Otomen, Vol. 8

by Aya Kanno | Graphic Novels |
ISBN: 1421535912 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 5/7/2012
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5 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Friday, June 8, 2012
I'd been intrigued about this series since reading about it in TV Tropes, so when I came across this on-sale copy of Vol. 8 at the Used Book Superstore I decided to pick it up. It's something of a gender-expectation-bender story; our hero is a man who, while perfectly happy being male, wants to pursue hobbies and activities that are considered very, very feminine. Even though it is rather late in the series, it should give me some idea whether I like the characters enough to track down the rest of the series.

And... I like it! I'd assumed that by this point in the series, more characters would know about our hero's preference for cute/"girly" things, but it seems that while some DO know, they're keeping it quiet. And there appear to be several other characters with similar secrets, with some of them being much more rigorous about keeping it private. [One of the stories in this volume involves a very amusing otomen-reveal indeed!]

Even though the whole manly-man/girly-girl thing isn't nearly as strong in the US as it apparently is (was?) in Japan, there's still room for people to be more open about defying traditional roles and stereotypes, and I got a kick out of seeing the ultra-manly kendo-team captain wielding his makeup tools with as much skill as he wields his sword: "a beauty samurai", yet!

The book includes a basic plot summary and character list up front, which helps in getting into the story, and most of the stories here are relatively complete. But by the end of the book there's a dramatic and rather dark turn: Asuka's mother, whose motives for hating and fearing any hint of the feminine in men are understandable (her husband left her to become a woman; she hasn't taken it well), takes her feelings to unpleasant extremes, putting the entire school under strict new gender-role guidelines... I guess I'll have to read the next volume or three to see how that works out!

I enjoyed the characters, whose relationships touch on friendship, romance, and rivalry, sometimes all at once. The mix of characters has something of the Ouran High School Host Club feel, though this story's not quite as wacky as that one. And the storylines are fast-moving, funny, and charming. The only problem is that I didn't really need to get hooked on another manga series {wry grin}...

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (6/13/2012 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This book's going into AlterEgoZoe's Manga/Manhwa bookbox, which will be on its way to BCer azuki in Florida today. Hope someone enjoys the book!

Journal Entry 3 by wingAzukiwing at Miami, Florida USA on Friday, July 6, 2012
Sounds like an interesting series. Glad to know that it won't be too hard to pick up from such a late volume.

Journal Entry 4 by wingAzukiwing at Miami, Florida USA on Friday, August 17, 2012
While waiting for Minerva's reply about her book selection, I ended up finishing this volume, so I am going to put this back in. I know k00kaburra likes fashion design so she may find a kindred spirit in Otomen?

I enjoy this more than I expected, and while this is vol 8 it is indeed rather easy to just jump into. Not that it means that I won't want to find earlier volumes.

Journal Entry 5 by k00kaburra at San Jose, California USA on Thursday, September 20, 2012

This book enjoyed a brief stop in San Jose, California before continuing its travels in AlterEgoZoe's Manga bookbox!

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I read the first volume in this series not too long ago, but it didn't take. The characters didn't fully capture my interest. But it looks like the series does improve - I skimmed this volume and the stories are fun (I like Ryo's grandfather!) so maybe at some point I'll try to revisit this series.

Journal Entry 6 by AlterEgoZoe at Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania USA on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Taken out of my manga/manhwa bookbox

Journal Entry 7 by HI77 at Fort Myers, Florida USA on Monday, September 9, 2013
A guy who can grab

a pink vase,
and look good doing it.

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