slice of life

REVIEW: Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

REVIEW: Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

My route to reading this slim 19th-century novel was somewhat circuitous. Years ago, on romance message boards, I repeatedly read about the greatness of a certain historical romance miniseries called North and South. This was not the rather campy American Civil War miniseries starring Kirstie Alley and Patrick Swayze, but rather a British production, based(…)

First Impressions 4: Honey and Clover, and Swan

First Impressions 4: Honey and Clover, and Swan

Dear Readers, Here are two more first volumes, these two from popular series that I found I didn’t like as much as their popularity suggested I should. Honey and Clover by Chica Umino. Viz. Retail $9.99. Rated T+ for older teen. 10 volumes (still ongoing in Japan; 1 released here). Honey and Clover centers around(…)

Manga First Impressions 3: Land of the Blindfolded, I.O.N., Sand Chronicles

Manga First Impressions 3: Land of the Blindfolded, I.O.N., Sand Chronicles

Dear Readers, Two more vol 1′s from Viz. But the first is a Vol 1 from CMX, another publisher who brings quality shoujo to the US. Land of the Blindfolded by Tsukuba Sakura. CMX. Retail $9.99. Not rated, but I’d say high school and up. 9 volumes (complete in Japan and in the US.) (I(…)