Archive for the Light Novel Category


Yuri Light Novel: Memories Off 2nd ~ Precious Hearts Gest Review by George H

April 3rd, 2009

A few Saturday news reports ago, I mentioned that George R. gleefully volunteered the news that he had discovered a light novel with Yuri. He also offered up a review for our entertainment and edification. I am delighted to be able to introduce you to our newest Guest Reviewer, George.

You wouldn’t normally expect to find much Yuri a light novel based on a romance adventure game for guys. This one seems to be the exception, and you don’t need strong Yuri-goggles to see it. I picked this novel up when I was in Japan in 2003, and on a whim decided to re-read it. I’m glad I did. I haven’t played any of the Memories Off games, and I feel you can quite enjoy the novel without any knowledge of the game. I also like the way the author, Higurashi Chabou, told the story using a minor girl character from the game in place of the male lead.

Memories Off ~ Precious Hearts 2nd falls into the category of light high-school Yuri. Things never develop much beyond blushes and flirting as a underclassman befriends and helps the sempai she adores.

Maikata Kana is an ordinary, shy Japanese school girl in her first year of high school [yes, her name is a deliberate pun on “Dancing Katakana”]. She has worn glasses with no correction since junior high for appearance and, we find, to put a wall between herself and the world.

One day she stops by a park on the way home from school to watch the sun set, but a pair of thugs accost her wanting to “play.” She is saved by a slender, graceful, strong girl wearing her same school uniform. A couple aikido throws later and the thugs are gone. Kana thanks her savior and find she is Suzuna Takano, a senior. She is further smitten when Takano gives her back her glasses, saying looks good in them.

A boy in Kana’s class tries to get her to join the soccer club, but accidentally lets her know Takano is in the swim club. Kana immediately heads there for a look. Takano invites her in, reassuring her there are no guys in the club. When Takano offers to teach her, Kana’s hesitation over her own ability crumbles. A couple laps by Kana convince Takano she has unexpected ability. A couple laps by her sempai, and Kana signs up with the Takano Fan Club.

In addition to joining the swim club, Kana becomes a good friend of Takano’s. They go together to buy a couple new swimsuits for Kana to use in the club–ones just like Takano’s–and also share dinner and conversation. Takano pleases and embarrasses Kana every time she calls her cute. When Kana later claims she’ll do anything for her, Takano claims this sounds like a line for a boyfriend. This embarrasses Kana, who proclaims undying attachment to Takano. Takano says this would be hard on Kana’s boyfriend, but Kana declares,”I… I’d never date someone like a guy!”

The other girls in the swim club recognize and respect Kana and Takano’s special relationship, as does Takano’s other friend, Futami Shion. Shion is a polite, gentle lady Takano’s age, who regularly uses “gokigenyou.” Her two passions are books and black tea. Takano explains her silver hair and gray eyes: “I think she’s a quarter Scandinavian. But there isn’t a Japanese who loves Japan more than she does.”

Takano lives with her aunt and uncle above their small book shop.They’ve raised her since childhood as if she were their own, and she feels a strong sense of obligation to them. When she hears business at the bookshop is doing poorly–in spite of Shion’s purchases–she even looks to abandon her college plans and start working so she can pay back her aunt and uncle, even though they may not want it. This crisis is averted by the talk with her aunt and uncle Kana recommends and a full-ride athletic scholarship for Takano. Takano’s reaction to stress is to disappear from school and swim club,worrying both her friends and guardians. She first does this when worried about money and college. A very concerned Kana goes looking for her and calls in Shion to help. They find Takano practicing swimming alone after hours. As the three relax over the tea Shion brought, Kana notices the banter between the other two and comments that the two of them are really are good friends. Takano and Shion take Kana’s hands and correct her that it is “The three of us.”

The next time Takano has a bad reaction is to the cold, dark, sea while trying to rescue a little girl. This brings back bad memories from a childhood trauma where she almost drowned and threatens to upset everything as her new fear of water makes her useless as a swimmer – invalidating her scholarship. It does provide a chance for Kana and Shion to look for Takano again, and this time help her overcome her fear.

Kana and Takano grow closer as Takano invites Kana to hear her uncle tell them both about her drowning incident. His tale includes the story of her parents and how she ended up being raised by her aunt and uncle. This leads to a heartwarming conclusion in which Kana and Takano rediscover Takano’s mother, who lost all memories regarding Takano in the incident. She remarried and named her new daughter Takano–though she’s not sure why that name seemed so right. Takano (the elder) is reconciled with her father her to let her mother enjoy her own happy life now without their interference. As her mother leaves, she tells her young daughter that her greatest treasure is not the amethyst pendant she wears–just like Takano and her dad–but it is …Takano.

The novel finishes the day before Takano and Kana’s big swim meet. Shion promises to come cheer them on, and make them tea to relax. Kana is very glad she met these two: people she can believe in, people she can rely on so she can try hard. They opened a door for her to grow. She concludes the novel telling them, “Thank you. I love both of you.”

While the novel leaves it open, I can see Kana and Takano, and possibly Shion, continuing on to lead a life of happy Yuriness together.

Ratings:
Art – 7 (Both front color pages and B&W ones interspersed are nice,but only the B&W ones illustrate scenes from the story.)
Story – 6
Characters – 8
Service – 2

Overall – 7

In the end, I’m glad that I followed my whim and reread Memories Off~ Precious Hearts, letting me renew my acquaintance with Takano, Kana and Shion. While some of the events in Takano’s childhood seem a bit contrived for melodrama in the game, I like the characters and would enjoy sitting down for a cup of tea with these girls.

Erica here once again. It sounds to me that this is more shinyuu than Yuri, but it still sounds like a nice read. :-) I’d also up the Service score – sounds like a *lot* of bathing suit service. Thanks George for the review and the new perspective here on Okazu!





Maria-sama ga Miteru Light Novel: Hello Goodbye (マリア様がみてる―ハローグッバイ)

March 3rd, 2009

Well.

So here we are. Referring to the series that has supplied (indeed, is still suppyling) many hours of entertainment, in the past tense.

Like all good fans, I bought Maria-sama ga Miteru: Hello Goodbye as soon as it came out. But unlike most Fans (those of us with personal engagement in the series) I did not stay up all night reading it. For one thing, I have been synopsizing the novels as I read them, so it takes me longer to “read” the novels than just reading them for myself. And, I openly admit to a bit of hesitation at facing the end of the series.

Bu, like all good things, Maria-sama too, must end. End it has, with the lovliest, most appropriate ending possible. It ended not with tears, but with smiles.

I will share with you these few things: The graduation ceremony was not without excitement; that a bumblebee gets a feature part in this book; that Yoshino, Yumi and Shimako are going to be a brilliant Yamayurikai and; that the next Yamayurikai after them might well be three of the sharpest-witted girls to ever attend Lillian.

I’m sad it’s over, I’m thrilled it exisited at all. Because it’s a series of novels, I can visit the lovely ladies of Lillian over and over.

Konno Oyuki-sensei – thank you. It was great.

Ratings:

Overall – 10





Yuri Light Novel: Wild Bouquet, Volume 2

January 22nd, 2009

When last we left former princess Deriana and former maid Josette in Wild Bouquet Volume 1, they were escaping from Deriana’s arranged marriage to the King of Akabansu, a kingdom of the Glorious Alliance in which romantic love of any kind is expressly forbidden.

In Wild Bouquet 2: The Name of the Flower That Dances (ワイルドブーケ想いを綴る花の名は,) they have ended up in a nearby independent country, earning money to continue the journey. That is, Josette is working to earn money, but she won’t let Deriana soil her royal hands. Deriana really *wants* to contribute, but Josette is having a hard time letting go of their difference in status. As part of Josette’s pay, the two have a pleasant little room above the pleasant little restaurant in which she works, in this pleasant little town.

Deriana spends her days at an archive, reading novels – including the illegal novels of romantic love written by the mysterious author “Lolipop.” At the archives, she meets a girl named Coriida, who is moved by Deriana’s beauty and grace. Despite wanting to be left alone to read, Deriana finds herself drawn into Coriida’s acquaintance.

In the meantime, Josette is befriended by the exceedingly eccentric woman who lives behind the restaurant. Bergamo researches the illegal topic of romantic love. When she pegs Josette for being “in love” with someone, she keeps asking for Josette to deliver her food, then asks her a ton of questions about this whole “in love” business.

However…Josette doesn’t know what being “in love” is – she’s not even sure that that’s what she and Deriana are! Having grown up in a world where any romantic love was forbidden – and same-sex love was completely unheard of – Josette hasn’t the vaguest clue what “love” is. At night, Josette still acts as a maid, brushing Deriana’s hair and washing her back in the bath. She refuses to share a bed with Deriana, until the former princess insists. For her part, Deriana is constantly trying to break down the walls between her and Josette. She insists on brushing Josette’s hair and washing her back, too and reminding Josette to just call her “Deriana.”

In town, there is a church. Separately, Josette and Deriana find themselves there; getting a tour of the building, meeting the occupants. They learn that Cyrano – the obviously bad guy from the first novel who turned out to actually be the psychopomp who saved them – is staying there, bound by some intense, undefined relationship with Miss Roush, the head of the church.

Josette is with Bergamo, and Deriana and Coriida are at the church, when Coriida – who has some past with Bergamo – suddenly wants to see the researcher. Deriana and Coriida walk in as Bergamo is about to show Josette what a kiss is (prompting me to ban all literature from my house that includes the line, “What is…kiss?”)

Not surprisingly, it turns out that Coriida’s actually in love with Bergamo and vice versa, so when Coriida runs out onto the street, Bergamo follows, leaving a flustered Josette to try and explain what was going on to a Deriana who is three steps ahead of her and not the jealous type. Deriana kisses Josette. Finally.

As she runs away from Bergamo, Coriida drops the manuscript she was clutching. Bergamo picks it up only to be immediately accosted by the police, who arrest her for being “Lolipop.” It’s no real surprise to learn that Corrida is the outlaw romance author; it was a marginal surprise to learn that the church was publishing the manuscripts and Cyrano was the one distributing the illegal novels to the world.

Coriida, Deriana, Josette, Cyrano and Miss Roush come up with an extremely overcomplex plan to spring Bergamo and get everyone safely back to the church, then get Josette and Deriana out of town two steps ahead of the law. Coriida and Bergamo make up; Cyrano is vaguely amused, Miss Roush seems vaguely annoyed by everything and Josette and Deriana run off together to continue their journey west and probably into a third novel. The book ends with a romantic kiss in the moonlight for our two heroines.

Why do I think there’ll be a third book? Because there’s a scene early on where Josette’s foster sister and commander of the Akabansu guard, Soliel, is organizing a search to find them. But nothing comes of it. So…book three. (Update: There was no book three.)

This novel was hardly great literature, but it had some good points. The best thing was Deriana. She spent the book trying to bridge the distance Josette kept putting between them – and when the kiss thing came up, she didn’t bat an eye. No histrionics, not even a twinge of irritating jealousy. She stepped right up and used the opportunity to kiss Josette. She was also totally game for helping out with the stupid plan to free Bergamo. It’s kind of expected that the hime-type character will be the haughty, annoying character, but I think I liked Deriana best.

The biggest downside was, that the night before I finished it, I read a Haruka x Michiru shousetsu, a fan novel. That story was equally as predictable as this one (Michiru loses her memory in an accident and has to fall in love with Haruka all over again, but gets her memory back when she transforms into Neptune…it was a totally “duh” plot,) but about 800 times better written – and pretty hot. So here I am reading Josette’s question to Bergamo, “what is…kiss?” and it made me want to stab something. ^_^; Because the whole “this is my first time – teach me” thing totally creeps me out. Thank goodness for Deriana not being equally as tedious.

In any case, unlike Volume 1, Volume 2 of this Yuri fairy tale met my minimum requirements for Princess and Maid love stories. ^_^ If you must read the whole series, fine, but if you want to pick one – pick this one.

Ratings:

Art – 6 (light novel, remember)
Story – 6
Characters – 6, Deriana – 8
Yuri – 7
Service – 1, unless you fetishize “pure, innocent” feelings, then 8

Overall – 7

I’m a little worried about the creepy factor of Volume 3, though. I shudder to think we’ll have to read through awkward discovery of heavy petting. Ugh. FanBoy heaven, Erica hell.





Yuri Light Novel: Wild Bouquet

December 7th, 2008

Earlier this year, Ichijinsha, publisher of Yuri Hime magazine, announced a line of light novels for women – their “Iris” imprint. The line includes romance (straight, BL and Yuri,) adventure and fantasy stories. previously, I reviewed .(period), which was an Action/Yuri story…with little Yuri action. ^_^;

Today I’m reviewing the second Yuri title, Wild Bouquet, subtitled, “In This World of Unblooming Flowers.” This book was written at a slightly more difficult level of Japanese than I usually read, further complicated by it being a Fantasy novel and therefore containing words that were completely made up. Luckily for me the story itself was simple, and the book was better written than . (period). In the end, it took me not long at all to read the whole thing.

As I say, the story is a simple one – in a country where the sum and total of a woman’s existence is to be married, a Princess is brought to the kingdom to marry the King. She will live in the palace for six months until her 16th birthday, when she will become King Leonidas’ consort. Instead, Princess Deriana falls in love with one of her maids, Josette.

Josette is our protagonist. We learn a bit about her early life; she was given away by her parents to a noble’s family to become the companion to their daughter, Soliel. Soliel is now a captain of the guard, and Josette is a maid in the palace.

Like .(period), the Yuri in Wild Bouquet is formulaic. There’s doki-doki moments when they are called for and in the end it’s love – but there’s really no depth to it. First Josette likes Deriana’s company, then the next moment Josette finds herself sick with unhappiness at the thought of Deriana marrying the King, then they are “in love.” There is, of course, no physical compenent to this “love.” Josette does not want to jump Deriana, rip the wedding dress off her and have her way with her. She wants to “hold her close”. Maybe. The most romantic thing that happens between them is that they hold hands.

The plot, too, is a bit pat. Soliel was perfect for a jealousy subplot, but she only provides a moment of angst and in the end is on our side. The *obviously* evil character turns out to be our fairy godmother. I’d kind of like to know why she helped, too. All she says is “I have a reason. Perhaps it’s the subject of the next Wild Bouquet novel, I dunno.

The feeling I have is that this novel is not so much a “fantasy” as a “fairy tale.” As a Yuri fairy tale, it works fine. In fairy tales, the Princes and Princesses do not have bed scenes – or even hot kisses. They hold hands and ride off into the sunset. And so it is here. There’s nothing that would prevent me from giving this to an 11-year old whose interests were leaning lesbian.

My only complaint is that I really would have appreciated a kiss, at least.

Ratings:

Art – 7 (light novel, remember)
Story – 6
Characters – 6
Yuri – 7
Service – 0, unless you fetishize “pure, innocent” feelings, then 8

Overall – 6

While it was an easier read than . (period), it was slightly more disappointing. Next time, I want the maid turned knight swinging-into-the-cathedral and saving the princess AND a hot kiss. Thanks.

Check out the review of Volume 2 for the end of the story!





Yuri Light Novel: .(period)

November 14th, 2008

This past summer, Ichijinsha, publisher of Yuri Hime, launched a new line of light novels under the imprint “Iris.” Ostensibly written for women, this imprint included two “Yuri” novels. In the enclosed catalog flyer, .(period), written by Hozuki Luli and illustrated by Kurogane Kenn, is described as “Yuri and gun-action.” I’m glad they labeled it as Yuri, because without that hint, you might not notice.

In fact, the entire book reads *exactly* like a fanfic. Enough detail to get away with the plot, predictable and not very memorable. There’s not much service and it definitely doesn’t have the level of gun obsession that filled the pages of Vanilla. The details on the Italian police system and Mafia were wafer thin, and I don’t know if using “cute” Glocks is really a girl thing, but maybe that’s just me. ^_^;

The story follows the adventures of police investigator Bianca Stradella and gun for hire Nicola (can’t remember her family name at the moment…) as they try to take out the Brancatti family. The Mafia, we learn, killed Bianca’s parents, so she has a life-long grudge, while Nicola, it turns out, is the daughter of a mafia princess. Just like oil and water, fire and ice, Ernie and Bert, the two set out to defeat the bad guys. To make sure we really *hate* the bad guys, they “adopt” a bunch of ten year old girls to use in snuff films and other horrors, so we can feel righteously indignant and satisfied when we kill them.

As investigators, Bianca and Nicola leave something to be desired. In one scene they are literally walking around a town asking for “a guy named Antonio, who knows a priest in Rome named Father Bernino.” /snort/

The chemistry between Bianca and Nicola is entirely manufactured through the most trite of means. They share a bed because it’s cold, they live through gunfights and motorcycle chases and, so, they grow closer, but not really. When they have the required downtime scene in which “affectionate moment D” is called for, it is duly supplied.

The end of the book contains so many clichés that, even when I could not actually read every single kanji, I knew *exactly* what was happening and what was being said. ^_^ It was satisfyingly like every movie/NCIS episode/book/anime ever.  It got to the point towards the end that I started playing a “predict the next scene” game with myself. “Now, we’ll have the “final betrayal” scene in which Bianca learns the unpalatable truth about Nicola. Then we’ll have the scene where she learns that the police were in the Mafia’s pockets all along.” ^_^

Everything played out as neatly as in a Michael Douglas movie, with no deviations from script. And then the end came. And I started to laugh. Having sold her soul and her ideals to regain Nicola, we turn to a lonely room where we watch Nicola sit alone with her memories of Bianca. There is a knock on the door, and these guys from a furniture moving company start bringing a huge red sofa into the room. “I didn’t order this!” Nicola protests, but joke’s on her, it’s just Bianca. Wow, they didn’t even go on two dates – just one mission to defeat the Mafia – and Bianca’s moving all her shit in. ^_^

In terms of Yuri, there is some service of the mild kind – the aforementioned sharing a bed, and “gee, you smell nice” kind of stuff. A few touches and one sort-of sexually tense scene that is aborted before we get more than a quick peck on the cheek. But before the end, Nicola confesses that she loves Bianca to her on tape and seperately, Bianca coming to the realization that she loves Nicola.

That’s it.

The only lesbian thing about the book is the move-in scene at the end. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 4 They could not have picked a less appropriate artist for this book. I like Kurogane’s stuff just fine but, Bianca’s supposed to be 25, not 12.
Story – 6 It wasn’t terrible and it wasn’t good. It *was* too long.
Characters – 6 There wasn’t a single original thing about them, but that’s okay.
Yuri – 5 Like I said, I’m glad they told us that it was a Yuri novel.
Service – 3 For all that there’s a shared bed and maid outfits, there’s not much service.

Overall – 6 (but this, like all my reviews, is only my opinion – the review on Amazon JP gives it a 5 out of 5 stars, so there you go. The art is so *beautiful* and the writing is so *wonderful.* The reviewer was positively gushing. ^_^; I found it to be predictable, but entertaining.)

Do you that everyone in Italy eats nothing but pizza and pannini and drinks nothing but cappuccino?