Hello everyone!
Get ready for the longest post ever yet! It's so long, you'll probably feel like it'll never end lol but I split all my favourites up into categories just like last year's one so you can just skip/skim any category that you're not really interested in hahaha. Last year's favourites was more of a rush post since I really wanted to post it by New Years but this time around, I started accumulating my favourites into a post since around October and just kept updating it here and there and that's why it's so long lol. I tried to shorten it, (I promise I did lol) but I guess there were just too many things to blab on about haha. So if you're interested in any of the following, feel free to jump to it! Next year, I think I'll do like half yearly favourites or something as well loll. I mean, I started so early and I still finished this post last minute haha!
SKINCARE
Hope you enjoy!
Rating system
My friend told me that my way of rating things is weird so I thought I might as well clarify just in case anyone was curious about how I would love some things but still give it a lower rating than other things. Basically, I never give anything a rating lower than 2.5 just because the fact that this thing came into existence means it's worth something and should at least have a passing rating (besides Fifty Shades of Grey, that had terrible writing and story). Everything has a maximum rating of 5. But yeah, my rating system revolves around my feelings towards something more than logic because I'm a person governed by emotions and my gut lol.
2.5 - Passing rating. Probably because of some sort of sentimental value or at least does its job. To be frank, if I rate something 2.5, I pretty much dislike it and wouldn't consider it again.
3 - This means it was OK. Nothing bad, nothing special. This is the rating I give for most things in general when I don't particularly like it but I don't dislike it.
3.5 - This means I actually like it and is good but isn't good enough for a 4 because it didn't really change my life in any sort of way. I enjoyed it but I can live without it. Also because I think it definitely deserves more than an 'OK' but I wouldn't say I really like it, and thus that makes it a 3.5!
4 - I really like it and it made some sort of impact on me whether it be a story or a product. This means it's memorable and I would continue using the product or read/watch something again unless I want to change things up a bit and for a story or whatever, it would mean that it made an impression on me; whether it be lasting or not. It's not like holy grail status like 4.5 is but I really quite like it and would recommend it if I give something a 4.
4.5 - This is usually the highest rating I give something mostly because I love it and it has made a lasting impression on me and probably has enlightened or changed my perspective of things through it. Definitely memorable for a long time and would probably make me use/watch/read it again and again.
5 - I don't think I've ever given anything a 5 unless there is no option for .5 ratings haha. But it obviously means I really love it and would either read/watch it many times over and never get sick of it.
Aaand we start with skincare! After my discovery of how popular Korean skincare and cosmetics are and how well they seem to work for me, I've been utterly obsessed with buying and trying them. Of course in moderation though since I only have one face and I like to stick to products that I like. But if you're curious, I am still using the
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum every day and the
Avène Thermal Spring Water every now and then when my face feels extra dry (I mentioned them in my
2014 Favourites) I'll also try to link where I got these products from so you guys can check them out as well if you're interested.
- Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence
Rating: 4/5
After reading about the super long Korean skincare routines and getting confused with toners, essences, lotions and all the different names, I thought I'd start off with one of the skincare products that seems to be incorporated in most routines; which was essence. Obviously, I'm too poor to try the SKII essence but I saw this Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence marked as a best seller at the sites I usually buy Korean skincare from so I decided to try it out, I still splurged a bit but it was definitely worth it for this one! Although, they have now changed the formula and call it the Missha The Facial Treatment Essence Intensive, I thought I'd still review this one anyway. I've already purchased the new one and after using it for around a month, I find that the consistency seems less dense but still watery and absorbs into my skin a bit faster. They seem to work quite similarly for now.
Anywho, I'm so glad I purchased both of these! This is used on the first step of your skincare routine and it definitely does make a difference for me. It makes any moisturisers and serums I apply after it absorb much faster. I tried applying this with a cotton pad but I honestly think just rubbing it in my hands and then patting and rubbing it into my skin is so much more convenient and effective for me, especially since it is really watery and so the cotton pad absorbs a lot of the product. I've noticed that it has made my skin smoother and more bouncy. It doesn't ease the redness on my face though which is saddening but that's okay, I'm planning to look for something else for that. But I think if you're looking for extra moisture, soothing and clearer looking skin, I would recommend this. I read before that some people thought it was sticky and that nearly turned me off from buying it but personally I don't think so at all and it doesn't smell very strongly of yeast or anything either. I think this has improved my skin overall and will definitely keep trying out the new formula hoping that it's even better!
- Etude House Mint Cooling Eye's Cream SPF 30 PA++
Rating: 3/5
I've tried a few eye creams before but they've never really done anything for my eye bags and this one is the same. But I love how cute the packaging is and how convenient it is since it's just like a glue stick! It's great for when you're lazy, not necessarily the most hygienic but I'm more of a lazy person hahaha. It moisturises my eyes well enough for the morning and does have this refreshing sort of feel to it when you apply it but it quickly dissipates and I still feel as sleepy as ever haha. I don't think this is moisturising enough for my eyes for night time and during winter though so I'm glad that it's Spring here in Australia now haha. Btw, I have dry skin. I think it's an okay product, easy to use, very soft on the eyes and absorbs quite fast. I'm already on my second one now since I love how convenient it is, but I might try the vanilla version next. I like how it isn't extremely moisturising so that it's great for when it's hot and I also like that it has SPF!
It can get a bit annoying to use when you get to the last bits though, it's just like the problems you'd have with glue sticks when they're nearly finished, which is that the plastic mold surrounding the product to keep it in shape for you to use like a glue stick prevents you from using the last bits of it conveniently so you'll have to instead rub the product on your fingers and apply it that way. If you get what I mean hahaha. Overall, it's a good enough product, I like it.
- Mizon Snail Repair Eye Cream
Rating: 3/5
After experiencing dry flaky skin around my eyes during Winter even after using the Etude House Mint Cooling Eye Cream, I decided to purchase another eye cream to try and saw this one that sounded relatively interesting. Snail products are apparently pretty popular in Korea so I thought I'd try it out and I have to say it's super moisturising and it doesn't smell weird at all. It also comes with a spatula to keep it hygienic. Since it's quite moisturising, I usually opt to use this at night only and it keeps my eyes smooth and moisturised.. It doesn't do anything for my dark circles though but that's probably because of my sleeping pattern as well haha. Overall, I think it's a pretty good product, but nothing to go crazy about. It's great that it's not thick at all but it does take a bit longer to absorb than the Etude House one but then it is also more moisturising so fair enough.
- The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Night Cream
Rating: 4.5/5
This is probably my favourite product of the year. I'm so glad I looked online for good creams for dry skin and this is well and above what I was expecting. I've always loved my previous night cream which was the Olay Regenerist one but after going through 2-3 of those, I noticed that whenever my skin felt really sensitive, it kind of stung my face a bit, so although it was moisturising, it also felt like there were a lot of chemicals in it that made my skin a bit reactive to it when it wasn't in its best condition. So I wanted to try something a bit more natural and found this and didn't regret my purchase at all! In fact, I already bought a back up because the one I'm using is running out.
Not only does this smell nice and refreshing, it also makes my skin feel so smooth and supple. It's not greasy at all and absorbs really well into my skin considering how moisturising it is. It's also free from fragrances, artificial colour and preservatives which is always a plus~ Since it is a cream, I would recommend it for other people who have dry skin like me, you'll definitely like it! It keeps my skin readily hydrated throughout the night and I'd still feel quite smooth and moisturised even until the next morning. Definitely recommended! I think I'll try the day cream in the future; after I go through all my other creams ahaha.
- Tonymoly Green Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream
Rating: 3.5/5
When I first used this, I didn't get it haha. But after reading the instructions on the website telling me that I should massage this 1-2 minutes after washing my face and then leaving it for 20-30 seconds, then washing it with tepid water, I realised why people like it so much. I usually use this in the shower since it's so convenient to do everything in the shower haha and I think it really does help remove dead skin cells and moisturise my face as it say it does. It has a faint smell of apples but nothing drastic and it's really smooth and creamy but not thick on the face. It's very lightweight and it feels really nice massaging it into my skin. And then after I wash it off, my skin feels less harsh and it does feel like any annoying parts that I needed to exfoliate are all smooth now! I think this would be great for people who think exfoliating beads are a bit harsh on their skin and want something more soft and gentle for the skin. My skin always feel really soft and supple after using this. Make sure not to put it too close to the rims of your mouth and eyes though and also don't leave it on your face for too long, otherwise it might irritate your skin. I use this every 3-4 days and am really enjoying it. I think I'd like to try different ones just because the packaging is a bit big and can be annoying to travel with or just in general lol.
- Innisfree Original Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
Rating: 4/5
I've never been brave enough to try those peel off clay masks since my skin is quite sensitive so I thought I'd try this popular wash off clay mask that a lot of people seem to be raving about and this is another product that I'm glad I tried. It's not harsh on my skin at all and leaves my skin feeling really refreshed and smooth after washing it off my face. It also makes my skin feel tighter <3 I always like to scare my brother off with it on my face when he's annoying me since it's grey coloured haha. I've never tried this for breakouts since I rarely have those problems but as a mask, I really love it. It's easy and convenient and it seems to suck out the impurities quite well to make my face look clearer and brighter. It also doesn't smell like anything. The texture is thick but lightweight and can be easily smothered all over your face without it feeling like anything. There were so many times I forgot about it and touched my face ughh. But it does dry up a bit when it's time for you to wash it off so you'll never forget that you need to wash this off haha so that's convenient!
- Daiso Aloe Hand Cream
Rating: 3/5
My sister's boyfriend's sister told me to buy this for her at Daiso Japan since I work there and I thought, I might as well try it since it's only $2.80. This hand cream is quite good for the price. It moisturises quite well for around 3 hours and it comes out green! Hahaha, I usually squeeze out too much from the tube though but I just rub it onto my hands and legs if that happens anyway. The smell can be a bit strong though, I think it smells like aloe as it states but there's also this fresh and sweet smelling fragrance that comes from it. It's not too strong so I'm not too bothered by it but yeah, I would like it more if it had a weaker scent. It also has that drying feeling when you rub it into your skin, it's like when you're pouring water into a desert, that kind of feeling. So it moisturises but I don't like the initial feel of it. But I don't think I'll get it again just because my hands have been more dry these days because of eczema and dryness in general so I think I want to try a thicker hand cream like the one below.
- Tonymoly Peach Hand Cream
Rating: 3.5/5
This was gifted to me from a friend when she visited Hong Kong like a year or two ago and I finally decided to use it lol. I really should have used it earlier because it smells so good! It smells really fresh and I think it really does smell like peaches but with a hint of sourness to it which makes it all the more refreshing. It is rather dense and has a thicker texture but because of that, it's extremely moisturising for my hands and even my arms. I feel really soft after using this and would definitely recommend it. The only downside is that it doesn't have that much product considering its price but I think it moisturises dry skin really well and makes your hands smell good afterwards! I'd probably repurchase it since I really do like it but maybe during Winter, I think it'll be a bit too thick for Summer here.
- Etude House My Castle Hand Cream in Pink Wish
Rating: 3.5/5
This is sooo cutee! I got this as a souvenir from a friend who went to Korea and at first I was a bit sceptical, thinking that it'd just be cute and useless like so many of the things I own lol. But this hand cream is so lightweight but moisturising. It's not as moisturising as the above hand cream from Tonymoly but it makes up for it with how easily it absorbs into your skin and how it immediately feels like nothing afterwards except that your hands feel extra soft and hydrated. I love the texture of this and am really tempted to try the other versions just because they're so adorable and there are other scents that sound interesting as well. This one claims to have a fruity floral fragrance and I quite agree, it's not too strong but you really smell the sweet spring sort of fragrance to it, I really like it. I just wish the exchange rate was better so I can splurge on these hand creams lol.
(Can be purchased from: Beautynetkorea)
- Etude House Kissful Lip Care Lip Scrub
Rating: 3/5
Personally, I think this one does its job well as a lip scrub but I think I've once upon a time DIY something similar to this from youtube but I'm lazy so this is a great alternative when I just want to take this out, squeeze a bit of product out and massage it on my lips and wash it off with water. You really don't need much product at all and it's really convenient and works well. It doesn't irritate my skin around my lips or my lips itself and instead scrubs off all that dead skin that interferes with the me trying to attain soft lips haha. I don't really need to use this often at all so it's definitely worth it. It tastes really sweet though like candy syrup or something, I'm okay with it since I'd much rather that than something else more disgusting haha. The texture is really light as well so it's extremely easy to wash off. But yeah, the taste can be overwhelming at times, however since this isn't used too often, it should be fine, well for me anyway.
- Clio Born Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner
Rating:4/5
After I discovered this eyeliner, it became my absolute go to eyeliner and it has also made me actually like putting on eyeliner! I used to absolutely hateee putting eyeliner on since it was so difficult but this one makes it so easy to apply whether you want a thin line or a bit thicker wing. Definitely great for more natural looking eyeliner and even without eye primer, it lasts nearly all day! I've never been able to find an eyeliner last long on my lids but this one is amazing for it! I've never felt scared of it smudging or anything because it really stays put after you let it set. It's not the blackest black compared to other eyeliners but I don't mind since it's really long lasting and easy to use. It's really easy to do a wing with it too! The price is pretty average for an eyeliner but considering how good it is for me, it's definitely worth it! Might take a few more swipes to remove with makeup remover but that's no big deal~ Oh and btw, I'm trying the brown pen liner and haven't made a judgment about it yet but it is definitely a dark brown and does seem to last quite long as well.
(Purchased from Beautynetkorea)
- Holika Holika Jewel Light Waterproof Eyeliner 8, 9, 10
Rating: 3.5/5
I love how pigmented these pencils are! They're probably a bit too glittery for my tastes but that makes it extra good for that Korean(?) look with the pink/gold glittery colour on the lower lash line. But these do come off after a couple of hours (wearing off around 5 hours?) so that makes me a bit sad but they're super easy to reapply if really needed so that's fine and even when it comes off, you still sparkle a little bit haha. Otherwise, it can get a bit annoying since you always have to sharpen it but I do like it since it is so pigmented and true to colour. They're also really cheap so plus plus!
(Purchased from Beautynetkorea)
- Etude House Drawing Eyebrow in No. 5 Gray
Rating: 3.5/5
I only really started to care about my eyebrows this year so I'm still a noob in this area especially when it comes to drawing my eyebrows gahh, the level of skill required is too high! I really need more practice haha. But anyways, I find these pencils really easy to use and easy to draw with even for someone like me. Personally, I prefer no. 5 grey since it's a lot lighter than the charcoal grey and so it generally won't make my eyebrows look too dark even when I accidentally colour it in too much. In addition, I love having to not need to sharpen pencils and only need to twist it up and down and there's a little brush at the end to brush things out as well. The angled shape also makes it easy to draw a line and keep to it. And it's cheap as well! My sister really likes the charcoal gray and has told me to get her a back up already haha. However, they do wear off over the day depending on whether you wipe or touch it etc but in general it stays put the whole day for me. It definitely won't last when coming into contact with water though so don't accidentally wipe your eyebrows off when splashed (if ever) with water!
(Purchased from: Beautynetkorea)
- YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil in 6 Peach Me Love
Rating: 4/5
This is probably the most expensive lip product I have seeing that it's like $52 here in Australia gahh. But, I'm glad that I like it, so it wasn't a waste of my money hahaha. I can't really say whether it's worth the price or not since I would consider this one of the better lip products that I have and I guess I would buy another colour because I know it's good haha but it is still rather expensive. Otherwise, I really like this, the applicator is so easy to use and I rarely make any mistakes applying this on since it's super flexible and easy to manoeuvre
This colour is quite pinkish on my pigmented lips, I guess it has this natural warm rosy colour.that is sort of like MLBB except with glossiness. It looks really wet and glossy when you first apply this but after a few hours or once you eat something, the glossiness will completely disappear and leave a nice pinkish stain which I absolutely love! It makes me feel better that I still look good after pigging out hahaha. It has minimal transfer when it's still wet and glossy which can be a bit annoying but it doesn't feel like anything on your lips and doesn't accentuate dry lines at all! It's quite moisturising as well but after eating, I'd still put on a clear lip balm, the stain looks so natural and pretty, it's my favourite lip product of the year~ And I love YSL packaging <3 it also clicks when you twist the cap back so you'll always know that it's closed properly to ensure no leakages.
- Dior Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm in 001 Pink
Rating: 3.5/5
Personally, I do like this lip balm but I think for what it does, it's quite expensive. It does make my lips feel soft but I think the buttery texture or the formula itself just makes it after a few hours have those dry little flakes at the edge of my lips and so that gets a bit annoying. But it does give a nice natural pink when applied onto my lips making it look nice and smooth but I definitely wouldn't get another one with its steep price in Australia. I got this as a birthday present if you're curious haha. But yeah, I think it really reminds me of the Revlon Lip Butters but with a more sheer and naturally slightly glossy finish that just makes your lips look nicely moisturised but not overly glossy. I'd still rather just have the Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm though, they're equally moisturising to me. But I do like the soft pink packaging and the product itself, I just don't think it's worth it. It also has this sweet buttery smell that I'm not very fond of.
- Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 20 Sand Sable
Rating: 4/5
Initially, I didn't understand what the hype was about with this but after trying it a couple more times, this is really good! At times, I just put this concealer on my face for all my problematic areas such as redness, around the mouth, under eyes etc and I'm done! It lasts all day and I do look a bit more tired at the end of the day which is normal so I like it. In addition, it doesn't feel like anything on my skin and does do a nice job of covering up my under eye circles. It doesn't completely cover them but it makes them look much brighter and I look more alive so I'm rather impressed. Very convenient and cheap for what it is capable for and definitely recommended and hyped up for a good reason! I already bought a back up and I rarely do that since I don't always put on makeup hahaha so that's how much I like it! :)
- IOPE Air Cushion XP SPF 50+/PA++ in N23
Rating: 2.5/5
I really wanted to like this especially since it's my first cushion but gahh this was so annoying to work with on my skin. I couldn't get it to work nicely on my skin for a longer period of time at all whether I used a primer or not or set it with powder or not zz. It always made me look flaky around my nose area after 1-2 hours and I would have to touch up very often throughout the day, I think it's probably just my dry and flaky skin since a lot of people seem to like it but it just wouldn't last very long on me. However, it does apply very easily and beautifully and the finish is very soft, natural and smooth. When I first put it on, I loved it, but yeah it doesn't last long enough for me so I can't like it.
(Purchased from: W2Beauty)
- Lord of the Rings Trilogy + The Hobbit By J R.R Tolkien
Rating: 4/5
I don't generally read fantasy and all that but I found LOTR and The Hobbit eye opening and quite amazing. When I first decided to watch the movies, I wasn't sure if it really was my cup of tea or not even though I ended up really liking them, then I hesitated on whether I should read the books and dayum I was hooked haha! I think that the feel the books and the movies give off are quite different even though the broad part of it is essentially the same although The Hobbit probably had many more things added into the movie which I honestly didn't mind since it felt sorta interesting and refreshing. I guess I liked both the movies and the books for their separate entities. The movies made me see how vast and how beautiful a world Tolkien had created whereas the books showed how important and how much of a change to story telling the difference in language could do. I rated the Hobbit and the trilogy both a 4 but for completely different reasons because they were enamouring in completely different ways, especially in the language.
For LOTR, I absolutely loved the way the story was told and the language, It was difficult at times to interpret since I usually read at night when I want to make myself sleep easier but every time I read LOTR, I ended up becoming more awake instead haha. As with the movie, I was always into Aragorn's part of the story instead but I was rather surprised that with how prominent Legolas seemed to be portrayed in the movies, his role was rather small in the books haha. I definitely liked the relationship between Gimli and Legolas more in the book though, I felt that I could really understand see the depth of their bond there more and Bombadil!~ Also, the movies didn't have the last part with Frodo and them driving Saruman out of the Shire which I thought was really amusing and I also felt that I understood the extent of the damage the ring had done to Frodo in the book as well. I used to always dislike Frodo but I felt that through the book, I could see things a bit better. But that might be me, I'm hardly a movie watcher so I always miss a lot of things when I watch them haha. But I think that if you liked the movies, you would definitely like the trilogy. The whole time I was reading, I felt like I discovered so many things again and understood the characters on a different level and the language!! The way Tolkien writes is simply amazing and probably the best thing about LOTR that couldn't possibly be interpreted through the movies because the characters' speech and story telling is so intertwined and perfectly complemented into a whole different world itself that whenever I read these books, I was in awe of how beautiful everything sounded and yet fit the setting of this story so well. Definitely a must read and a re-read!
When I first started the Hobbit, I was so surprised at the change in narration especially since this book revolves around Tolkien seemingly to be narrating this book as if he were telling an amazing story by a campfire or something because that was the image I had. But the simpler story telling didn't take away from the story at all because I really felt that this was a masterpiece alongside LOTR. I definitely liked Bilbo soo much more in the book and respected him so much more as well. I also felt closer to the other dwarves such as Balin, although in the movie, I felt much closer to Thorin and thought he was really cool in the movie in comparison to the book haha. Nevertheless, I don't want to keep going on and on until forever about the books ahaha but yes, the Hobbit is amazing in its own way even though it has a completely different style of writing to LOTR, but it also felt like it had a bit more warmth to the story in that I felt that I was discovering everything at the same time as everyone else and that I was somehow a part of the story as well like a child who was always curious to see what would happen to our heroes that we're friends with now. Whereas LOTR always made me feel like I was an outsider looking at the vastness of a world that I couldn't possibly comprehend but must see to broaden my horizons of what this world can really be like. They're very different books but exceedingly lovely in completely different ways and I can't recommend them enough.
- Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
Rating: 3/5
Personally, I really think this was one of Murakami's weaker books story-telling wise and content wise. I am still faithfully in love with Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and still think that was an amazing book even though it had a predictable end but I nevertheless loved how he showed everything. My other favourites would be Kafka on the shore and Wind-up Bird Chronicle. Then Dance Dance Dance and Norwegian Wood would be after those in ranking for me haha. But I love all of them of course and have his books happily in line on my bookshelf; it's so beautiful <3 But anyway, this book was...rather normal? I guess it might be better to read this if you're starting out reading his books but because I really wasn't a fan of it that I think you might as well read 1Q84 instead since that was my first Murakami book that made me kind of interested in his books, although Norwegian Wood was the one that made me have faith that the rest of them would be good and I'm so happy I bought and read them.
It really doesn't have much of the surreal stuff that Murakami likes to put in his books and is mainly about our main character Tsukuru Tazaki and his four friends having separated due to reasons he never really understood in which you uncover later but it just felt quite...I don't know, I just didn't like the reason at all because I guess it felt forced to me in that it could've been any story and it wouldn't have moved me or made me think it was a revelation of any importance at all especially since it never really made me curious about the entire reason since the main thing I got from this book was that no one is inherently special and what makes people special isn't the individual themselves but their charisma or their ability to keep things together? I read this a while ago so I can't really remember but I felt like all his friends were 'supposedly special' in their own way whereas our main character was 'normal', however, it seemed that what glued these special people together was in fact this normal person and thus making him actually the special one. I felt that it was an interesting and amusing way to show that but otherwise the story and pacing was rather meh to me. Not a must read but an OK one.
- Battle Royale (Novel & Manga) by Koushun Takami
Rating: 4/5
Don't ask me if this is similar to Hunger Games because I have no idea and don't care about all that drama about rip offs etc haha but I've heard of Battle Royale for a while now and so when I saw it at Kinokuniya one day, I purchased the book since it was a new edition as well. After that, I decided to read the manga but I skimmed a lot of it because of the really weird official English translation that I just could not bear lol. But I liked it and I would rate it the same as the novel but because of different reasons. The core of the story, the premise, the events are mostly the same in both the manga and the novel but there were some changes to the back stories and some deaths and events which makes it worth it to read both the manga and the novel because they were similar yet different. There were still many things to discover in the novel even after I had read the manga. The rest of the review will be spoilers btw haha. Just in case, Battle Royale is about junior high school students who are forcefully thrown into a death game with their classmates and thus having to compete to be the last one alive in order to return back to their normal lives. It's a program run by the government every year(?) and you'll never know which class will be picked because they might tell you something like you're going on a school trip but then end up on a deserted island having to kill each other for survival and in order to fuel the fights, each person is given a backpack with random weapons and then sent out. Also, if no one tries to kill each other or the quota is really being met, then everyone will die or something along the lines of that. It's a pretty cruel story.
So I'll be reiterating a lot of a previous blog post on my personal blog when I talked about this novel. I really think that the book and the manga make up for each other's shortcomings and really complete the story itself. I also really appreciate the extra work and development that went into the manga for the characters' back stories but I also really appreciate the minor details that the novel captured very nicely fro Kawada. I liked him much more in the novel. Souma Mitsuko was probably my favourite female character but I wasn't fond of the way she died in the manga. Mimura was relatively the same in both but seeing his character design in the manga, my goshh, he looks so cool! Hahaha. I think the manga did a great job depicting how frustrated and mentally tired he was but still persistent in the execution of his plan and I really admired him for that. Still super sad that he died :( He's my favourite male character after all haha. But I think the biggest difference between the novel and the manga would probably be Sugiuura's story. I feel so sorry for him in the novel! The way he died was so terrible! I guess the manga wanted to change that ending and that's why it's different but man, I felt so sad for him.
And Kawada's back story.. I think that they were both quite saddening. It's ether his girlfriend didn't trust him and ran away and then by the time he found her again, she was already dead or he didn't trust her and ended up shooting her. I think they're horribly tormenting outcomes. And I think Kawada's two different back stories in both versions really highlights the concept of trust portrayed through all the different characters. Just like how Sugimura believed in Kayoko because he loved her but she couldn't believe in him because his love was unrequited and she didn't really know him at all and thus leading to her thinking that he wanted to kill her and so she shot him. It really showed how the main theme of trust was prevalent in all the relationships of the characters and how every person reacted to it through this killing game. Like Numai Mitsuru, he believed in Kiriyama Kazuo, but what did he get in return? It also talked about conditional trust where Mimura found it hard to believe in Iijima because he failed him at one point in time in the past and so he thought he wouldn't be able to trust him when their lives were at stake. It really makes you wonder how much you really trust your friends in life and whether you really trust them at all. But then if it's relative, is it really trust I wonder? Although naive, I really liked Yuichiro. When he took the bullet for Mitsuko, I thought he was one of the only few that managed to keep to their moralistic principles even though thrown into this game, I could just never like Shuya and Noriko because they were always protected by Kawada. They didn't need to live the game for what it really was because Kawada saved them before they needed to change their way of doing things. They could keep with their idealism. I know, Shuya accidentally killed one of them and did experience stuff but he never really needed to worry as much because Kawada was so knowledgeable, strong and quick-witted. I guess I just felt sorry for the others because they didn't get to meet a Kawada. Many trusted like Shuya did but they always got betrayed. I really thought the lighthouse story was utterly devastating though. It was understandable that for the events to unfold like so but I still thought of it as deeply saddening. I don't think I'll ever be able to forget the impact of it on me. Was it because they didn't trust enough or did fear overwhelm them? I really wonder. Probably both I guess.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book and would read it again. It was very interesting and engaging. There are quite a few characters so initially it might be difficult to remember who is who and what they're doing but as you read on, you'll be able to know. I think the best thing about this book and the manga are the many characters that all have reasons to have become who they are and all have reasons to react as they did and for the events to unfold as so. I still think Kiriyama is pretty OP and rigged though lmao but whatever that's fine. Still pissed that he killed my favourite character. Apparently people have criticised the author's misinterpreted or lack of knowledge on guns but I don't know anything about that so I don't really mind and that's not really the main point of the story either. I think that the variety of stories and feelings accompanied with them really made the story what it was. I really liked it. I think that the manga develops a better foundation of the characters' personalities seen as Takami himself said that he improved on them in the manga and thus for a complete experience, reading the manga and then the novel would be recommended but I guess it depends on your preferences~ and I can't say anything about the movie since I didn't watch it since I'm not fond of movies especially for this story. I doubt they'd really talk about the side characters which I think enhanced the story and made the main characters' choices more relatable and engaging, But thinking about Battle Royale again, I really wonder how things would have turned out if Kiriyama's coin flip was heads instead of tails...
- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Rating: 4/5
This book was really beautiful. I really liked it. It follows the story of a butler in 1956 at Darlington Hall that decides to go on a trip to visit a friend and then reminiscing about the past that occurred during the war with an unrealised love. The story is rather slow and goes at a much slower pace than Never Let Me Go in that you don't really get what the author is trying to say through this story until the end when it comes back to the present in which although it didn't make me cry, it made me experience an enormous amount of loss even though I wasn't the butler himself.
I think I'll just reiterate what I wrote in my Goodreads review haha because the me at that time felt so much more strongly for it. I felt like the ending really showed how devastating life can be. The life our dear butler led was true to himself but it also wasn't. His life was for his career just like his father's once was and he utterly devoted himself to doing the best that he could but because of this, he lost something very important to him. He believed in a loyalty that wasn't right but also not wrong and the ending of that was immensely saddening. Just like another reviewer said "this book isn't about the things that happened, this book is about the things that didn't happen". It's a book about lost possibilities that can never be reversed and just like how he felt near the end, it was sincerely heartbreaking. The book definitely goes at a snail's pace but once you get to the end, you realise how important the parts you thought redundant actually were. The most saddening part of this book is how it resonates so truly with reality. Sometimes there are things we don't do because we thought we shouldn't and we couldn't that we end up regretting and destroying that possibility of a different life, a possibly better alternative. It made me think, life really isn't about a matter of right or wrong but whether you lived it to true to yourself and this quote really hit me:
'What is the point of worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one's life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and me at least try to make a small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that is in itself, whatever the outcome, cause for pride and contentment.'
I couldn't help but agree with this to an extent because as said above, it doesn't matter whether the life we lead is right or wrong as long as we chose it because we believed in it and believed that it was the right one. We can't help what path others choose in life but as long as we ourselves don't regret ours, it's fine. Although it was seen that he did have a great amount of regret but it was too late. There was nothing that could be done besides doing your best at the life that was supposedly wrong. But even if you believe it to be regrettable or wrong now, at one point in time, you would have surely believed that it was right so why don't we accept the responsibility of these choices and move on? That's how this book made me feel and I definitely would recommend it because of the impact it made on me.
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Rating: 4/5
Never Let Me Go follows the story of Kathy recollecting her past and thinking about her times in the institute called Halisham where her and her friends were once students at and recalling the strange and strict rules and weird happenings that made them come to be who they were now and how that would impact their present. The story isn't overly original since after reading for a bit, the story unfolds in a way that tells you what will happen and what is in store for our main character but it makes you hope otherwise. This is my first book by Kazuo Ishiguro and I can see why it was popular because it really was a beautiful story in how it was told rather than what it was told about. I really didn't expect anything much since it did have a slow and boring start but once things start to piece together as you go on, you really feel the impact of what these events occurring are doing to our characters. The events that unfolded felt like a message to the readers itself that the further science continues to develop and improve, the more we need to reflect on the ethics of our decisions to keep ourselves in check that we don't go overboard wherein it may torment or destroy us in the future. Personally, I really liked the position the author took in this story to tell it from the perspective of Ruth in such a way that it wasn't trying to make you feel especially sad for her but that it felt like he wanted to tell us that the possibility of this occurring isn't zero and that anything that has feelings probably also has a will to live. I really liked how the story was shown.
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
Rating: 3/5
With the hype that came with this, I honestly expected more but I yeah, I didn't like this as much as I wanted to. It's basically about a wife that was plotting to turn her husband's life upside down by framing him and making the police believe through the evidence she had scattered here and there and with her diary to show that he had killed her and that he was the worst husband ever or something along the lines of that. Personally, I didn't think Amy was very smart which I guess they weren't really trying to portray that since they wanted her to seem smart but be an idiot towards societal common sense or something with her losing her money which was probably the most cliché way ever to lose money. But I guess the driving force to making this book supposedly interesting was the fact that there could be such a person in this world who would go so far to make such an elaborate plan in order to make their partner suffer because they made you suffer, in which I found it amusing but nothing ground breaking because everything was quite predictable and I honestly thought she'd be a bit more messed up but instead she degenerated as the book went on.
The ending was also nothing very shocking although disturbing I guess since the husband's personality was not one that could probably "win" but you could see that all along. I guess it was amusing to see the husband suffer, although I literally laughed when Amy lost her money haha. Okay, okay, I'll stop being so cynical about this book lol. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good. I just felt that the characters were rather shallow and I just couldn't find it in me to care about any of them nor to care about Amy's plots or about the girl he was cheating on that everyone in the book applauded for getting out of this relationship with a 'bad' man when she was old enough to make her own decisions and take responsibility for her own actions. Yeah, I know why I don't like this book now, it wasn't the story that was bad, it was the characters. Let's just say, there was nothing in them that interested me and it wasn't because I couldn't handle how "real" they were as other people may have phrased. But obviously, my opinion is not of the majority since it's so popular and people love it. It just didn't give me that impact I wanted it to and it didn't make me think about it afterwards. Generally, I like books that make me question myself or just make me unable to tear myself away from the story after reading it but this simply wasn't one of them.
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Rating: 3.5/5
Hmm.. I can't really remember much about this because I read this early on in the year. Unlike Gone Girl that ignited my disbelief at how popular it was, I understood why this was popular to a certain extent since I did think this was enjoyable. The characters are rather young but I do believe that kids grow up when they are forced to grow up and are thus not limited by a number. I felt that the story was interesting wherein Ender was to be trained through a brutal program to make him become the best leader to push back the alien forces trying to annihilate the human race. I found the story interesting and Ender himself equally as amusing and that's why I liked this book. I wasn't too shocked at the ending since I was thinking that it was their plan but I wasn't sure and it turned out as it did but yeah apparently it's much better than the movie from my bro's perspective haha so might be good to check this one out~ However, I have to say I was absolutely disappointed in the sequel Speaker for the Dead and thus turning me off from the rest of the books simply because it had such a linear story line and everything that happened was so predictable, so cliché that I actually found it hard to believe it really happened exactly as I surmised from the beginning when they stepped on that planet or whatever. Oh and I didn't like Ender and the new characters this time around especially since the sister doesn't get screen time anymore haha.
- Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Rating: 3/5
Memoirs of a Geisha holds a special place in my heart since I've read this three times in the course of my life. Once when I was a child that didn't completely understand the Mount Fuji analogy for Chiyo's sister's breasts, another time in high school probably when I was so enamoured by Nobu that I could never understand why Sayuri didn't choose him, and now once again as an adult (in age) that couldn't help but laugh at how amusing the eel entering a cave and spitting analogy that Mameha spoke of to Sayuri haha. But if you haven't heard of this book, it basically tells of the story of a girl's experiences from a poor girl living in a village to becoming a very successful geisha and how she meets men who change her life, albeit one being the most special. I've always loved this book because of how interesting it was to a noob like me about inner workings of how geisha worked and what sort of experiences they may go through and I thought it was fascinating, especially the mizuage thing. Although I was definitely more fascinated as a high schooler than now of it. I still remember reading the part when the baron undressed her and feeling as violated as she was but now it seems that I've become more like how Mr Itchoda reacted to it I guess. But nevertheless, although I enjoyed the book, it did feel childish which to be fair, it is from her perspective and she is a child so I didn't mind too much.
But I personally never really liked Sayuri's character and although I remembered Nobu much mroe fondly in the past than when I read it again just now, I still found him as the most likeable character just because he never seemed to be a person that could ever have lost his bearings in life. He was a tad possessive and cruel and you could see how awkwardly Sayuri seemed to interact with him and so I never really supported their relationship but mostly because I think they didn't match and that Nobu should be glad he didn't end up with her because I really think he misjudged her on the part that he only seemed to look at her as what he thought she was and never who she was. But to be fair, she never showed him who she was because she only wanted to show the chairman that. But yeah, I still think Sayuri really just used everyone in this story to get what she wanted and the ending made it seem like it should be a Cinderella story or something but I found it rather mundane and to an extent disappointing that she ever hoped that Nobu would forgive her considering he was such a straightforward man that probably valued honesty more than that stupid plan she thought of to hurt him which just hearing the plan itself made me feel hurt for Nobu and pity for herself at the person she had become, but whatever, she's happy so her life her choice. I just didn't like it.
- Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari (Web Novel) by Aneko Yusagi
Rating: 3/5
Pretty sure I put this in my
2014 Favourites for the manga version so yeah I started reading the novel because waiting is not my forte lol and because I thought the story was really engaging. Basically, it's about heroes summoned to another world where magic and dragons exist and our main character is the shield hero in which isn't seen in the best light against the other heroes of the spear, sword and bow since he is unable to equip an offensive weapon and is stuck with a shield. He goes through pretty terrible treatment and is betrayed causing his personality to distort a bit and I have to say, reading that part in the novel (even though I've already read it) got my teary again. It's quite heartbreaking after all. But otherwise, the first part of the story is quite different to the rest in my opinion. Everything I liked about the novel disappeared after around 150+ chapters and I just couldn't really take the story seriously afterwards. It was still good here and there with the humour such as the Raph species and how important Raphtalia was to him but I felt like the initial betrayal in the first part became more of an excuse for a power-up. I'm not demeaning his experiences because I truly think they're terrible but I still think that the author was the one who pushed it down the drain.
I'd say, this story had a lot of potential from the beginning as it was obviously captivating to many and honestly, I did like it but I think it could've been better, or maybe I guess I wasn't really fond of the direction it went story-wise. Mid-way through it got a bit tedious and I also feel like it lost the dark part of the story quite quickly and turned into a cliché shounen, moreso in the last arc with the last boss. Even the author knew it was cliché seeing how death flags and power boosts were often mentioned on Naofumi's part haha. I'd say it's a nice story with quite a few characters and it has a nice fantasy feel to it but it definitely lacks character building. It also lacks character development of course because you can see through the story how every character's existence is merely to push our main character's existence into a better light or just as side kicks to make the story amusing. But I said character building because the other heroes' personalities and many other future characters' are quite static. It's not that they didn't have their individual personalities but more that they didn't have any life to them for me to really care about them. I really expected more to the other heroes, especially Ren but I guess how they turned out was interesting in itself. I guess I just couldn't like the other heroes because Naofumi (more the author) liked to brush off their personalities as whatever that is explained and that is their role. Their characters felt more like roles more than anything else, Other characters probably had more life to them than these guys.
A lot of people seem to have a problem with the main character's personality which obviously isn't the best but I think the main problem isn't that he's not a good person or anything like that but it's how the author decided to portray him. Personally, I think the MC's character is fine but I do have a problem with how it was handled I guess. I loved how the MC nicknamed his characters simple names like 'Female Knight' etc though hahaha, it's so funny and easy to remember lol. As for romance, I didn't expect much and you shouldn't really either. I can't really say I felt the romance either. It felt more like strong bonds that became lifelong partnerships rather than anything to do with romantic feelings. Well, I guess that's a form of romance as well. But yeah, the story itself wasn't really ground breaking or anything but enjoyable to a certain extent as a fantasy web novel. Overall, I'd say it was an okay read but nothing that I'd flip through again.
- Clannad (Visual Novel/PC)
Rating: 4.5/5
This time around, I was planning on reviewing Guild Wars 2 since I've played it ever since it came out but then I thought, since I recently played Clannad again with an unofficial English patch AND since the official English release is now out on Steam, I thought I'd review my love for this instead! <3 Everyone says the price of Clannad on Steam is crazy expensive but for the impact it had on me, I'd say it's totally worth it.
If you're unfamiliar with visual novels, they are generally stories with a few interactive elements where you make choices that will lead you towards different endings depending on the choices you make. In Clannad, this leads you to an ending with a different girl (usually) but there are endings that don't involve a girl. It's a story-driven game with static graphics so some might perceive it to be less engaging but with a story like Clannad, how could it not be interesting? Hahaha. Since this isn't really much of a game and I was more interested in the story than exploring the possibilities of various endings, I just looked at a walkthrough to get the girls I wanted hahaha. There is also an after story segment where it talks about the life of the main character with the main girl and their child etc. There isn't much to talk about Clannad besides the different routes so I'll talk about the main ones so there'll be spoilers ahead. Since it's a VN, you don't see much of the main character's face but he definitely has a story and a good one at that. Initially, the reason I played this was because I loved the anime but after playing this, I have to say the anime can't possibly compare to it. Not to mention, the different routes beside the main route are so heart-wrenching but interesting and I understand that the anime couldn't possibly incorporate him ending with different girls lol so I really prefer the VN in that factor. Although many others enjoy the after story arc the most, I personally loved the different girl routes the most. The story follows our protagonist Okazaki Tomoya who is a high school delinquent and meets the many different people (mostly girls) and thus changing the course of their lives by resolving their problems and thus changing himself as well in their last year of high school. Oh, and did I mention that the soundtracks are amazing?! They are absolutely beautiful and they fit the moods extremely well and really enhanced my experience, it is an absoluteee must that you play this even if it's just for the soundtracks haha <3
Fuuko's Path: I remember when I first watched Fuuko's story in the anime, I thought it was extremely touching and wonderful as a story. I don't think the anime deviates from the VN too much but I absolutely loved how Tomoya interacted with her with their silly antics such as putting a straw up her nose whenever she starts daydreaming into her own little world of starfish haha. Not only is her story funny but it is also heart-wrenching in that everything she was doing was for her sister and seeing her efforts towards it was simply beautiful. Fuuko is such a cute character that I just couldn't help but be fond of her and it was a saddening story as well as everyone started to forget about her. I honestly cried. I cried so hard when Tomoya forgot and then remembered and when the other characters such as Sanae really wanted to see her but they couldn't. She's one of my favourites. But then again, I like all of the routes haha.
Kyou/Ryou's Path: Personally, I wasn't too fond of the twins' paths but I know that a lot of people are a fan of Kyou so la-di-da~ Hahaha, I enjoyed Kyou's route but I guess there was so much drama, I wasn't that fond of it but it was realistic in that Kyou is that kind of person after all so it couldn't be helped that everything had to happen that way. I didn't like Ryou's path at all because I don't think Tomoya and her match and it felt like quite a forced relationship? I don't know, it was cute but the other paths were better so I couldn't really like it. As for Kyou, she's an adorable person after all and her little boar hahaha, it was a fun story and I was happy how he ended up with Kyou, she's so beautiful~~
Misae's Path: Misae is one of the paths where Tomoya doesn't actually end up with the girl and I'm happy that he doesn't because he really shouldn't. I'm a sucker for these stories where the girl is always waiting for the one she loves and so I just couldn't help but love this one. Especially since Misae is a wonderful person and she is cute in a different way. Her story was one of lost and one that impacted her so much that she decided to work at the boy's dorm near the school to wait for the boy she loves to come back and fulfil his promise, in which he did at the end of another path. When I saw that, tears came to my eyes because she finally realised that he was there beside her all along, It was a bit of a mystery in who the boy was and everything and I found it very heart-warming that they were both so devoted to each other.
Koumura's Path: This is the path of Tomoya's past homeroom teacher (?) that is going to retire and it talks about the impact that he made on both Tomoya and Sunohara (protagonist's friend that's there for gags) and how he orchestrated their meeting to become the good friends that they are. I found this story very refreshing and nice at the same time in how teachers could be people who don't pressure you into living a certain way but hope to help you in their own way so that your life won't be as destructive and desolate as it could have been. He showed how much he cared for his students in a way that Tomoya and Sunohara appreciated immensely.
Tomoyo's Path: This is also a very popular favourite path since everyone likes Tomoyo and I admittedly do as well but not as much as everyone haha. I think the best thing about her route is how she kicks Sunohara and makes those 15 hit combos etc hahaha. It was also hilarious in how Sunohara kept annoying her and trying to beat her, they were so enjoyable lol. As for the romance between Tomoya and her, she's probably the only girl besides Nagisa that actually went to his house and tried to interact with his dad. I thought they were really cute together and matched each other pretty well and I did like how they went on their own paths so that she could achieve what she needed to do before they reunited once again. But it wasn't my favourite since it involved a lot of drama about how he was a delinquent and she was running for Student Council President for a really important reason but that made the ending so much sweeter I guess~
Yukine's Path: I love Yukine. She's probably one of the most underrated heroines but I love her. Some might think that her path was boring but I absolutely loved how soothing of an existence she was. Her soundtrack 'Tea in the Reference Room' always makes me feel so relaxed. In addition, her story is one that isn't exactly simple either. I think her story really showed the expectations of parents wanting their children to be top tier and how much this can affect them but I also think it illustrates how there doesn't need to be any great events for romance and a trusting relationship to develop. I really liked her relationship with Tomoya and I was so happy at how he announced their relationship in front of everyone. She's a very calming but strong character and I love her funny spells haha!
Kotomi's Path: Kotomi is hands down my favourite girl. She has everything I love in a character. She's cute, she tries hard and her story is really saddening. She's the only girl I could never possibly forget about. Which is why it is so saddening that Tomoya had actually forgotten all about her even though she remembered him and thought about him all those years. I feel like she's the one that loves him the most so I was really sad that the anime dismissed Kotomi's love for him. Kotomi's a pretty awkward but funny girl and her path is probably the only one that really unites all the girls together into being her friends with their funny antics as she plays the violin and always wants to share her food. When I found out about her story, I thought it was really saddening especially that teddy bear that finally came back to her hands but having to experience all that must have been so terrible and I honestly thought that the way Tomoya helped Kotomi was beautiful. Making that garden look like how it used to be touched my heart but of course I do admit that even if Tomoya didn't remember her, she would still have been able to overcome her problems with the teddy bear but I always thought, why couldn't it be her? Why can't she be the main girl? She loves him just as much. I know, I know, it's stupid of me to think like that, Nagisa complements him very well, but I still love Kotomi the most.
Kappei's Path: This was a path that I really didn't expect to like so much. It follows Tomoya's meeting with a random boy and becoming friends with him as he goes from job to job. It's so funny how he ends up getting fired here and there until he finds the job that suits him most and I think it's so cute how him and Ryou go together. They're such a stupid but cute couple haha! Although it was rather heart-wrenching near the end, I mean, if my whole life's meaning was staked on running and you took that away from me, I think it'd be hard to not think like him but I did think it was cute how Ryou tried to pretend she was pregnant to get him to find another reason to live haha. Another beautiful story without the need of romance for Tomoya,
Mei's Path: Mei's path/Sunohara's path is probably my second most favourite after Kotomi. At first, I really didn't expect much since it was just Sunohara's sister after all but I love how level-headed she is but yet so willing to help and sacrifice for her brother. I also thought Tomoya and her are quite cute together and I love how Sunohara didn't interfere because he knew that if it's Tomoya, he can entrust her to him. I couldn't stop crying when she tried so hard to get the soccer club members to allow Sunohara back into the club though. I guess it was a bit exaggerated but I think if my dream of playing soccer in those important matches were barred because of the actions of Sunohara, I would've really hated him as well. Although the way they treated Mei was still over the top but it was also because of that, that when Sunohara appeared to help her, I couldn't stop crying, because after all, it is the brother's job to protect the sister right? Sunohara and Sanae's relationship was quite funny as well haha, albeit frustrating at times since you really wanted him to care for Mei more instead.
Nagisa's Path: Nagisa's path is the only one where you can actually properly see and feel Tomoya's strained relationship with his father and how Nagisa helps him try to deal with these problems and help him instead of Tomoya always helping the girl. Although physically weak, Nagisa's strength comes from within herself and probably the power of her united family always supporting her. I thought it was really touching how her parents sacrificed their dreams for her and when Akio screamed saying that right now, their dream is for her dream to come true. Although her path is ridden with a lot of pain and meekness, you can see how strong of a person she is and how admirable she is as well. I really respect Nagisa and think that she's so innocent and wonderful haha. I guess the best thing about Nagisa's path is how Tomoya and her grow as people together as they step by step change each other for the better and become stronger for each other. I really liked that.
After Story
This is the continuation of Nagisa's story where it talks about Tomoya and Nagisa's married life and how they work to make their comfortable little home and then the tragic story with the child.
Main Path: I think what I liked about the main path the most was Sanae's story (I think it was this path), where there was going to be a new bigger cram school opening and she was going to leave the students that were currently learning from her to them but then after revealing her true feelings, she tells them that she wants to keep teaching them after all. I thought it was really sweet and it really shows how much Akio understands her and how even though Sanae is very mature and dependable, she has something she cares very much about as well besides Nagisa. I love how Akio and Sanae provided the warm family that Tomoya needed and I loved how they all interacted with each other haha, so funny and kind.
Another story I liked was also how the grandmother of Tomoya tells him the story about his dad (her son). Of course, it doesn't change the fact that Tomoya was quite neglected throughout his family life after his mother died but it really puts into perspective how devastating an impact it was for his father and that although it never healed, he tried his best in his own way to fulfil his own duties as a father. It really shows that parents aren't perfect human beings and that it is extremely hard to be. Ushio's story has always been one I thought was nice but never really liked that much, compared to other people anyway haha. She is cute though. I think from Ushio's story, the thing I felt the most was the impact of Nagisa's death more than anything. Tomoya was very lucky to have Sanae to take care of her before he could try and face her again, Tomoya's father didn't have that. And having to watch Akio and Sanae having to go through the death of their child was so heartbreaking, they're the best characters ever!
I also really love Yuusuke's story.
Not sure if this was in here or Fuuko's story but I loved it. His past, his present and his future. You could really feel the weight of everything and you could really feel how much of a blessing Ibuki Kouko was to him. I really like them, especially how he and Tomoya bond as co-workers. It really makes you think about how easily your life can be shattered because of one thing that breaks your rhythm. It's like when you constantly repeat your routine of work/school every single day and then suddenly when you or someone else questions what is the meaning of your life and then you don't remember how to live this same life anymore upon this realisation. Although I guess what affected Yuusuke most was that he was making an impact on people but he couldn't withstand the pressure of it because of their expectations and their reliance on him when all he really did was sing for himself and when he realised that there were people he was saving out there, he couldn't sing the same way anymore because he started thinking that he needed to care about them when his songs weren't something like that. It was quite a powerful story that I could never really forget about either.
Akio's Path: I love Akio, so anything related to him is good. This story really just makes you think that it's such an Akio story haha. Really cool, really gentle and true to himself. Hard on Sanae though to have to always worry about him! But, she loves him because he is like that so it's okay.
True Ending: To be honest, I'm not very fond of the whole lights thing that made Nagisa's death be reversed very interesting or anything but I did think it was nice because then they wouldn't need to experience all that sorrow and with Nagisa's optimism, they will definitely be a very warm family. But yeah, I like how Fuuko finds the lonely girl and becomes her friend. I felt so happy for her. I hope she can deal with Fuuko's weirdness though hahaha!
Overall, I love Clannad. I still love it to this day and I know that I will in the future play this game again and again. Just because I love Kotomi, Mei and Yukine. Actually, I love Misae and Fuuko as well haha. I guess I loved the variety of characters to choose from and that I truly felt that the main point of the game wasn't the romance aspect which I loved. Nagisa and Tomoya's path although filled very much with love, it showed something much more special in which they embraced each other's flaws and pushed each forward to go on and remained by the side of each other in support. I thought their relationship was a very simple (to the point it could be even seen as boring) but beautiful connection that I wouldn't mind seeing again and again because that's how I feel relationships should be despite my favourite girl still being Kotomi.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (PS4)
Rating: 3/5
Story/Art: First things first, I loved how pretty Kurasame looked with his Tonberry omg. One of my favourite monsters (aside from the cactuar) with the best looking guy in the game. Qator looked good as well <3 But anyway, just wanted to fangirl for a moment. As for the story, nope, didn't resonate with me at all. I know this is a remake of the original PSP game with better graphics, more difficulties etc but judging as a Playstation game for a console, it really lacked a certain depth to the story. Set in the world of Orience where the world is governed by the Crystals, we have 14 main characters to choose and play with that are in Class Zero; an elite group of students under the Vermilion Bird symbol. Basically, there are four nations separated into the legendary Suzaku, Genbu, Seiryuu and Byakko that you would commonly hear about in a lot of stories and our main enemy throughout the game would be those flagging under the White Tiger as the Milites Empire that is trying to take control of the other states and that thus starts the war in this story that lasts the whole game. Interestingly, we of the Vermilion Bird rely on our Crystal to use magic whereas the Milites Empire are capable of extracting the powers of the Crystal and using it to fuel their magitek armours etc. I liked how different the respective nations were. Mainly, the story from my perspective was just about us being attacked and we having to retaliate and winning when an apocalyptic happening occurs and we just roll along with that. I felt like a machine playing this game just because my characters and my purpose was simply to accomplish the missions set out by us from the Dominion (our nation) and be the best at it.
But anyway, I wasn't a fan of the story. Personally, I didn't think it was engaging at all and I simply could not care for the ending and no tears were shed despite it supposed to be moving. Mainly because I never really felt connected with our main characters. You don't really spend much amount of time understanding any of the characters at all besides the idea that they're not the same as the other cadets in this institute and that it's easier to remember the 14 of them through what their individual weapon is rather than their names. So honestly, I really couldn't empathise with their situations at all especially Rem's and Machina's. Rem's cliché sickness and Machina's problems that I just couldn't (and didn't want to) acknowledge and care about just because an idiot that didn't understand anything but yeah everything was quite predictable and linear. I'd say, this game is mainly worth playing for the gameplay and not the story. The art isn't my cup of tea either since everyone is so pretty and dazzling in the same way with no unique features for me to differentiate between them. Half the time I didn't care what the story was about anymore just because the missions were more challenging and interesting than it. I'd say the main point of this game would be the missions rather than the story and that the story is just a side thing during your free time between missions. I guess the story just plays out in a very different style where it's like a recap of events of what happened etc and it made me feel like an outsider even though I was playing this game as the main characters so it just didn't feel very immersive.
Gameplay: At first, I really didn't like the gameplay but after getting used to it, I didn't mind it. It isn't particularly hard either so with some practice, you get the hang of it, Since it's a real time action RPG, you use one character at a time but unlike other games like the Tales series, you aren't able to make your other team members prioritise on specific commands such as healing or attacking so there were many moments when they infuriated me to no end. But basically, with the four buttons on the controller, one is your normal attack, the other would be a special attack you choose from the abilities you can learn with growing levels that is specific to the character you choose since they all learn their own different abilities related to their individual weapons, the third would be offensive magic that is very simply differentiated between fire, ice and thunder and then further split into categories on whether it is single target, long range, close range etc and the last would be defensive magic with you being able to choose between Cure, Esuna etc.
Personally, I wasn't a big fan of the combat system as I said above since you can't give other characters more detailed commands and magic is a very limited aspect where it really doesn't matter which one you're using since there isn't a variety to use. I also didn't like that there isn't a button for blocking and that you had to equip it instead of Cure to block. Although, of course you could dodge so it doesn't really matter but I like the option. I also didn't like that you can't flee battles gahh, that annoyed the heck out of me. You have to wait for them to kill you and then the monster flees and then you can regain control with a reserve character forcing you to return to the nearest town to resurrect the fallen team members. I also didn't like that you can't save on the main map and you can't change your equipment and skills unless you're at a save point. I was so annoyed with this aspect of the game. When you're buying equipment, it doesn't compare your current weapon to the one in the shop either so that was a minus for me. Oh, and I absolutely hated the level 99 monsters on the world map, completely redundant besides to annoy you in the first playthrough.
Otherwise, the main characters I liked to play with were Queen, Cater, Trey and Seven. They're all quite straightforward so I liked them. The good thing about having 14 characters is that there's bound to be one that you like. I also enjoyed the fact that it was usually important to have at least 4 characters that you should know how to properly use since there are some missions where you may have 2 parties, but there were only like two so you really only need 2 characters that you especially like to use. But yeah, I like games where they make you use many different characters. Most of the missions involve the classic combat of running into enemies and smashing their head in but there are the occasional real time strategy missions where you've gotta direct armies to bases to take over them but it's so simple, they're impossible to fail. I always got an S rank for those.
Oh and it seems that in order to save time, instead of always having to run around on the world map to engage in battle, they made the option that you can fight the same battle with the same monsters that upgrade in levels each time you choose to continue battling. I liked that. And during missions, if you want more of a challenge, you can accept special orders that are optional objectives for you to complete where if you fail, you can die so that makes it a bit more exciting doesn't it? On another note, the last boss fight was so underwhelming, has no relation to skill whatsoever, probably the most boring last boss fight I've ever played so don't expect much if you play this. I was utterly disappointed with that fight. If you're trophy person and a perfectionist, be glad, because the trophies are very easy to achieve although I did need help from the Internet for ones like getting the airship (that isn't very useful). Forgot to mention, I also didn't like the fact that when characters die, they disappear quite fast so it's hard to resurrect them. I know it's more 'real' if everything keeps moving whilst I'm trying to use items but man I would've liked it more if you pressed the directional button down twice that instead of using the equipped item such as a potion or whatever you chose, it would show an item menu or something. But I'm just complaining and being nitpicky I guess, I never used anything except the later parts of the game with Hi-Potions, especially for the Iron Giants when I dodged the wrong way lol.
Music: As a fan of most FF music soundtracks, this aspect didn't disappoint. Well, not much anyway, besides the rehash of the prelude theme the first few times you step into Akademeia making me think that I'm actually on the title screen or something like it is used in other FF games so that took a while for me to get used to haha. Otherwise, I thought the music suited the game very well atmosphere-wise. Not only did the tracks sound beautiful but they really helped to enhance the experience in that it portrayed the vision of a difficult world wrought with war and lost but despite the infinite amount of reasons to despair, there was always a stronger reason to rise up against the tides of fate I suppose. It gave off that feeling a lot which was what made the music memorable despite the game itself being an entirely different story. Hmm, if I had to choose a favourite, I always felt super hyped up for battle with Divine Fire so that was awesome as a battle theme but I really liked the feelings Choosing How to Die made me feel emotionally. But all the soundtracks are quite similar in that they are all arranged in a similar style so it's really you either love it or hate it.
Overall, it was an all right game but I'm more of a person that prefers an engaging story along with a fun combat system and thus I prioritise story and characters over gameplay so, sadly, I don't have the motivation to play this on a second playthrough even though the combat system is quite fun in its own respect. But yeah, I'd say I'm more disappointed with it even though I am quite attached to the music.
In the past, like ever since I was 12 y/o I've been in love with anime but that love died down after watching a couple of disappointing ones in the past few years and it doesn't help when you see the generic harems and fanservice shows. But since Durarara!! was coming back with new seasons this year, I decided to start again and watch a couple of new ones and watch a couple old ones that I've been wanting to watch.
- Shokugeki no Soma
Rating: 4/5
This one was probably easily my favourite in the 2015 anime lineup this year. Honestly, I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did especially because of the English name 'Food Wars' (which I thought sounded really lame lol) and the literal food porn that people associated with it haha. It wasn't as bad as I thought, just some nudity and tentacle stuff + noises but I'd say it's pretty tame compared to a lot of others.
It's basically about a guy named Soma going to study at the most prestigious and harshest culinary school and meets different sorts of people and friends and battle each other with their cooking. I'd say it's like a cooking version of Yakitate Japan in the aspect of fighting each other through food with the extreme reactions and the delicate detail to explaining what is in the food. I hope it doesn't go down the super exaggerated path that Yakitate Japan did though haha. However! One good thing about Shokugeki no Soma is that if you're interested in any of the recipes shown in the anime/manga, you can actually make them in real life! Since there is actually a real chef that cultivates these recipes and there is even a recipe book in the manga. I really like that aspect of it.
Story-wise, I'd say I was pretty hooked to this anime, well, enough for me to binge read the manga in 2 days haha. I'm sort of sad that they didn't add the Megumi & Isshiki ping pong part to the anime since it made her look so much cooler though! But otherwise, pretty good pacing, likeable characters for sure. I'd have to say my favourite characters would be Nakiri Alice and Takumi Aldini. Has the classic shounen feel to it with Soma being a skilled amateur chef where he always surprises others with his cooking and innovative methods to cooking and attracting other people to it. I guess the thing I like about Soma is that the main character is someone very normal and acknowledges his failures so readily that you'd think he's inhuman in a different way haha. The food of course looks amazingly appetising and since you know these are real recipes, it really makes me want to try them out and see if the karaage chicken could really look so succulent haha! Well, this is technically mainly a food blog so how could I not love an anime about food? Hahaha. It has been announced that there's going to be a sequel so people who don't read the manga will finally be able to see the conclusion of the tournament! But it was nevertheless entertaining so even if you can't see the conclusion for now, it shouldn't be too much of a cliffhanger. Oh and I'm rooting for Megumi obviously haha. P.S Shinomiya is my favourite outside of the school <3 I mean, who doesn't love him?!
- Overlord
Rating: 3/5
Personally, I had high hopes for this one especially since the first episode really intrigued me and also hit a bit close to home for me as well. It's another one of those stuck in a game stories with a bit more of a dark theme to it as the main character is a skeletal mage that tries to find others that are stuck in the game but has no qualms to taking human life which is possibly the effect of him being an stuck in his undead form in this world. The reason that it hit home to me though was because of his emotions (that is rarely shown) to his guild members that had all left due to real life. It really makes me think about the online friends that I had made in the past that had left me behind and some that I had probably left behind as well. Though, my feelings are probably not as close and deep as Momonga's was to his guild members.
I really wanted to like this anime. But as an anime, I think it really lacked a lot of things. It lacked character development and explanations for a lot of things. I'm not sure if the novel is the same but my brother said the novel is more detailed so I'd like to think of the anime as more of an introduction and promotion of the novel because although it was interesting to watch this and the fights were relatively amusing, half the time I was watching this I didn't see what the main character was really after and I'm sort of conflicted on what kind of person he is since he acts really human at times but he can't seem to care less for them at other times. I'll probably try reading the novel. But anyway, the last battle with Shalltear was something I couldn't really be hyped up for because I have no idea what his skills and buffs do nor do I know what her skills do and I just think it really takes away from the experience. Or maybe I just love RPGs and just love knowing what every skill does but it was quite underwhelming for me. Personally, I thought the 13 episodes felt really rushed and lacked depth. The opening and ending songs are pretty cool though. But if you like watching an OP main character kick some ass, which I didn't mind in that aspect, then it was an okay watch especially with the variety of Guardians of Nazarick. They're all very interesting in their own way and the character design for their appearances are quite unique and majestic.
EDIT: I read the novel, definitely like it more than the anime because I felt like I could understand it better but I still do feel like Momonga lacks depth as a character in comparison to others such as Sebas and Climb or even Brain Unglaus but obviously these characters can't carry the story by themselves so I would rate the novel the same albeit with a clearer vision of how Overlord is portrayed through the fan translations.
- Yamada-kun to 7-nin no Majo
Rating: 2.5/5
To be honest, a big part of why I came back this year to watch anime was because I was hyped to see this animated. Obviously, it was disappointing as well though! It talks about Yamada falling down the stairs one though and accidentally kissing a girl called Shiraishi and they end up swapping bodies. In which they later find out that there are other people in the school, namely the witches that each possess a different power and Yamada and his friends look for them and so on. Really cool to see everyone animated and moving but...
I can't even judge it without bias because this was super rushed! It practically introduced a new character every episode! By the time I watched through 10 episodes, I gave up. I thought I might as well just read the manga again because this lacked any sort of depth and character development to it. If I didn't read the manga, I'd be so confused as to why was all this shit happening and what was the point of all this. It was nice to see all the witches again though, that was nice~ But otherwise, this was absolutely disappointing. It has the gist of the story but it really took away the interactions and relationship building between the characters that was quite fundamental to the story and probably the core of the story (to me).
- Durarara!!x2 Shou & Ten
Rating: 3.5/5
Since these two are a sequel, it's hard to make comments without spoiling but if you're a person like me that enjoys awesome characters in a mediocre setting with an averagely amusing plot, you'd like this. When I watched the first season years ago, I was instantly hooked. I couldn't even say why at the time because I really didn't understand what it was that attracted me to this but after reading the novel, I can honestly say that what makes Durarara good isn't exactly the story but instead the characters. There's not a single character that is mundane. Maybe except the new ones because there isn't much about them yet or I just don't care about them since I don't really like Aoba or Varona but I love Izaya's sisters. I think for this, you'd have to watch it to know whether you enjoy it or not. My brothers have watched it and they can't see why I like it so much haha. But I guess I love how Celty is supposed to be the weirdest out of them all and yet she is the most human and I love Seiji's stalker/girlfriend Harima Mika. When she said she'd eat Celty's head so that Seiji would love her forever, I fell for her. Absolutely weird and crazy but I love that about her. So yeah, I go with my feelings more for this anime than logic. I think I sort of prefer the novel though, I feel like I understand the characters more and can see the details more clearly in there. I'm happy that Yen Press has licensed the novel but I'm so sad that it's going to take me a couple of years to see the rest of the novels :(
- Arslan Senki
Rating: 3.5/5
After reading a bit of the manga, I was really hyped to seeing this animated! Yeah, I've probably said that for something else already hahaha but I was excited for this. It's based on the novel by Tanaka Yoshiki and is drawn by the mangaka of Full Metal Alchemist. I read an article with someone comparing this to FMA and no, you really shouldn't, they're very different. It talks about the prince named Arslan who goes on his maiden battle and due to the betrayal of a trusted official that the king trusted in, they lose and the kingdom is overthrown and thus Arslan ends up having to gather allies with his loyal knight to reclaim the kingdom.
When I first read the manga, I was quite taken with how the initial battle was portrayed and how realistic it felt for the events following to happen. Seeing it animated gave a similar feeling and I personally really liked it since I love all the characters in his group especially Narsus and Daryun. Although it does get a little repetitive in the later episodes with Narsus constantly outwitting the opposing army, it is also an important show of how valuable he is as a strategist and tactician. I think it also really shows how a king isn't necessarily the most capable person ever through his own personal capabilities but through the demeanour he carries and who is willing to follow him. It's quite saddening that it ended when it got the most interesting though. So excited that they've announced that there will be a sequel in 2016! I can't wait! ^^ If you like anime about war and kingdoms + kind prince + strong followers, you'd probably like this. I thought it'd be more bloody like the beginning but it's quite tamed in that aspect.
- Gate: Jieitai Kanochi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri
Rating: 3/5
When I watched this with my brother, I was utterly fascinated by it. If only I wasn't desperate to know what happens next ughh~ I'm sure I would've liked this more if I didn't read the manga but inevitably I did and I can't help but compare now and so the manga is definitely better. This is the story about a gate opening in the Ginza district in Japan where monsters and knights from middle age Europe apparently flood there killing civilians left and right until the Japanese military army takes care of them. Due to the appearance of this mysterious gate that is linked to an alternate world, you get to see Itami's experiences as a soldier there as he meets elves and other beings as well as the politics surrounding other countries desiring a vast untainted alternate world for resources.
Anyway, after reading the manga I can see why a lot of fans are dissatisfied with how cutesy a lot of the characters had become and probably beautified x 10000. It also doesn't help that it's not as gory or bloody which in my opinion really extracts a core element to the story. Like how the rogue soldiers that attacked the town incited the villagers to attack them because they were hurting another villager or being disrespectful to the corpse (I don't remember) but in the manga, it was much more disgusting in that they were defiling the corpse of someone's partner which was a woman and it was her naked corpse. The sight of that got my blood boiling let alone the partner of that woman and so I thought it was a much more understandable reaction in the manga rather than the anime.
To be honest, I don't really know how they plan to animate the parts with the
*SPOILER* captured Japanese girl that's one of Zorzal's sex slaves. I mean the big reaction on Itami's end was completely understandable seeing that she was pulled in with a chain around her neck and she was completely naked. It was so revolting that I was so glad Itami beat him up.
*SPOILER END*
But yeah, I personally think that the nudity and blood is quite important in this and so I don't really know whether the 2nd season will be worth watching. I don't like how cutesy they are as well gahhh. But otherwise, I think it's pretty interesting and worth a watch. I just can't give it a higher rating knowing that the manga portrays the characters and events in a better light. Otherwise, I really like the interactions between the modern Japan and the alternate world. It's always fascinating to see how people in the past could've reacted to modern technology and how they would have fared. I like the concept of it but I think the story neglects a part of the alternate world that could be explored much more such as magic and just the alternate world in general since it focuses a lot on the politics and interactions between the worlds that it sort of lacks some sort of foundation for the two worlds.
- One-Punch Man
Rating: 4/5
One word. Epic. Honestly, I didn't think I'd like it as much as I thought I would considering I'm more of a manga person but wow. The animation for this is absolutely amazing! It was simply ground-breaking how beautiful everything was, it really felt like animation at its' finest. Personally, I'm still a bigger fan of the manga since you can really see Murata Yuusuke's art really shine there, it's even more amazing than the anime (in my opinion) since I could really see them all moving through his art. I was so shocked at how beautiful his work is. But yeah enough about the art haha!
Well, if you're an anime fan, it's hard for you to not have heard of One Punch Man but I'll say my bit about it anyway. I'm very sad that this ended on 12 episodes since it could've gone on for much longer but I'm still satisfied since it ended very nicely with his consecutive normal punches! Omg! Hahaha! When I first read that in the manga, I couldn't stop laughing hahaha! Simply put, the story revolves around our literal hero Saitama that inevitably defeats every villain with one punch and has thus caused him to become incredibly bored with his powers in which leads him to meeting our other heroes such as Genos who is a cyborg attempting to find out the secret to Saitama's powers and then ending up becoming his disciple haha.
I think what attracts people to One Punch Man (besides the awesome animation) would be the idea that extravagance isn't needed as a hero. This is readily seen in how our hero obviously looks like the dullest character ever but he is so adorable at the same time lol. But he looks mega cool when he's serious so of course it has those shounen moments. But most of the cliché shounen moments would be done by Genos and the other heroes and the villains. Although there are so many monsters of the day/ep, I never ever found it boring just because of the sheer variety of them, how detailed they are, how crazily intricate they look and their funny and interesting motives. I love that OPM excels in its' humorous side and serious side. I love how serious Mumen/Licence-less Rider is and how kind he is! He really goes to show that there is a limit to what you can do when you're weak but even then it doesn't matter because your'e fighting for what you believe in. I guess I just love how OPM interweaves an abundance of characters whether it be heroes or villains but still make them so memorable that it's quite impossible to forget who they are and what kind of person they are. Thoroughly impressed with the anime and would definitely recommend it.
-
Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu/ Parasyte - The Maxim
Rating: 3.5/5
I tried this out because my bro told me to watch it with him and I was hooked after the first episode. To be honest, what hooked me wasn't entirely the story itself but the background music. When I first head the 'unofficial' Migi's Theme, I thought it sounded so awesome, I was instantly captured by its sound. And that's why I continued and frankly, I did rather enjoy this. This is the story of how one night some parasitic aliens invaded Earth quietly by taking over the brains of many humans and thus controlling these human bodies by entering through the humans' ears or noses. One parasitic alien ends up failing to get to the brain of our main character Shinichi because he was wearing headphones and thus settles for his right hand. This in turn allowed Shinichi and our parasitic alien later named Migi to be forced to live with each other but of course this leads to problems as other parasites are causing trouble with their human hosts and eating other humans.
The manga for this is pretty old since when I first watched this, my bro told me that he had read it ages ago. But I think the story, the music and the characters were rather interesting. But the main reason I liked this would be because of Migi and the fights. Or well, I guess I was just really interested in what exactly Migi was although that was never really clarified besides the fact that these parasitic aliens are very capable at adapting to their environment and were thus seen to be very intelligent if given time. Personally, I was always interested in Ryouko(?) because it felt like she was a representation of how the gears of this world with the parasites and the humans were changing and evolving into a very different but the same world. I'm so shocked that Hirano Aya is the VA for Migi because I absolutely loved Migi's voice. As for the other girls in this show~ meh~ They didn't really have much of a role. I was sad about Kana though because I was fascinated that she was so obsessed with the soul mate sorta red string of fate thingo. I kinda wanted her to be developed as a more important character but yeah~ Otherwise, I really liked Migi because of how logical he(?) was about everything but in the end possessing something similar to a human heart some may say. The ending wasn't very satisfying but the journey was good, so why not give this a try?
- Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Rating: 4/5
Well, this obviously isn't an anime that came out this year but I watched it during my uni break and I added it because I liked it but I really don't want to delve too much in it because I've had so many rants about this on my personal blog already lol. It's about a boy named Gon Freeccs who aims to become a Hunter to search for his father and ends up meeting a variety of people and venturing into the unknown parts of the world and getting stronger etc. It's a classic shounen after all. It doesn't need much of a premise because the fights and the story that comes afterwards is most important in which I believe Hunter x Hunter shows that really well. It's probably my most favourite shounen manga.
As many of you may already know, there is a 1999 and a 2011 adaptation and I'll probably do a more detailed review on the two on another post since if you let me rant on about this, the post will never end lol so I'll just talk about the 2011 adaptation. I really liked this, especially the soundtrack, although it got a bit annoying during the Chimera Ant arc but otherwise, fabulous soundtrack that is quite catchy and energetic at most times since Gon is such a lively character. The good thing about Hunter x Hunter is that raw power doesn't necessarily define the outcomes of battles and is instead more a battle of plans and wits which I believe is one of the best aspects of it. However, I do have to say that Killua looked a bit too cute for me in the 2011 version lol. But otherwise in general, explanations of the different powers and skills of the various characters is quite detailed and easy to understand, story is easy to follow as well but the emotions it evokes from the characters' stories are very enamouring.
I believe that what makes Hunter x Hunter shine really are the characters, especially the Spiders who are considered the villains in the story to an extent but their characters are so wonderfully portrayed that I can't help but love them. It's definitely a must watch but I do have to say that the Hunter Exam arc which is the first arc in this adaptation was more disappointing to me since there were some changes to it from the manga that I would've liked to have stayed the same as the manga such as Killua crushing Jones'(?) heart in his hand instead or Kite appearing as the first character in this entire thing and the sushi part of the exam but otherwise, the rest of arcs aren't very different and definitely exciting as well as interesting. If you're a fan of shounen with a touch of some darker emotional aspects + amazing side characters, you'd probably love this. But if you're a fan of shounen, it's pretty hard not to know about HxH in the first place hahaha.
- NANA
Rating: 4.5/5
NANA is most definitely my most favourite manga of all time. I've watched the anime at least twice and I've read the manga countless times. But alike Hunter x Hunter, there is no ending to it because it is on indefinite hiatus. NANA is the story of two women who share the same name Nana and meet on the train to Tokyo with their own respective goals towards moving there from their hometowns. Oosaki Nana's being to make a living through singing and Komatsu Nana's being to start a new life there with her boyfriend Shouji.
I'd say what is so captivating about NANA is how the story is portrayed and the characters. Most, if not all the characters are fundamentally flawed in some way but they are so beautifully written that you can see how realistic they are as humans living in the same world as us. I love all of them but I'm sure others will say otherwise for Takumi and Nana K. For me, it's hard to hate any of them because they're very relatable. All of their flaws, I can see in myself. I don't know how many times I've cried watching and reading this but it's definitely a recommended watch and read if you want to see the life of the two Nanas in a world related to music, celebrities but most importantly, a story heavily weighted upon emotions and feelings as the characters grow together and fall down together.Romance is heavily circled around since it is a shoujo but it's definitely not your usual sparkly romance because each and every relationship is quite questionable as it makes you constantly ponder what love really is and whether the characters really love each other or merely want to possess each other or that one has led to the other. I really think Ren and Nana O's love is as possessive as it was love. I still wonder what would have happened if they never went back together but that's impossible since if they were near each other, it would be difficult for them to not be together. The music is also wonderfully fitting. It's not exactly everything that I imagined from the manga but definitely similar. Similar enough that I love the anime as much as the manga, except that the manga shows a crucial event that the anime doesn't but that's okay since that event always makes me bawl my eyes out lol.
Spoilers ahead~ I have to say, NANA really changed my outlook on life and how I feel towards many things. Most probably child rearing. When Nana O. talked about mothers giving birth to life thinking it's some sort of joke since some are so irresponsible, it really tore me apart because just as Nana's mother's did, so many others have abandoned their children. Many may have logical reasons but there are also those like her mother that you simply can't fathom how could maternal instinct possibly exist when they can abandon their own children. Seeing Shin's situation really doesn't help either. When he said he wanted to be Hachi's kid, I couldn't stop crying. And when Shin's adoptive father said he really tried to love Shin, it hurt me a lot as well. You really shouldn't underestimate your feelings when adopting kids that you're most likely to hate.
But yeah, every time I watch NANA, even though I know what happens nearly off by heart, it still evokes the same feelings as if I never watched it. It makes me laugh, it makes me cry and it makes me love it more and more. If you haven't read this shoujo, I'd definitely recommend it. Just a fair warning though, there's sex in it haha. Not anything hardcore but it's there. Overall, I'd say that the imperfection within NANA is what makes it so perfect to me. The only reason this didn't get a 5/5 is because the anime doesn't show a very important arc and so I would give the manga 5/5. I mean I've read NANA so many times, it's definitely my top manga of all time.
- Yuu Yuu Hakusho
Rating: 4/5
Oh man, I would love to say that Yuu Yuu is just another one of those shounens out there but no I can't, I can't. Every time I watch some part and think 'there's the classic shounen trope that happens', the soundtrack and the characters just prove me wrong again and again. I can't help but love all our main characters and Yuusuke is definitely not an exception. Of course he's similar to the regular shounen main characters but he also isn't because of how Togashi portrays his story and his characters. They all have personalities we've seen before but they're all so unique and that makes me remember why I loved this as a kid even though I hardly remember the story at all. Yuusuke and Kuwabara are just so similar but kind in their own different ways and you can't help but love them. They also have their stubborn pride on certain things that you just can't help admire them for and be touched towards their strong feelings for friends and people. They're just so capable of tugging at my heartstrings! This doesn't only apply to the main characters though because even their battle opponents and villains have backstories and well developed motivations for their actions and it just makes me love all the different personalities Togashi brings up! The villains at times probably aren't the most detestable you've ever seen but because of Yuusuke's determination to defeat them and how he reacts to them, I'm always cheering him and the others on to beating the villains up haha. It's that kind of story. Of course since it's a shounen, it can feel draggy at times but I still love it nevertheless. And that opening song is just so full of nostalgia lol, I can't skip the song ever just because it sounds so good and always makes me think of the past haha.
Yuu Yuu Hakusho is about our typical delinquent Yuusuke that is constantly fighting and causing trouble but then one day, he unexpectedly sacrifices himself to save a child and ends up dying but because even those governing the realm of the afterlife didn't expect that he would sacrifice his life, there was no place for him there and thus that begins his days of being a ghost and trying to become a human again by completing a quest they then give him. The rest would be about Yuusuke fighting demons to protect his friends, the human realm etc since he had then gained a proficiency with utilising his spiritual energy/powers once he comes back to life as a human. I haven't finished rewatching it but I loved this as a kid and still would no matter what haha. It might start off a bit slow for others but I personally love Keiko and Yuusuke's relationship and I think the beginning is an important foundation towards understanding Yuusuke and Kuwabara as people. This is definitely a classic that everyone should watch, especially if you're a shounen fan! There's no other like it! Especially with the amount of different youkai monsters and although some might not be that appealed by the art, I think it fits very well and is absolutely beautiful as it is. The atmosphere, the characters, I really like the fights but I also really love their personalities. Everyone is kind in their own unique ways and I love that. It really shows how kindness can be shown differently but all in the same way. Definitely an all time favourite!
- Gundam Seed
Rating: 4.5/5
Gundam Seed tells of the story of the classic Gundam stories where the modified humans and the humans are at war because of their differences and once it was found out that a neutral colony had been secretly producing Gundams for the Earth Alliance, the Coordinators (modified humans) attacked the colony to steal these Gundams and that begins our hero Kira Yamato's odd place in this where he is the only one capable of piloting the only Gundam that the Coordinators had fail to steal amongst the five that were built whilst ironically having to fight on the side of the humans against the Coordinators which are his own kind. Personally, I think I loved this anime so much because of Athrun and Kira; I'm a sucker for these long time friendship relationships and I loveee Cagalli and Athrun's first meeting. You're probably aware by now, but for me, what makes me love a story isn't the plot itself but the characters. It could be the most ridiculous story with the best characters and I'd still love it just because of them but of course, this isn't a ridiculous story haha. I liked it. But I do think that the highlight of this anime wasn't the battles or the story but the characters and how real they are. Oh! And the soundtracks fits the anime so so well! Omg! It's probably the first and only time I have loved every single soundtrack in anime whether it be Lacus' songs or opening songs ah~ They sound so amazing and I still listen to them to this day. Like literally, I've been listening to them for years since high school so probably like nearly 10 years actually! lol!
Gundam Seed was probably my first mecha anime, even if it wasn't, it was probably the first I fell in love with and fell so hard for. I've watched this probably 3 times. Once when I was a kid, once in high school and once again this year. There are probably as many that dislike it as there are people who love it. I'm on the side of the people who love it. I wouldn't say it has the best story ever since I always felt confused and Lacus was always the perfect personification of what a headstrong and elegant independent woman was like to me although she didn't have much development as a character since she was practically perfect already haha. But she was my childhood idol and probably forever will be just like all the characters in here have solidified a position in my heart all these years. I guess what I liked the most were how the characters' emotions were brought out so fully and realistically (to me) and I could just feel how they were feeling in the situations in they were in even though I couldn't ever possibly hope to understand how terrifying and how heart wrenching their circumstances were. When I was young, I honestly hated Flay Allster but when I watched it again, and again, I felt that I could see her perspective in a more understanding light. She's obviously not perfect but I think that the reason I couldn't like her when I was younger was that she was in a sense a conflicted character and I would think, a realistic one at that. I was quite sad at her ending. But yeah, what makes this something I can watch again and again would definitely be because of the characters.
- Gundam Seed Destiny
Rating: 2.5/5
Really, I only put this here because it's the sequel but after watching this twice, I've literally had sooo many instances whilst watching this where I wanted to punch my screen because of how infuriating Shin is. Gundam Seed Destiny follows a new story after everything with our new character Shin that I absolutely hate and Athrun (the only reason I could keep watching) in the first half until Kira appears again. Personally, I wasn't too into the sequel even if they were to kick Shin out of the picture just because the reason I liked Gundam Seed just wasn't portrayed well here I guess. I didn't mind our villain's motives since I did think it was quite an interesting take on things and logically, it probably would be a perfect world but who wants a perfect world~
But anyway, I found our main characters to have quite lacklustre appearances, motives and everything this time around, I guess it didn't come across well to me. Well, I'll admit that I'm biased because I disliked most of the new characters lol. Shin was probably the most irritating character I've ever met in my whole anime history and I've been watching since primary school. He ALWAYS ALWAYS thinks he's right and lectures other people telling them to be considerate to others, saying that he's suffered so much blah blah and that our other characters haven't and think they're selfish when everything he says can be redirected at him! UGH, he was so frustrating that I have to say, I'm definitely never watching this sequel again. NEVER, Yeah, every time I think about this, I get mad as you can probably tell. It's only passing because I love the return of the prequel's characters and more screen time for them is always good, too bad Dearka and Miriallia didn't work out :( I was shipping them~~ I also didn't really like the Mu La Flaga resurrection but I like Murrue Ramius so I'm happy that she's happy but yeah~ Average.
- Conductor by Kaminaga Manabu, Art: Nokiya
Rating: 3.5/5
Honestly, I didn't expect this manga to affect me so much but it really did, it follows the story of a girl that is the flutist in an orchestra that is plagued with nightmares and eventually goes to consult a psychologist in which she realises that she has amnesia and her friends refuse to tell her who it is that she had forgotten about. There aren't a great amount of characters but that left it with more room to see things from each character's perspectives and I really liked that aspect of it. Each of them are important to solving the mystery of the girl's amnesia and is somehow connected to the headless skeletal body murder case and I think this manga does a good job in unravelling it. As the story goes on, it wasn't difficult to piece the story together and so it wasn't anything surprising but I did like how it was executed.
However, I did think it was quite a distressing manga in that *spoilers ahead* if I were in the girl's shoes, I'd be pretty traumatised after learning of everything that happened as well. Not to mention that they were all great friends and to have experience all that and find out about the truth of what happened to her boyfriend.. Sigh, that was really saddening. I couldn't help but think it was so scary to think that the people that could be so close to you could be so frightening. *spoilers end*
Overall, I really enjoyed it even though it was disturbing in the way that everything that happened was so human and realistic but ugly at the same time and I also think the title 'Conductor' suits the story very well. Quite an interesting read. It can get a bit confusing as it jumps from character to character but I think that is also the appeal of it. I can't think of any words to really describe the story besides the fact that it is utterly tragic and a tale about human selfishness and obsessiveness.
- Dangan Honey by Minatuki Tunami
Rating 4/5
Just like the first chapter of the manga describes it as, this is a love comedy between an 'outrageous kindergartener and a useless good-looking man'. It follows the story of our young main character girl on her daily adventures towards trying to win the affections of our super timid (especially towards women) but very handsome and kind-hearted nutritionist that works at her daycare. She eventually makes it her mission to protect him from the strangers that he is afraid to meet eyes with or have any sort of interaction or close proximity with and she is admittedly the most cute and strong kid that I have ever seen, especially since she's so funny haha! She's also so innocent and honest that I just couldn't help but become teary at times when she realises that she is wrong and when she can so honestly admit to it haha.
What makes this story so interesting in comparison to other ones that have a similar premise is undoubtedly Rino's character. Not only is she lively (as kids always are), she is quite sensible and mature in how she acts and yet still retains the cute childishness that makes her adorable and lovely as she tries her best to make him happy and become her husband naturally lol. The interactions they have together are cute, funny and outrageous at times but they are undoubtedly heart-warming, especially since both characters help each other to grow as people. As for Kazuki, he's so cute and awkward at times but definitely dependable when you need him to be and I think Rino really complements him with her personality but of course she'll have to get older before any serious romance kicks in (assuming that it follows her story into adulthood/high school). I don't think I can say enough how cute it is hahaha. Definitely recommended!
- Hajimari no Niina by Minamori Koyomi
Rating: 4/5
I've read this a few times already and I've cried every single time. I wasn't crying because it was especially sad but because the pain felt really real and that's probably the main reason I cry for many manga. I don't need a story to be unique to love it, the story telling just needs to touch me and this one undoubtedly did. This story follows an 11 year old girl named Niina who retains the memories of herself as Chitose in her past life and meets her past life's boyfriend again and thus chases him. I thought it was a very sweet, fluffy and heart-warming story. There were many sad moments such as when she thinks about the past memories that she had and the past promises that she couldn't fulfil but I loved how the story was handled in that their feelings always felt so real and that although there was a significant lost since she can no longer live as Chitose but she has also gained many things as Niina and I loved how the story came to terms with this.
Frankly, I loved this. Not only was the art really beautiful but I loved how her past life plays a big part into influencing her, Like others, I was rather sad that Atsurou didn't have as big of a role after she moved away but I liked how she grew up slowly and steadily by herself with him as support. She's the kind of heroine that I like. She stumbles, she worries, she cries but she is strong in that she makes her own decisions and doesn't need him to help her, she just needs him to be beside her (in heart). I really liked their relationship and would recommend this for sure! Every time I read it again and see Niina ask about his ear piercing and whether it hurt and he said that at first it did but now, "The wound is gone. It doesn't bleed anymore either. Now there's just a hole there" I love how it so simply and yet so heartbreakingly showed how much the young him was hurt when Chitose died and how much of an impact it was. It was probably because I read that, that I ended up falling in love with reading this.
- Kono Oto Tomare! by Amyuu
Rating: 4/5
When I first read this, I really wasn't expecting much of it, but after reading on, I have to say, I absolutely love it! The story is about Takezou who has become the remaining member of the koto (Japanese string instrument) club and is thus looking for new members to join in the new school year when he meets Chika and others who eventually end up joining the club due to their different reasons and circumstances. It's quite a heart-warming but also powerful story of lovable characters playing the koto if you want it in simple words haha. The story progresses at a steady pace with meaningful back stories to many characters and how they came to be who they are and why they are standing here in this place and it also intersects the relationships between the characters in the club very well. You can really feel their feelings through their stories since the author does a really good job expressing these feelings.
Not only does it feel like I have learnt a bit more of how sophisticated yet beautifully harmonious a group of people playing koto can be like, but I also think that the story really knows how to express the characters' feelings very well and very realistically and even the sort-of side characters are very likeable and you can't help but root for them to grow as people and as players of the same instrument. Before I read this, I never thought of the idea of so many people playing the koto together as being interesting at all but after knowing that there are official released versions of the koto songs played in the manga on youtube and after listening to them, I couldn't help but feel enraptured by how it sounds so melded together as if they had become one. It really felt like their sounds were so..together? Haha, I don't know how to explain it but It really felt that it seemed like that.
I think this manga is also one of the reasons that made me rather disappointed in the manga Fuuka by Seo Kouji. Not only because of the event with Fuuka but also because despite being a music manga, I have no idea what kind of music they are playing, what kind of skills they have and how they are trying to improve themselves and I don't think I've really heard them sing many words either. Whereas, this manga really shows how the interpersonal relationships between the characters are important as well as the music aspect to it and it reaches a fine balance between the two and that's what I love about it. There is friendship, there are romantic pairings you're rooting for and there is growth in them as they continue trying their best to improve on their skills in playing the koto and find enjoyment in learning that there is so much more to learn about it. Would definitely recommend this one! Oh, and the art is beautiful! As beautiful as the story; they complement nicely. If you're curious about the music, I'd recommend listening to
this one.
- Taiyou no Ie by Taamo
Rating: 4.5/5
Taiyou no Ie follows Hiro and Mao who have both essentially lost their homes in a different sense of the word. Mao lost hers because she's unable to fit in and belong in the home of her Dad and new Mum and a new sister whereas Hiro's parents passed away causing his two siblings to be adopted by two different relatives but because Hiro was insistent on not losing their physical home as well where his family once lived, he didn't go along with any relatives and decided to live by himself in that house. After a turn of events, Hiro and Mao end up living together. What I like about this story is that for once I felt like I loved both the characters and the story. Mao and Hiro are obviously my favourites but I'm so attached to Daiki haha. I love how straightforward Mao is and that despite everything, she stands up on her two feet and tries her best to reconcile her relationship with her parents after every disappointment. I love how Mao and Hiro's relationship is, where they don't need the other person to solve their problems for them but that they both support each other and cheer each other into having the courage and strength to solve their own problems. Although Mao definitely acts like a child at times, her thoughts are mature and her bright nature is what healed Hiro whereas Hiro's warmth and perseverance and his caring heart made Mao feel that she could keep trying. I absolutely loved how they both supported each other in rebuilding their families.
.I absolutely love Taiyou no Ie. Like absolutely. Not only does it have the cute shoujo moments to it but it also has a heart-wrenching take on how a dysfunctional family could feel like albeit luckily Hiro was there for Mao but that could be said the same to him because if Mao wasn't there, he wouldn't have been able to survive. As the title House of the Sun illustrates, the concept of how important a home can be is reflected into this story and is probably the governing factor of it. But so are the relationships between people. What makes this such a great story would definitely be the interactions between the characters. Mao's family was inevitably a heartbreak since obviously the parents weren't the best parents ever albeit for understandable reasons. However, understandable as it is, it wasn't acceptable obviously but I think that's how humans are and how human relationships can be like. They were all simply human trying to live their best in their own way until things went wrong. Although her dad's attitude still angered me haha. But Mao's stubborn haha. I don't think I can put into words anymore how much I loved this, I just did and that made the ending all the more satisfying, it was such a fitting end, I really loved it. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Mao and Hiro's relationship was crazily adorably cute? Because it was and I loved how that their relationship ran really deep in that even when they weren't living together, Mao supported Hiro by visiting him every now and then to check up on him albeit in her tsundere way which made it even cuter haha. It does have its shoujo moments that I thought were usually extremely sweet than annoying and some people may view Mao as childish but I thought that despite her outer childishness, she possessed the demeanour of a young woman who knew herself well and Hiro brought this out just as Mao brought out a stronger courage and persistence inside Hiro into thinking that rebuilding his family was possible and I couldn't help but love that.
Sakuranbo Syndrome by Kitazuki Taku
Rating: 3.5/5
Sakuranbo Syndrome follows the story of our main character Agawa having to save Rena from an odd disease where she will gradually become younger. Basically, in order to prevent her from turning into a little kid again (or dying in the extreme case), Agawa has to give her his saliva through kisses every day and thus this becomes a problem when Agawa ends up landing himself a girlfriend named Asou. I know what you're thinking, sounds absolutely ridiculous right? That's what I thought too but after reading the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. It wasn't the story that was especially engaging but how our main characters interacted with each other and handled this awkward situation that made this manga really entertaining and heart-warming. The premise is really just there to make things complicated and see how our characters handle it and I thought it was really interesting how they did this. Just a heads up though, it has nudity and sex so this might not be for you if you can't handle that.
Honestly, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did after reading it. I wasn't too fond of the ending just because I felt that the rest of the chapters were rather rushed even though their feelings were understandable, I mean, it could've been fleshed out better considering how much I loved their interactions in the beginning until chapter 87. I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try if you're into a different perspective into love triangles, although as you're reading it, you wouldn't really feel the triangle at all because I never really felt that it was ever as simple as that. Their love for each other crossed the line into something more than mere romantic feelings for even Asou came to change her mind about the whole situation despite her initial disgust and that's what made me love this. The characters really make the story for this one. You could really see how close they all became and how important they were to each other after all that they had experienced. My favourite girl is definitely Asou just because you could really see how much she loved Agawa and Rena respectively. She was adorable, and vulnerable but also strong. Definitely read this for the great character building and interactions.
- Soredemo Boku wa Kimi ga Suki by Suu Itin, Artist: Emoto Nao
Rating: 4/5
Another one of those manga I can't finger what exactly I like about it but I do anyway. I guess for this, it may be how realistically I felt the situations were handled in many a time one of the worse ways on both sides but very understandably because of how immature we once were and I think this manga does a good job at showing that. It begins with our mc dreaming about his middle school days of hurting a girl he didn't mean to hurt but ended up causing anyway due to his childishness. This in turn puzzles him and causes him to have a motorcycle accident where right before it, he passes by a woman who recognises him. She sends him to the hospital and gets his number and asks to meet up another day but because of his words right before they meet up, she decides to not see him and so he starts to wonder who this girl out of all the girls he hurt possibly is. And thus, each thought of who it could possibly be spawns a story of his past where he had hurt a girl and had probably also been hurt in return.
It's easy to reprimand the mc for always choosing the 'wrong decision' as a reader but every time I read this, I feel like I'm also sort of reliving a time when I had made wrong decisions as well that have formed the me in the present. I also think his decisions were understandable and even cowardly but that's how many of us are and I think the stories really know how to portray this from a sad but meaningful perspective in that no one is perfect and we all have inevitably hurt others and been hurt by others, I guess this story really feels like your normal everyday life that is quite relatable but I guess the main reason I like this story is because I've always been a person who is in love with stories about the past. Personally, I think the girl in the present seems like the girl in the Makino Tsukushi (HANA YORI DANGOOO <3) arc which I find the most lovable seeing her working so hard to become a lawyer but who knows~ Nevertheless, I really do enjoy this series.
- Kiss x Death by Kano Yasuhiro
Rating: 3.5/5
As the mangaka of Mx0 and Pretty Face, there was no need to question whether I needed to read this or not. But as usual, the premise is interesting with its little quirky moments that make you laugh. Evidently, it is classified as ecchi so don't be too surprised at nudity or anything! Otherwise, this story is about an alien who was sent to banish five criminals to the planet Earth and attach them to helpless animals such as rabbits etc until an accident occurred in which these five criminals ended up escaping and attaching themselves to five girls nearby and then killing the alien who brought them here in exile. However, the alien didn't die and ended up attaching himself to another human later on to try and recapture these criminals. I was quite fascinated with how this plot was handled and am quite intrigued on how this story will end up being since I feel like Kano's works always end up intriguing me but inadvertently disappointing me with the endings but that's usually because they get axed. But anyway, I've always loved the art and the story is definitely promising in that the body our mc ended up controlling can't handle girls at all which makes everything more funny and challenging when they fight each other. I'm very interested in how he will end up capturing them.
- Omoi, Omoware. Furi, Furare by Sakisaka Io
Rating: 3.5/5
Although I wasn't very much a fan of Ao Haru Ride just because I only liked the first half and didn't like second half, I am a big fan of Strobe Edge. Therefore, I had mixed feelings about whether I would like this one but after reading 7 chapters, I actually find it rather refreshing. This one follows the story of Yuna and Akari who have very different personalities, values and perspectives in love but become good friends and influence each other's thinking as they meet their possibly (probably) respective counterparts that view love in very different ways as well. It's as cute as it is complicated (in their situations) but I like it.
I guess what I find refreshing wouldn't be the story but rather the interactions between Yuna and Akari and this is probably one of those rare times in a shoujo manga where I'm more interested in their friendship rather than the romance that will blossom. For now, I really like both heroines in that they're straightforward in their own respective ways, and Sakisako Io's art albeit mostly the same from Strobe Edge days does look more defined and less cutesy so I'm happy! Looking forward to further developments~
- Takane to Hana by Shiwasu Yuki
Rating: 3.5/5
This started with a very cliché start with the girl replacing her sister at an omiai (marriage interview sorta thing) and in turn being insulted as a gold digger which then she threw her wig at him and stormed off only to in the end actually catch his interest in that way instead. Sounds like most shoujo enough? Yeah, I'd say it definitely is a shoujo but it also entwines the funniest moments at knowing how to make usually the most romantic mood in a shoujo into a comedic act between the two main characters. I usually hate bickering couples who just can't be honest with each other like Chitoge who is usually just plain violent to Raku in which if I was Raku, I'd never fathom the idea that they'd like me either but whatever. Personally, what makes this manga so good isn't just how funny their interactions are where Hana is capable of handling Takane's eccentric and crazily arrogant (in a funny way) but a soft side which probably sounds like every other mc but the mangaka is amazing at portraying him like that but still capable of showing that he's an idiot through Hana's reactions and how less common sense he has.
I'd definitely recommend this for a good kick of love comedy that makes many usually shoujo tropes such as when the guy is asleep in bed and usually the guy either "accidentally" pulls the girl beside him or the girl tries to sneak a kiss but instead Takane wakes up to her dad fixing his tie for him because Hana did something to it hahahaha!! Or the kissing of the sea cucumber or whatever lmao. Of course there are still the usual shoujo moments to show that they are progressing with their relationship but I think their bickering side really accentuates the sort of relationship they have and how it is progressing its own way that I really like. The art is also superb in that Takane looks cool and everything and Hana is cute but for the comedy effect, their faces and size changes as they like such as when Takane turns small because of his loss of pride or something hahaha. It's a very adorable relationship and I really enjoy reading this.
- Shounen Oujo by Musashino Zenko & Yukihiro Utako
Rating: 3.5/5
I'm still quite confused about why I'm so captivated by this but nevertheless, I am. But I think the thing that made me interested in it in the beginning was the idea that in this country, the women reigned supreme over the men. One day, Albert and his friend Theo ran out on the streets themselves and were captured by slave traders when a girl that looked exactly like him saved him and said that he must act as her body double from now on; only to discover she was actually the princess of this country like many other stories. But I guess I found this all the more interesting because of how interesting a person our princess Alexia actually was and how enamouring of a person she was until *spoiler* she died. To be honest, I thought this would happen but I never thought it would be so fast or so sudden, I remember feeling quite shocked at this loss because she truly was a wonderful character. But I do otherwise love the determination of Al to trying to succeed her wish in taking care of this country in her stead and the events he encounters as time passes and the inevitable moment when his features become more masculine and his voice change will be due to come. I think I'm quite invested in wondering how the characters plan to solve this problem since everyone is so individualistically cultivated uniquely as likeable characters and I can't help but squeal at how cool Theo has become haha! I guess it's because there's just so much more that I would like to know and discover and that makes me all the more curious about the whole situation.
- Sakamoto desu ga? by Sano Nami
Rating: 3.5/5
On the outside, this looks like a completely normal manga but omg I don't think I have read an absolutely ridiculous but freaking hilarious manga such as this in a while. It's absurd hahaha omg. Initially, I decided to read this because I read an article that it was ending soon and that many people as the top manga to read over AoT and picked by fans as needing an anime adaptation even more than One-Punch Man and considering the popularity of these, how could I not try it? I'd have to say that all of three of these manga entertain in a different way though so it's really up to what you want to read and what you like to read but man, this manga is undoubtedly funny but witty at the same time.
It follows our main man Sakamoto's daily adventures and how he is so absurdly cool in the most ridiculous ways whilst earning the respect and admiration of all his classmates and just anyone that sees him alike. The way the story is handled and just how unique Sakamoto is as a character that is stoic but amazing at the same time omg hahaha. I think the hand-push sumo part with Hayabusa was the absolute best for me. How he smoothly got a taxi and pushed Hayabusa in omg HAHAHA. It was so hilarious and smooth at the same time, I just can't deal with it without thinking that this manga is absolutely ridiculous but hilarious at the same time. Definitely recommended for a good laugh, you'd probably become a Sakamoto fan too!
- ReLIFE by Yayoi Sou
Rating: 4.5/5
This is probably my favourite webtoon of all time and surprisingly it's a Japanese one! When I first read it, I was a bit sceptical but after reading further, I have to say this is really good. There is never a dull moment whether it concentrates on the main character or the side characters. The story follows our main character Kaizaki Arata who is unemployed and fails at all of his job interviews (for an understandable reason that you get to know later on) after quitting his last company and then he ends up meeting Yoake Ryou who offers him a drug to change him back to his 17 y/o appearance and participate in an experiment by being a high schooler again for one year.
The premise is simple enough yet engaging. In addition, it's easily relatable as it explores a bit of Kaizaki's reactions as an adult doing high school again haha. The story is one that is light hearted with funny passes every now and then making it very amusing to read but it also explores the deeper feelings of the characters. What is enjoyable about this read is that although Kaizaki is the main character, the other characters have their own stories as well that are also very relatable and enjoyable, especially Kariu's experiences as one that tries really hard to be at the top in her studies. You'd think it's just a really simple and straightforward story of a guy experiencing high school again and helping out his classmates grow as people as he grows with them, faces his problems and gets them to not regret their actions after they graduate, like one of those slice of life things (which it is) but I think this webtoon does it in a very refreshing, interesting and cute way. All of the characters are very likeable, especially Ohga, oh gosh, he's too pure! Hahaha. Out of all the webtoons I have read, this is a must read for sure!
- Pinocchio by Maru
Rating: 4/5
This is one of the first webtoons I had ever read and it is also one of my favourites. The story follows the high school girl Choi-Ha Ram who buys a necklace that lets her see the ghost Yu Ga On and thus their story begins very funnily as she tries to get rid of him but instead he ends up becoming an integral part of her life. There also appears my favourite character Han Bit who has ties with her past and ends up becoming her crush (he was my crush too kyaa! He's so cute <3). I really liked the story for this, not only because Ha Ram's life was so interesting and funny with the addition of Ga On but because it had a really good flow to the story. It's not slow paced or fast paced, it's just right. It sets the foundation of the story well by introducing the characters building them up as you unravel their connections with each other. I'd recommend reading the prequel One Winter before this just to get a bit of an extra background look to Ga On's personality but it's not necessary. I only knew about the prequel after I was halfway through after all hahaha. But I'd recommend it because it was a nice story and it really makes the appearance of that character later on much more meaningful.
I also found Ga On's past very interesting and I also like the ending, it's a happy one which I was really glad for and Ha Ram and Ga On's interactions are just so amusing. I absolutely love her character, well actually, I love all the characters haha. They're all interesting and funny in their own ways. It's definitely a shoujo romance webtoon but it's definitely one of the more refreshing ones that stays like that throughout the whole story. Our heroine is strong but weak at the same time and pretty relatable. I also love how although the story is quite light-hearted, it does delve into rather saddening events that can really make your heart churn and hurt for the characters but it's worth it. It really knows how to tug at my emotions whether it be a good laugh or a good cry.
-
Lookism by Park Tae Joon
Rating: 4/5
Honestly, when I read the first couple of chapters, I really didn't think I'd feel as invested into this series as I feel that I am now; mainly because of Vasco though. The moment Vasco appeared, I was just so entranced by the person that he was and when it started talking about his past, I just couldn't bear it. Don't read this if you can't handle or dislike extreme bullying though because I feel like this goes to quite a dangerous level and quite a disgusting level as well. But basically it's about a guy who's always bullied because he's overweight and unattractive and blames his mother for these unfortunate happenings and he then realises how hard his mother is actually working for their livelihood but anyway, his mother tries her best to get him into a different school in a different place to start his life somewhere else. This is where it gets interesting! Somehow, one day, he wakes up in a completely different body (the guy above) and finds his other body lying beside him. After a while of trial and error etc, he realises that he can practically lead two lives with these two bodies alternating at night and day as he makes friends with this new body but also with his original one. He slowly realises that although people are very vain etc, he also finds that he himself never actively tried to get himself out of the situation of being bullied but instead blamed it on the fact that he was ugly even though was a part of the reason.
I guess I really like this because of the interpersonal relationships that he is able to cultivate with the different guys he meets at his new school and how they in turn make him change his perspective on things as he begins to try his best in his own way to establish his strength as a person. Everyone sort of starts out dislikeable in some sort of way but this changes as the story goes on as you start to understand them a bit better especially Vasco (kyaa~ favourite chr) especially since he had gone through many such extreme experiences and yet never blamed anyone for them and had in turn become someone respected as a physically and mentally strong man. I really do like this but as I said, the bullying is strong in this one so not necessarily everyone's cup of tea.
- Koi Inu. by coco
Rating: 3/5
Honestly, I don't know what attracts me to this webtoon but I quite like it. It's about two childhood friends reuniting in college and thus reigniting their the interest they once had towards each other. I think what's good about this webtoon are the adorable interactions between the two of them. The guy is a bit of an airhead and a bit dense but quite serious and decisive in his feelings towards her. She's more of tsundere I guess but nevertheless cute. They're both a bit awkward with each other but you can see how much they are into the other and you just can't help but root for them in getting together soon haha. They both make mistakes along the way but they try to resolve their problems and differences and they're quite straightforward about it as well, especially the guy so it's really hard not like them, but there are moments that I thought were really weird/awkward interactions and it seems to be going on the cliché path where the guy has some sort of trauma that the girl will probably heal. Nevertheless, it's relatively amusing.
- Watashi no Hakoniwa by SORAO
This is the oneshot of the year! HAHAHA omg, I just had to add this one at the end just because of the wtf moment I had and many others had for this oneshot. It's not very long so you'll see how absolutely ridiculously amusing it was LOL. Omg, I read this not expecting anything but some sappy shoujo stuff and then just came out completely baffled at whatever I just read hahaha. As a commenter on Batoto said "Definitely a couple of hot chicks in this one." HAHAHA sorry, I couldn't stop laughing at this comment after reading this because it fit so well for the story! Probably the most troll oneshot of the year that I've read ahahaha!!
- Kobo Glo 6" E-Reader
Rating: 3.5/5
I contemplated whether I should purchase this for a couple of months before my bro and sis decided to gift it to me and I'm so glad they did! I've always been 'it has to be a physical book in my hand!' kinda person so I was sceptical on whether I should get it but I absolutely love the concept of an e-reader and I seriously can't remember life without it a year ago. It's really light so it's super convenient to carry in your bag on the go and thus perfect for long train rides, waiting for people etc without having to bring your book out with the fear of crushing it in your bag. In addition, it carries 2gb storage which is plenty for books but you can add a memory storage card (microSD) up to 32gb if you're really that much of an avid book reader.
The main reason I chose this over a kindle was because this was on sale lol and because it supports epub. I know I can probably convert it for a kindle but I'm too lazy lol. It's quite expensive but considering how often I use it, it's pretty worth it. I usually read it for an hour or so every day (to and back on the train) and sometimes at night before I sleep and it lasts at least around a month I think~ Even when I got addicted to a novel and read it for hours for a couple of days, it lasted like 1-2 weeks. I loveee not having to charge it every day like my phone. Also, it doesn't have the terrible glare that computers and phones have so I can happily read this before bed and still sleep soundly. Brightness is easily adjustable and the kobo store is very easily accessible but of course it is also very simple to add e-books into it from other places such as Google Play Books.
The only thing that will probably take some getting used to is sometimes it's pretty laggy. Sometimes it takes like 5-10 seconds to load a book but after that, it's not too bad. It's a bit laggy when I press onto a word to find the meaning in the dictionary as well though. But it's such a convenient function so I don't really mind. There are also many different types of font, font sizing, line spacing etc you can change and choose from so it's very customisable for your personal tastes. All in all, I love it. I still read physical copies of books just because I love the feeling of having a book in my hand and I love to keep it on my bookshelf but I can't deny the convenience of a kobo for when I'm out and about. It's great for light reading! Recommended. Oh, and if you're curious about that image on the e-reader, I was reading the Overlord light novel.
SONGS
As you may know from last year, I'm a fan of the webtoon Dice: The Cube that Changes Everything and especially the music that plays in some chapters, Well, obviously when I heard the recent one, I absolutely loved it as well! It's
The Rock Diamond - Abraxas.
Other songs that I enjoyed in Final Fantasy Type-0 but didn't mention above would include The
Azure Spirit and
Swaying Thoughts just because they sound so sentimental and heart-wrenching. I'm a sucker for those. Oh, and of course
Kind Tears!
For Chinese TVB songs, I'm aware that Jinny Ng's songs are very popular but I'm not that big of a fan of them since her songs are replayed in those dramas sooo many times that I'm just honestly overwhelmed by them. Therefore, I'd like to say that instead, I absolutely loved Fred Cheng's songs (not just because I've always been a fan of him ever since he first started acting haha).
I honestly hated the drama Captain of Destiny (張保仔) because of Grace Chan's annoying character but I loved the opening song that Fred Cheng sang called
鄭俊弘－揚帆. Not only are the lyrics very suitable for he himself (as a commenter stated) but I think he really brought out the strength of this song through his voice. Another one of his songs that I like would be
鄭俊弘 - 投降吧.
Since I raved so much about loving the soundtracks in Gundam Seed, I thought I'd put down my favourites here. They're all absolutely beautiful and I've honestly listened to them for years. I really cant' recommend them enough haha.
Gundam Seed - Anna Issho Datta No Ni (contains spoilers of both seasons) I couldn't find a better mv hahaha but I couldn't leave out this song on the list. It's a definite favourite.
Gundam Seed Destiny - Fields of Hope (contains spoilers) This song is probably what made me give Destiny a passing rating. It's only a snippet since I can't find the whole song but I just find her voice so soothing and beautiful, just like my other favourite by Tanaka Rie which is
Gundam Seed - Mizu no Akashi. (P.S I know the image is of Meer and not Lacus but the main point is the song so it doesn't matter~)
Welp! That's the end! Finally right? Hahaha. As usual, thanks for reading my blog (especially this long post if you bothered) and hopefully it was helpful! Cheers to the end of another year and to the start of the next one! Whatever your endeavours may amount to in the next year, I pray that they go well and that you'll continue to enjoy eating food knowing that it's a blessing and not merely a need~ (well, I had to say something food related, right?)
As per usual, happy new year everyone!
