latest Japanese paparazzi photos. From what I gather in the bleak monologues, Nana O. has lost all hope. She is extremely depressed and quite possibly suicidal. Blast is no longer though the band mates still remain incredibly close. Nobu has partnered with his family business and running a club for aspiring musicians while Shin is a famous actor. It's unclear what Yasu seems to be doing, but it's possible that he picked his law degree back up. Nana K. seems have gone into a fashion business and she seems to have another kid.
  Meanwhile in the present, Blast is all set for their first tour and they are ready to prove everyone that they are not just a manufactured one hit wonder. Things seem to be falling into place until Shin routinely shows up late for rehearsals and then suddenly is missing causing ripples of panic and frustration for his band. After a frantic search, Shin found in jail and is arrested. When we hear of Shin's arrest, we also find out through his texts that he has reached out to Nana's half sister's best friend and has requested her to meet and tell Nana O. everything about her family.
  Like many of the side characters, I adore Shin. He and Nana O. share many similarities. They are both ostracized by their family, believed to be unloved and strongly attach themselves to others in order to feel whole. Now that Shin has lost his anchor with Reira, he is struggling to not only make a connection somewhere, but trying to find his purpose in life. The one good thing about this arrest is that it will hopefully give him some time to re-evaluate things and grow-up.  Due to Shin's fiascos, Blast's tour is in jeopardy. The agency cancels the tour all together and I have to say that's a bit extreme. Now I'm left with several unanswered questions: Will Nana O's dream of becoming Japan's most famous rock star dream end or is she willing to leave her band and start a solo career? Will Nana O's half sister's best friend make it to Nana O and tell all about the family that she has never known? What drove Nana O. away from her friends and is it at all possible for a happy reunion? I guess the only way to find out is to read the next volume! 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution:  Language, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 19 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 17

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and love and heartbreak go hand in hand. It seems that the closer that I get to volume 21 where the series is at a stand still, the more ominous the tone gets. I hope my characters will be alright.

Description (from back of the volume): Ever since she got engaged to Takumi and moved out of apartment 707, Nana K. has felt like she's slipping out of Nana O's life. When the tabloids start digging up Nana O's troubled family history, Nana K tries to step in and take care of things. But will her good intentions stir up more trouble? Blast is rocketing to stardom, and the price for bringing them down keeps going up.

Review: In the last few volumes of Nana that I've read, we are steered to the more personal aspects of Nana O.'s life. Volume 17 gives us a little more insight into Nana O's family and her past. There are two story lines going on, one of the future and one of the present. In the future, Nana O. has gone missing. People in the music industry believe she is dead, much like many young rock stars who diffuse easily once they reach the flames of popularity. Her bandmates, however,  strongly believe that is she is alive but just doesn't want to be found.  One day when Nana K. comes to apartment 707, the apartment she shared with Nana O. when they first moved to Tokyo, and checks the mail, she finds an envelope addressed to her with pictures of a girl with long hair and the same tattoo as Nana on her arm, singing at a bar. With clues such as this photo, the band is beginning to investigate Nana O. possible whereabouts. Blast's band status is still unknown, but I'm guessing that they either completely broken up or just put on pause until they reunite with their lead singer.
  After a stressful and anxiety ridden first chapter in the future, we are now taken to the present as Nana K. has been approached by a tabloid reporter saying he knows about Nana O's past and hints at Nana O's family's current location will publish it as the next big story. Nana K., who is always noted for her brilliance (yes, that's sarcasm) decides to go to Nana O's hometown and warn Nana's mother about the paparazzi blitz that will surely take place, but the woman denies having a daughter named Nana though they share many familiar physical features. As readers, we know that the woman is lying and is indeed Nana O's mother. We are also given more information about Nana O's family background, particularly of the strained relationship between Nana O's mother and grandmother, which might explain the nonexistent mother and daughter relationship between Nana O. and her mother. To cheer Nana O. up when she realizes that the story will break, Nana K. comes to live with her until Takumi returns from his trip. After this sudden turn of events, we are left with several questions. Will Nana O. be fine? Now that Misato, Nana O's half-sister who is a fan of hers, knows about their relationship, how will she react? And will she leave Nana O. alone? Will Nana O's mother's life be the same and will she ever reunite with her daughter?
 In other plot developments, Reira have broken up with Shin because she said she wanted to focus on her career. Hurt and heart broken Shin cuts all ties with Reira, but Reira seems to be the one who can't let go by sending him text messages and proposals for nightly visits. What is interesting is that the more time Ren spends with Reira and the two openly talk, we suspect that Reira's real plans are of wanting to be near Takumi. And in a scene from Reira's childhood, we see her telling Takumi that she loves him. What are Reira's true intentions? And does she really have feelings besides lust for Shin?

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Language, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 18 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 16

Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and love and heart break go hand in hand. I'm coming close to where the series is at a stand still and I'm nervous that the series will end in a cliffhanger of sorts.

Description: Blast is at the top of the charts, and the band is making all kinds of P.R. appearances. Nana just wants to sing though, and all the marketing is starting to wear on her. A party planned for the loyal fans might be just what she needs to cheer her up. But there are secrets about her past lurking in Osaka, and the magazine Search Weekly is determined to bring them to light!

Review: In Volume 16 of Nana, we take a nice break from the melodrama surrounding the various romantic relationships in the book. Normally, I don't mind the drama as it makes the reading quicker, but I get so frustrated because I want to see all the characters (well, except for evil Takumi) to be happy! Happiness in the world of Nana is fleeting, which gives the series a melancholy touch.

  As this volume unfolds, the plot focuses on the tabloids crazy obsession to find more dirt on Nana O. especially as her band Blast's popularity surges and sits comfortably at the top of the charts. Since they were unable to publish the rumored "Ren's having an affair!" headline thanks to Taukmi's smart diversion, the tabloids are now hunting any snippet of information regarding Nana's past, particularly about her family history.  

 Even though we are into 16 volumes of this series, we are left much in the dark about Nana's past. We do know that she was abandoned by her mother at a very young age and was raised by her grandmother. In this volume, we discover that Nana's mother is still alive, has been remarried, and now has two children. There has been no communication between Nana and her mother, who she presumed was dead. Nana has not even visited her hometown nor shows any desire to do so. So when Misato, Blast's biggest fan now turned Assistant Manager, and Nana K. catch wind about Nana's mother they try to keep the news away from Nana O. in fear of making her sad and angry. What Misato and Nana K. don't know is that Nana's half sister is actually at the party that Blast held for its biggest fans. Nana's half sister, also named Misato, is adorable. She really looks uncannily like Nana O. with the same hair style and physical features. The two girls meet but only as singer and fan.

  While I understand Nana K. and Assistant Manager Misato's attention of wanting to keep this information from Nana, I do think they are being a bit too presumptuous and cuddling Nana. Unlike Nana K. who falls apart with any hint of sadness that touches her life, Nana O. has endured pain and made stronger of it. Of course, Nana O. will be devastated to find out the news about her mother and siblings, but I think that continuous hole she feels inside of her might just close. 

  Hanging over this possibility is the cloud of doom that scares me most, as we are given a cruel sneak peek at the future where Nana O. has disappeared and feared dead. How's that for an attention grabber? 

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Language, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 17 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Nana Vol. 15

  The week would seem incomplete without reviewing a volume of Nana, the popular manga series where love and heart break go hand in hand. Reading this manga series is like going on an emotional roller-coaster every week. Always anxious to see who is enjoying happiness and who is wallowing in sorrow.

Description (from Goodreads): One of the tabloids hounding Blast and Trapnest have photos that make it look like Reira and Ren are having an affair. With Nana and Ren's engagement recently made public, the photos could spell doom for both bands. Takumi's willing to do whatever it takes to save his band, but how will it affect Nana K. and the happily ever after she's still hoping for?

Review: After Search’s cruel engagement gift which contained suggestive photos of Ren and Riera at the end of volume fourteen, this volume opens with the fallout from that and Takumi’s cunning efforts to keep the photos and bad publicity out of the papers. Unfortunately, the ramifications of the photos aren't easily rectified as Nana O's and Ren's relationship begins to fray further and they have to confront one another. Nana K. and Takumi are finally get married, thanks to Takumi’s sly plans of diverting the intention from Nana O. and Ren to himself and Nana K. Yasu and Miu begin to solidify their relationship as well, which makes me really happy because both of these characters do so much for other people's happiness. Of course all this new news brings Nana O’s abandonment issues to the fore front as she watches the most important people in her life drifting further away from her. Nana O. isn't a perfect heroine by any means and she can be quite self centered, but you can understand how she uses Yasu and Nana K. as her own anchor. In the earlier volumes, she came off as a strong, independent, force of nature, but I think she's terrified of being abandoned again and her fear is quickly triggered.  Like Nana O. and Ren, Shin, too is dealing with the aftermath of the Search incident as Reira, suddenly aware of how vulnerable her world is to scandal, suggests they stop seeing each other. I was incredibly sad for Shin as I think he has finally fallen in love with a person who returns his feelings without making him feel like a prostitute.
  Nana can easily follow the path of a soap-opera with the wild melodramatic plot twists, but what I think that elevates this story from that level is the attention to human interactions in the series. With her brilliant close-up shots of the characters, you can actually delve deeper into the psychology of each of the characters. No character is absolutely good or evil. Even as much as I hate Takumi (and boy do I hate this guy), I can't help but give him kudos for thinking on his feet. I also love the simple inner monologue lines that are written on the page which can exude so much truth that it can make you flinch with its brutal honesty. It is this attention to the details that keep me riveted and wanting to continue reading this series.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Sexual situations, crude humor, some language, and nudity. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 16 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 14

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where love is constantly entangled with music, heartache, and happiness.

Description: As Blast gears up for their major label debut, their fan club starts mobilizing. Led by the chic Shion, these ladies are serious fans who won't let anyone mess with their band. But the fan club has it out for Misato, a maverick fan who has gotten too close to Nana. What will they say when they find out Misato is applying for a job with Blast?!

Review: Volume 14 was a disappointing read. There was a lack of organization and jarring transitions between the different story lines. We get a glimpse at the rabid Blast fan base as hoards of groupies wait and crowd a hotel waiting for their favorite band to show up. This story line really did nothing for me and I didn't think it added much to the overall story arc of Nana too. I was a bit confused as to why Yazama added it.
   As you probably notice if you're following my reviews of Nana thus far, happiness is very temporary in this series. It seems as if the characters are desperately scrambling to stay a float and trying not to get disappointed when they don't meet their sky high expectations. We do get this familiar melancholy current when we learn something crucial about Ren, particularly his current relationship with Nana and his past with Reira.
  Ren and Nana O. have many similarities, which be why they are so drawn to one another. Nana O. was abandoned at a young age and Ren grew up in an orphanage. Both use music as their lifeline and identity. Now Ren seems like he is losing everything. He opens up to Reira how insecure he feels around Yasu, his best friend and from my perspective how Ren wanted his life to be. What is admirable about Yasu is that he is isn't a very emotional person-that is he thinks things through logically and calmly. He does things on his own terms, not because he is pressured to do so unlike Ren. For Ren, his band Trapnest is slowly suffocating him and making him numb. So numb that he has taken to cocaine to make him feel something.
   Ren and Reira take a ride to get away from the band for an afternoon. They both recall memories of when they first met, which I believe this takes place before Ren and Nana O. meet. I wasn't surprised to find out that Ren had a crush on Reira. Reira is an attractive girl with a great voice and a nice personality. What surprised me is how Ren described Yasu pursuing Reira and how he wished he could do the same for Nana O. It's clear that both Ren and Yasu wanted Reira, but Yasu went after Reira and made it happen. Presently, Ren has Nana O., his proposal of marriage is what binds her to him, but Ren is still afraid of Yasu who he has always known carried a torch for Nana O. for as long as they could both remember.
  What frustrates me about Ren is that he has made himself to be the unwanted loser and be more codependent then he has ever been before. He definitely is a drifter and can leave the band. He does mention that he would want Nana O. to leave Blast and be with him. don't understand what stops him from leaving Trapnest. It's hard to know what he wants because he emotionally shuts down and refuses to talk.
  Meanwhile the paparazzi spy Ren and Reira together in hugs and other poses that look like they are having an affair if you didn't know what was happening. Those photos are then given to Nana O. as a "present" by the tabloid company and I'm sure all hell is going to break loose in the next volume.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: Drug use, sexual situations, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 15 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 13

  It's time for Manga Mondays! Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where love is constantly entangled with music, heartache, and happiness. After looking for information about the author, I realized that I was misinformed about the Nana series. The series is not complete, but put on hold as the author recuperates from an illness. Presently, there are no volumes published after volume 21 which is where I got confused. I apologize for the misinformation.

Description: Nana K. hasn't had a real reunion with Nana or the rest of Blast since she moved in with Takumi, and Shin and Reira's joint birthday party seems like the perfect chance for a get together. Takumi, however, is furious at his fiance for crashing the event. Once again Nana K. , and she is forced to choose Takumi over Nana one more time. But was this Hachi's last chance to get back in Nana's life?

Review: Volume 13 is filled with drama. Lots of things happening all at once. I actually had to read slowly so I wouldn't miss anything. Shin and Reira are having a joint birthday party as their birthdays are a few days apart.  On the surface, this setting is suppose to be a happy occasion with great food and friends, but like the whole series, there are complex, dark undersides that lurk beneath the party decorations.
  Takumi is furious with Nana K. for "crashing" the birthday party or in his view a perfect opportunity to schmooze and network. As you may recall, Nana K. was personally invited by Reira and only came because of her loyalty to Shin, the youngest member of Blast, which was all unknown to Takumi. Takumi and Nana K. have a fight. There was a moment where I thought Nana K. grew a spine and told her caddish fiance to back off and that thing were over. Unfortunately, that passed as quickly as a blink of an eye. After several frustrating volumes, Nana K. finally admits that Takumi is not right for her, but she is afraid of being alone and due to her fear of him abandoning her at any moment, she submits to him and becomes his puppet.
  Meanwhile Nana O. and Ren can't tolerate a big crowd. They both sneak off into their own room. Nana O. is annoyed that many now think of her as only "Ren's fiance". Though she loves Ren, she hates to have her own individual identity removed. Nana O. is unaware of Ren's drug use. In the previous volumes, we get a hint that Ren has been dabbling into drugs with his occassional use of pot, but now he's getting into serious drugs (cocaine? heroine?). It is unclear, however, if the drugs are requested by him or provided to him by his music label.
  Another person spiraling down is Nobu. Poor Nobu can't get over Nana K. Their awkward meeting, which is beautifully drawn with close-ups and my favorite part of this volume, got me all choked up. Though he is heartbroken and can't rid of the "what ifs" that haunt him at night, he really wants Nana K. to be happy even if her happiness doesn't include him. After seeing Nana K. for the first time since they split up, Nobu literally launches into a relationship with Asami, the porn star, who isn't all that different from Nana K. Asami is clearly the rebound girl and I don't have any hope that their "relationship" will last.
  Like Nobu, Shin and Reira are seductively playing with the danger zone. With Shin barely being a legal adult, his relationship with Reira is really, really bad idea especially if the press got hold of his past being a male escort and age. Takumi has advised Shin to stay away from Reira, but of course emotions over ride logic. I hate to admit that I can see Takumi's logic, but he is right. So now, Takumi has enlisted Nana K.'s help to try to separate Shin and Reira. Whenever Nana K. is involved in an important task, things don't go well at all. I have no idea what her plans are, but I know it won't be good.
  Despite all of these ongoings, we get a tiny glimpse into a possibly budding romance between Miu, an actress who suffers from severe depression, and Yasu. I'm thrilled for a Yasu romance storyline as I think he's a fabulous character who is always reliable, smart, and solid. I have no idea what will happen next in Nana, but it is always an emotional rollercoaster and I wouldn't like it any other way.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, some drug references, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 14 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 12

It's time for Manga Mondays! Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where love is constantly entangled with music, heartache, and happiness.

Description (from Goodreads): Nana K. tells herself that she's got her eye on the future and her life with Takumi, Trapnest's bassist, but she just can't let go of the past and her friendship with Nana and the rest of Blast--especially Nobu. And the tangle gets thicker when Nana K.'s wedding has to be postponed in favor of Nana and Ren's nuptials. Can Nana K. handle another delay in her happily-ever-after?

Review: Vol 12 has an unique chapter opening in any of first eleven volumes of this series. We are given a brief glimpse into the future where some of the main characters are present while some are notably absent. I'm now extremely curious to see how this future comes to be and what happened between our present time to the first chapter of this volume. In hat seems to be typical  Yazawa fashion, the tone is bittersweet and it carries throughout the entire volume.
  The last volume ends with the possiblity of a reunion between Nana K. and Blast. I was really excited to see how the whole Nobu and Nana K. meeting the first time after a very messy break-up turns out as well as have this great group of friends revert back to the good old days. Yazawa slows the pace for the actual meet-up and cleverly builds suspense as the time to meet comes closer. The band dons on clothes and wigs to conceal their identity while Nana K. is starting to have second thoughts about really attending. She in fact tells Nana O. while sobbing that she'd only come if Nobu isn't present. Watching Nobu's reaction to the news broke my heart. He's clearly not over Nana K., but is willing to do anything to make her happy. I think the main reason why Nana K. doesn't want to see Nobu is because of her illogical decision to stay with Takumi (who I hate with a passion). She's clearly not convinced she made the right choice nor am I. I keep hoping that something or someone will knock some sense into her and she realizes that she is going to ruin her life
  After the fireworks, the next big event in the volume is Nana O. accepting Ren's proposal for marriage. Unlike many engagement announcements which is filled with excitement, Nana O.'s engagement seems completely orchestrated by the music labels of both bands. Ren and Nana O. have to do a media conference, and fill out official marriage licenses in front of their respective managers. I thought it was interesting that Nana O. has the exact same engagment ring as Nana K. and I'm sure we're set up to see how both of these marriages match-up as the story progresses. Blast and Nana K. are happy for Nana O, but now Takumi always thinking as a businessman wants to delay his marriage so that Ren could marry first since their news will most likely increase the sales for both band's albums. 
  Volume 12 ends in a some what of a cliffhanger as a joint birthday party for Shin and Reira is underway. Nana K. has been interestingly invited by Reira not Takumi. I guess the fireworks was a precursor to the actual reunion between all memebers of Blast and Nana K.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, some drug references, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try:  Nana Vol 13 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 11

It's Monday and time for Manga Mondays! Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. I'm about half way through Nana, the widely popular manga series, and am a bit sad to see it end.

Description (from back of the volume): With the tabloids still out for blood, Nana O. and her Blast bandmates move into a weird dorm building run by their agency. But they've barely got enough time to settle into their new digs because their crammed schedule has them running from music studio to TV interview. The stress of band life and dealing with a disintegrating Ren have started to take their toll on Nana O. If she collapses now, will she ever get back up?

Review: Volume 11 starts a second story arc and kicks off with the characters plagued by self doubt including and not limited to relationship doubts. Nana K. is kept to the background while Nana O. is uncomfortably on stage. As Blast begins to kick off their promotion of their first single, Nana O.'s panic attacks start to become more alarming. She is beginning to feel insecure of her singing as her music producer tells her that he can fix her flaws using computers and mixers. Added to that pressure is the distance of both Ren and Nana K., both of whom Nana O. has developed strong attachments to.
  Similarly, Ren seems to be tearing at the seams. He has lost his passion for Trapnest. I don't think he is starting to hate music, but rather he's getting burnt out from all the financial aspects of being in a band. He feels trapped by the band's responsiblity and yearns for the freedom to do what he really wants, which is to make music freely. He distance himself from Nana O. because he can't comfort her while he is also unsuccessfully dealing with his own band issues. He seems how musters up the courage to ask Nana O. to marry him, believing she is the only anchor that can hold him up. Like in typical manga fashion, we are still waiting for an answer from Nana O.
  Meanwhile Blast seems to be rolling with the punches with their music label. They are now living in a dorm run provided by Gaia Records. Their dorm is in a shady area next to a place called a "lover's quarter" building. Is it a residental building for porn stars? Prostitutes? I'm not really sure, but we are introduced to two characters, a porn star and the other a supposed small actress (or is she? what is she up to?), both seem to be interested in Nobu. Nobu, however, is still heart broken over Nana K. 
  After a few "downers" of an ending, Volume 11 ends with a hopefully note as Blast plans on reuniting with Nana K. at a fireworks festival.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, some drug references, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 12 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa
 

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 10

 It's Monday and time for Manga Mondays! Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. I'm about half way through Nana, the widely popular manga series, and am a bit sad to see it end.

Description (from back of the book): Being an engaged woman isn't as wonderful as Nana K. had thought it would be. When scandal hits Blast hard, Trapnest flees to Europe and Nana K. is left to watch Blast suffer in the scandal rags and tabloid shows.

Review: Yazawa puts the relationship melodrama on the temporary back burner and plays us the music business in Volume 10 of the Nana series. Thus far the manga has revolved around relationships while the theme of music has been regulated to the background. The stalking paparazzi have shifted their attention from Trapnest's bassist sudden marriage news to Ren and Nana O's relationship. The news, already known to the readers of the manga, has set the media circus on fire. The news breaks on morning television and is all over the scandal rags. The little unknown band, Blast, has now garnered the attention of a wide audience. Was the news of Nana O's relationship sold by the music company to develop interest amongst the masses? It's hard to tell, but it does seem too much of a coincidence. 
  Rival band, Trapnest, is trying to keep the scandal down low, but the band's company is also riding on the coat tails of new news in order to sell Trapnest records. Blast never had a solid contract with their music label but now the company sees how much interest has generated due to the media frenzy and feel compelled to sign the band up. Time can only tell whether or not Blast will sink or swim.  This volume actually shows the reader how much the music industry is really driven by companies and the product rather than music per se. Both Nanas have to fend themselves as their love interests are flown out to London in order to stay from the media's radar. I'm excited to see Nana O's dream of being the number one music band in Japan come true. I'm also curious to see if she will once again reunite with Nana K.

Rating:

Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try:  Nana Vol 11 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 9

Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. I've really been enjoying Nana, the widely popular manga series.

Description (from Goodreads): Trapnest's bassist and Nana K. are getting married, but it's far from a joyous announcement. Nobu and Nana are devastated, and even the bassist's bandmates take the news hard. Will Nana K. ever get her happily ever after?

Review: Volume 9 is not as emotionally explosive as the previous volume and works as a place holder as the characters try to sort out the shocking news about Nana K. Things are slowly spiraling out of control. The d-bag bassist has taken over Nana K.'s decisions and decides that Nana K. will move out of the apartment she shares with Nana O. Thus the once quirky relationship that helped support both Nanas is now broken. Nana O. takes the "break up" close to heart and even suffers from a panic attack.
  Things get worse for Nana O. as Blast finds out that their dream of signing up with a label is actually far from their reality. The music company isn't sure how sell-able the band will be and thus defers from making their decision. The band must reconsider what they are able to give up in order to obtain the label.  
  Meanwhile, Trapnest is blind-sided by the bassist's sudden marriage. To help avoid scandal and a paparazzi blitz, the wedding will be announced to the public, however, Ren is cautioned to be careful when meeting Nana O. in fear of bad publicity. Hypocritical, no? We also find out that Reira, for some reason that I can't understand, has strong feelings for the bassist. How many people can love this jerk? What do they see in him? I just don't understand.


Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 10 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 8

  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. I've really been enjoying Nana, the widely popular manga series. Out of the volumes I've read thus far, Volume 8 is by far my favorite.


Description (from Goodreads): Nana K.'s happiness with Nobu is slipping through her fingers as an unexpected complication with Trapnest's bassist threatens to upend her entire life. And unlike her past romantic woes, the choice she makes now will change the lives of everyone around her.

Review: Volume 8 is a mature exploration of the different types of love we come across in our lives, ranging from friendship, familial, and romantic. Many readers who have commented thus far on my Nana posts have stated that this series gets darker and now I know why. Things aren't great for the Nanas, both individually and together.
  Nana K's naivete and boy craziness have thus far been served as a comic relief to the serious, career focus of her roommate. Now I can't help but wonder if her ditzy, charming personality is all a front. Normally, I either felt bad for her when her heart broke from being dumped and/or used or even rolled my eyes because of her stupid mistakes. In Volume 8, however, Nana K's carelessness comes to haunt her and as a result threatens to ruin everything that has worked so well for her. At the end of Volume 8, I was so very angry at her for breaking Nobu's heart, becoming co-dependent with the dirt-bag bassist, and making everyone, including me, so disappointed in her.
  Nana O. has a strong connection with Nana K. Some reviewers have often labeled their relationship as homoerotic, but I honestly don't see it that way. I actually see Nana O. and Nana K. being more like a family unit, where Nana O. is the caretaker who shines reality upon Nana K.'s daydreams. As I mentioned in Volume 7, Nana O. has started to feel possessive about Nana K. and I now I get a clearer picture of how she reacts toward Nana K. Nana O. holds on to people in fear of losing them due to her own abandonment as a child. With her own emotional scars so fresh, she slowly learns to trust people and make friends who mean more to her than they realize. So when Nana K.'s life takes a sharp detour from Nana O., their friendship is tested in more ways than one. Nana K's betrayal of Nobu is also seen as a betrayal of Nana O. and Blast.
 Learning more about Shin and the possible reasons why he has abandoned his family also continues the theme of familial love. Perhaps he finds some fulfillment with his physical relationship with Reira, but I'm not convinced that Reira actually likes him. I see Shin as being more of a convenience though they do spend time together and look cute as a couple. It's clear that Reira's heart is set upon someone else.
  I have to mention the illustrations in this volume. They are absolutely stunning. There is a series of panels where characters are either looking back at one another or receiving the same news at the exact same time. I've never seen panels that cinematic before. The emotional expressions they emoted on the page where exactly the ones that I had on my face when I read this volume. Nana O's internal dialogue where expertly placed to mirror both her and Nana K.'s inner turmoil.
 Volume 8 was a really emotional read. It took me a while to pick up the next volume. Normally, I pick the next volume up right away to see what happens next. This time my heart broke for Nobu. He really deserves someone who will treat him right and I really hope he finds this person as the series continues because it is evident that Nana K. wasn't good enough for him.  

Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 9 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 7

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. I've really been enjoying Nana, the widely popular manga series. It's a great series to try if you enjoy music, friendship, and relationships. Today I'll be reviewing the seventh volume of Nana.

Description: Nana K. was happy to be Blast's biggest cheerleader, but now that the band is taking off, she's discovering that there are hordes of fans eager to take her place. At the same time, her involvement with Trapnest's hottie bassist is turning into a romantic entanglement she hadn't expected. When a chance for another kind of happiness presents itself, will Nana K. be strong enough to face the difficult choices that result?

Review: Drama continues at a brisk pace in this latest volume of Nana. Unlike the previous volumes where both Nanas take part of the story, Nana K. has much larger presence in this volume as the story centers around her.
  Nana K. has always been Blast's biggest supporter. Now that band has a very good possibility in signing with a huge music record company, she feels herself being alienated with the band. It's not that the band doesn't want her around, but she really has no sense of what they are going through at the moment. Still Nana K. shows her support making food for an after party for the band though aren't able to enjoy it together.
  The story gets interesting as we follow the tangled web of relationships that burst on to the page from volume 6. Nana K. is determined to break things off with the sleazy Trapnest bassist as she becomes closer to Nosbu. After mustering up courage, Nana K. calls up the bassist and tells him goodbye, which in everyone's book means that their 'relationship' is over. In a heartbeat later she tells Nosbu and the two are together. I was really surprised how quick Nana K. was to end one relationship and then jump into another. I have to say though that I really like Nana K. and Nosbu together. I think they fit together as they both are romantics at heart. Nosbu seems to put Nana K.'s needs first by offering support and making her happy. It's really the first time Nana K. has been in relationship where her needs are deemed important. The couple is adorably lovesick which makes we worried and wondering when the shoe is going to drop.
 Nosbu feels grateful for his relationship with Nana K. and goes to thank Nana O. for her help. Nana O. has a really strange response and says that she has to thank Nosbu for making Nana K. have free reign in her kingdom. I had to reread this a couple of times to understand Nana O.'s reaction, but I think she's a bit jealous to have Nana K.'s adoration taken away from her and maybe she doesn't feel Nana K. dating a band member to be a good thing.
 In addition to Nana K.'s relationships, Shin has an interesting problem. We are given hints in previous volumes as how he works as a male escort. Reira, the lead singer of Trapnest has request Shin of his services and actually pays him. He takes it as an insult but he also seems to be falling for her. We also get a glimpse of Shin's family background as his father appears briefly and apparently is financially well off as well as distant from his son. 
 The voiceover dialogues which I mentioned last time are really having  me curious and anxious as they become darker and lonelier. Could the happy days for the Nanas be over? If so, what exactly happened? Who is responsible for the rift and is there any chance of reconciliation? I guess I'll have to see where this all leads to in volume 8.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: Strong sexuality, some language, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 8 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 6

 Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Today I'll be reviewing the sixth volume of Nana.

Description (from back of the book): Nana Osaki's band Blast is taking off in a big way--from sold-out club dates to a record label waving a contract at them. But the Trapnest menace still lurks, stealing away everything she cares for. Trapnest took her boyfriend, and even though Ren is back in her life, his band still comes first. And now her trusty sidekick Nana K. is being lured away by Trapnest's bassist. But this time, Nana O. won't give up without a fight!

Review: What happens when two bands who share a past collide? Drama! Volume 6 of Nana solely focuses on relationships, those that are developing at a very fast pace and others that starting to show a bit of fraying. Nana O. is thrilled to have Ren back in her life, but his band comes first. She refuses to attend to his sessions in fear of her fierce competitiveness taking over. She is reluctant to get closer to Ren because she knows how devastated she will be when he goes away. She does sense a distance in Nana K. though as she starting acting weird in asking her of Trapnest's whereabouts.
    Nana K. is worried that she may be labeled as someone who is 'easy' after her own night stand. As much as she would like to keep her one night stand a secret, everyone finds out as Trapnest's bassist reveals the information nonchalantly and claiming that Nana K. was virtually begging him to sleep with her. None of the characters like the Trapnest's bassist playboy ways. They all feel that he is not good for her and is taking advantage of her being a big fan of the band. I'm also getting a sense that Nana K., herself, isn't sure of what is going on with her and the bassist, as they virtually have no communication between one another besides nightly visits. Nana K. is hoping she's not just someone to make a bed warm, because that's not what she wants. She wants to be in a loving relationship. She finds herself in a weird love triangle as Nosbu stands up for her and finally declares that he has feelings for her. He is now on a mission to prove that he is better than the playboy bassist. I really hope that Nosbu is the better person for her.
  Meanwhile Shin and the leader singer of Trapnest seem to have gotten together. At the moment, the relationship seems to be purely physical. I'm wondering how long this 'relationship' will last. We also find out that the same lead singer use to be in a serious relationship with Yasu from Blast until they went their own separate ways to pursue their careers.
 The promise of a big music label for Blast means that both Nanas are not spending much time together. Dark tones and serious rhetorical questions are asked by both which makes me think that these best friends may break apart. Good thing I have the next volume on hand to see what happens next!

Rating: 4 stars

Word of Caution: Strong sexuality, some language, and crude humor. Recommended for mature teens and adults.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 7 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol 5

  I'm really enjoying Ai Yazawa's blockbuster shojo manga Nana. Nana is the story of two young women, both from small towns, who meet on the bullet train and end up moving in together in Tokyo. Nana Komatsu is a small-town girl who has big city dreams of romance and leaving her old life (and self) behind, while Nana Osaki has come to Tokyo to try to find success as the singer of her (psuedo) punk rock band, Blast. 


Description (from back of the cover): Nana K. is going home--for an awesome TrapNest concert! She drags Nana O. along, convinced that somehow Ren will sense his ex-flame in the audience. But life is never that easy, and Nana O. isn't sure if she even wants Ren back. As for Nana K., is she prepared for TrapNest to come down off the stage and into her life, or will her fan-girl attitude land her in a heap of trouble?


Review: In the last volume we were left wondering whether or not Nana O. and Ren will get back together as well as if Nana K. will overcome her heartbreak of breaking up with Shoji. Nana O. is a hard girl to forget. Her looks and fashion sense are apart from many other girls. Nana O. is relieved to see Ren still wearing the lock necklace she gave to him, but she still feels unsure about their relationship. Could they reunite without having any weirdness between them? After much pushing from Yasu, who I think has a sliver of romantic feelings for Nana O., both Ren and Nana O. are forced to confront each other. We watch as how both characters become nervous meeting one another and we can't help but hold our breath to see what would happen when they meet face to face. With a sigh of relief and panels full of emotion, mostly spoken through eyes and body language we see Ren and Nana O. resume their relationship. Out of the relationships I've seen so far in the series, I think Nana O. and Ren have the strongest bond. Though they may speak few words to one another, you can easily tell by their body language how naturally they get along and what they have is truly special. I really hope this relationship lasts and becomes stronger. 
  Though she is thrilled that her best friend and roommate is happy, Nana K. feels a tinge of jealousy. She too wants the same-to feel loved by someone and to have a career that she loves. Like her love life, Nana K. has to restart her career after she gets fired from her secretary job for slacking off. Nana O. advises her to find something she truly loves doing so work won't be a chore for her. I also think the advice can be easily applied to relationships too. Unfortunately Nana K. doesn't take the wise advice and ends up having a one night stand with someone completely unexpected. Ashamed of what she has done, Nana K. lies to Nana O. about her night and I wonder how if that changes their relationship in the next volume.


Words of Caution: This manga is Rated T+ for smoking, language, and sexual situations. Recommended for mature teens and up.


If you like this book try: Nana Vol. 6 by Ai Yazawa, Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 4

Description (from the back cover): Nana K.'s perfect Tokyo life is crumbling around her. She can't keep a job, she can't keep any money, and now it looks like she can't even keep her boyfriend! But luckily, a tasty nugget of gossip about Nana O.'s past love life helps Nana K. keep her mind off her own troubles. If she can play the role of cupid for her best friend, can Nana K. get closer to her own happy ending?

Review: The fourth volume of Nana shifts its focus from everyday slices of life such as finding a job or getting a job to relationships. Nana O. and Shoji break up after lNana O learns he cheated on her with Sachiko. Their break up was unusual in that instead of Shoji coming clean, Sachiko takes full blame and responsiblity. I couldn't believe that Shoji never took fault since it takes two to cheat.  I think Nana O. had noticed clues that her relationship with Shoji was detoriating so she wasn't completely floored when it happened but she is heartbroken. In order to escape her own heartbreak, she ventures into learning more about Nana K., who unlike Nana O. is a closed book that doesn't talk much about herself. 
  As readers, we already know that Nana K. was in a serious relationship with Ren Honjo, Nana's former bassssist for her group Blast and now the face of Trapnest (chart-topping rock band), but Nana O. doesn't discover this news until Nana's groupie Misato tells her. There were lots of visual clues about Nana K. and Ren's ties to one another. There are many panels where Nana K. longingly looks at Ren at Nana O.'s Trapnest poster found in her room. Nana K. also grows quiet when Ren is mentioned by her other bandmates. Nana O's ignorance about this relationship shows how often she is lost in her own world. Nana O's new found mission is to bring Nana K and Ren back together, beginning with bringing Nana K with her to a Trapnest concert at Nana O's hometown. The mission is sweet and made with good intention. I hope it works.
  We travel along with the two Nanas to Nana O's hometown and meet her warm family. My heartached for Nana K. who clearly yearns for a family of her own who can fuss over her. We find out that Nana K.'s family is barely nonexistent. She never knew her father and her mother took off with a random guy when she was just 4 years old, leaving her with her distant grandmother. The volume ends on a minicliffhanger as the Nanas go to see Trapnest in concert. I'm curious to see Ren's reaction when he sees Nana K and whether their relationship can be rekindled. It's clear that they both have strong feelings for each other.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language as well as underage drinking and smokeing. Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol. 5 by Ai Yazawa, Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Mondays: Nana Vol. 3

  I want to apologize for the sporadic blog posts and comments. After jumping the hurdles of the end of the school year, I'm now trying to make my way preparing for the next school year. As the bookstore manager of my high school, summer is my busiest time sorting out book requests and book orders. I'm trying to come up with a better posting schedule so please bear with me. I've got lots of great books to review, authors to interview, and giveaways coming up!
  Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. Today I'll be reviewing the third volume of Nana.

Description (from back of the book): Things are slowly coming together for Nana O. The guitarist and drummer from her old band have joined her in Tokyo and she's finally found a ripping new bass player to replace Ren Honjo. The Black Stones are back and they're ready to kick some butt.
  Nana K, however, can't shake her old nemesis, the Demon Lord. She's stuck in a dead-end job and there's trouble brewing with her boyfriend, Shoji. He's been working late and hasn't exactly been the most attentive lover. Poor Nana. Life in Tokyo is turning out to be a total bummer.

Review: In Volume 3, life had different things in stored for the girls. Nana Osaki has a lot things going for her at the moment. She has reunited with the guitarist and drummer from her old band. After placing a wanted ad for a bassist player, they've filled that void too. Now that the band is starting to come together, they are ready to play some gigs again. 
   Though we aren't given that much information about Nana O's band mates, they do have interesting backgrounds. Nobu is the guitarist who comes from a rich family (his parents own an inn). Despite being the heir to the property, his real passion is music. He shares Nana O's dream of making it big with a band one day. I get the feeling that he and Nana K. might get together as their are flirtatious vibes between them. Yasu is the drummer who usually handles the business partnerships and financial decisions needed for the band's success. Yasu's favorite cigarette brand is "Black Stones", from which the band got their name. He is also studying to be a lawyer in training, despite his clean shaven head, many earrings and dark glasses appearance. He is the big brother figure for Nana O and for Nobu at times, but I get the sense that he feels more for Nana O. Shin, the latest addition to the band, plays the bass and works what seems to be as a male prostitute to make his living. We are given small clues that his parents have abandoned him. I can't wait to learn more about these guys in future volumes.
 Unlike Nana O, Nana K feels like life's punching bag. Nothing is going right for her. What seemed to be her perfect job at working at a vintage store is failing and being closed, forcing her to be unemployed. Fortunately, Nana K doesn't wallow for long and works to find a new job as an administrative assistant in a small publishing job. Her new job, however, is taking away time from her relationship with her boyfriend, Shoji. When Nana K. is away from her boyfriend, her insecurities rise to the surface and she accuses him of meeting a new girl named Sachiko. Sachiko was an inside joke for the first two volumes, however, her worst nightmare comes true when Shoji really meets a girl named Sachiko who is also an art student and works at his job. Nana K's and Shoji's relationship quickly falls apart when Shoji and Sachiko become closer. I have to say that I didn't care for Shoji for starters but I really wanted him to smack him upside the head for thinking with the other part of his body. Instead of coming clean with Nana K, he does the unthinkable. I really felt bad for Nana K in this book and I hope she doesn't completely fall apart in the next installment.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language, smoking, drinking, and a small sex scene in this volume. Recommended for older teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 4 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

Manga Monday: Nana Vol. 2

 Nana is my first venture into Josei, a manga genre that is targeted to older women (ages 18 to 30). The themes, characters, and content of the manga are bit more mature. Nana is a complete manga series, compiled of 22 volumes and an anime adaptation (2 seasons, I believe) that can be found on Hulu. I plan on reading the entire series and then go back and watching the anime.

Description: Nana Komatsu is a free spirited, twenty year old who easily falls in love. After a year at art school, her best friend and her boyfriend move to Tokyo. Nana decides to save up her money and follow them.
  Nana Osaki is a punk singer in the band Blast with her boyfriend Ren. When Ren gets an offer to join an up-and-coming band in Tokyo, he leaves Blast and Nana behind. A year later, Nina heads to Tokyo as well to become a better singer and a hope to reunite with Ren once again. The two women meet by chance on the train to Tokyo, and despite being nothing alike, they hit it off.

Review: In Nana Vol. 1 we met both Nanas in their separate story lines. In Nana Vol. 2  both Nanas are on the same train heading to Tokyo. By chance they sit next together and Nana K. initates the conversation, where she practically tells Nana O. her entire life story up to the point of going to Toyko. When they get off the train, they expect to go their separate ways but fate (or coincidence) brings them back together in a most unexpected way. They both want the same apartment, which is an ideal location and relatively affordable. Unfortuantely both Nanas can't afford the apartment on their own, but they manage if they both share the lease, which what happens. 
  Most of volume 2 centers around the apartment and the difficulties they have with it. The apartment is old and they are novices at renting, especially Nana K. Most of their problems with the apartment are common to those who have lived on their own. There is the lack of power, heat, and the need for cosigners. There were a few comical scenes of how the girls try to find solutions to their problems, especially finding a job to support themselves. Nana K's new job at an awesome looking retro furniture and clothing store is a perfect match to her bubbly character. Nana O. tries to figure out whether to reunite with her band, Blast, or start over fresh. 
  I really liked how this volume was more of a slice of life than a melodramatic plot. Despite not knowing too much about the lifestyle of contemporary Japan, I could still relate to the characters and their quest for freedom, new direction in their lives. I also really liked the art in the series. Nana O.'s dark, serious tone are shown with dark shades of color with minimalist backgrounds. Nana K.'s warm, carefree, wanderlust personality are depicted with her girlie clothes and lively patterns. Photographs are also used as some of the backgrounds to make it more real.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: This manga contains smoking, drinking, nudity, and small sex scenes. Recommended for older mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: Nana Vol 2 by Ai Yazawa, Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa