 | | ▪ | RELEASED BY: | | DIGITAL MANGA PUBLISHING | | | ▪ | AUTHOR / ART: | | FUMI YOSHINAGA | | | ▪ | FORMAT: | | JAPANESE / B&W | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 176 | | | ▪ | RATING: | | YA | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 05/20/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 06/14/2009 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | HOLLY ELLINGWOOD |
It’s the final volume of the eccentric and touching dramedy as graduation looms for some, discoveries wait for others, and secrets are learned. Haru and Shota are working hard on their dream to become professional manga artists. They take their doujinshi work (amateur manga) to a convention, only to have it torn apart by the surly editor they meet! Haru fears Shota’s hopes will be dashed and that they’ll never work together again. Meanwhile, the editor in question proves to be a most unusual mentor to these two friends. However, even with an editor helping, all their hard work may not pan out just as planned… Majima’s story continues as his love triangle with the teacher caught between him and a married man heats up. She’s torn between the two men in her life, arguably both are not healthy relationships, especially with the odd and arrogant Majima. And yet he seems the better choice at times when compared to the selfish married man the teacher originally fell for. But having the self-centered and cold Majima as your ideal love can’t turn out well…can it? Both parallel stories offer a fair share of comedy and a moving note of sentimentality as with so many of Fumi Yoshinaga’s works. The drama enters quickly following a visit by Haru’s mother. She pressures Haru’s sister Sakura to get a job. Sakura does, but is terribly unhappy and wants only to stay at home and take care of the family as she’s always done. Meanwhile, Haru struggles to get his pending professional manga career underway only to find disappointment. He had hoped to be able to support his sister. Resentment leads to harsh words and the truth comes out regarding Haru’s illness. He is shocked to find out the truth and it changes everything for him. Life has been altered but can it still go on? The final volume leaves quite a few things up in the air but realistically so. Like life, reality doesn’t tend to wrap things up in a nice and tidy bow. The characters are shown growing a little and that evolution comes with growing pains. The off-the-wall sideways humor of the manga story along with its surprising moments of introspection makes Flower of Life a tale worth reflecting on.
IN SUMMARY:
A charming series for fans of Antique Bakery to enjoy! Laughter, love, tears, and everything in between fall into place in the final volume of Flower of Life. |
