Honey and Clover, Vol. 8

Before the beginning of this volume, Ayu had started to work with Rika, her rival for Mayama's affections. Now, the last of her hopes are slipping away. Nomiya is there for her, but will Ayu be able to accept his feelings? Meanwhile, Mayama decides that he's going to get closer to Rika whether she likes it or not.This is one of the best volumes in the series. The romances between Mayama and Rika and Ayu and Nomiya finally start to move forward after a long stalemate. The emotions focused here on are so subtle and realistic. And the imagery is simply beautiful. As with poetry, it's not only what this manga says that's important, but how it says it.I've heard some say that they don't like "Honey and Clover" because they find Takemoto and Morita's feelings for the childlike Hagu-chan inappropriate. And they kind of have a point, but there's so much more to this manga than that. Umino has a way of capturing subtle thoughts and feelings that evade most writers. Her manga gives such a realistic picture of youth and love and growing up, and nowhere is that more evident than in volume 8. Don't miss this understated yet touching series.

The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think.I also review at Aurora Lector.

"honey and clover vol. 7' was an interesting chapter because it focuses a lot on Yuta Takemoto and his journey of finding himself and what to do with his life. The other characters of the series are also featured but this volume is dominated by Takemoto's journey and Hagu's job as a teacher.I really found this volume to be quite enjoyable because it was different in the fact that it relies heavily on a sole character but also for the fact that these emotions that Takemoto feel are feelings that many young adults make when they graduate from college. Some are easy to transition to their new career but some need to find out more about themselves before proceeding to the next level.With Takemoto, he's always been a person that stayed back and let everyone speak up but through this journey, the young naive and shy student that we saw from previous volumes has become a man and no longer is he afraid to speak his mind.For the women, there is a storyline between Rika wanting to hire Ayumi but she is still hurt in the fact that Mayama will never love her like she has loved him and to make things even more difficult, the woman he loves wants to hire her on projects. Personally, with so many men who fall for Ayumi, you wonder how long can Umino hold Ayumi back. I understand she has harbored these feelings for him for many years but I would love to see her character meet some happiness.And for Hagu, she's in a bit of funk right now. With graduation, pressure to do her best since she's a gifted artist and now having to teach children seems that it'll take its toll on her. But you often wonder how much of that fear is caused by the fact that Takemoto left her.Overall, Chica Umino definitely captures that young adult angst in the seventh volume of "honey and clover" and I look forward in seeing how this series will conclude with three more volumes left in the manga series. If you have stayed with the manga series this long, then volume 7 of "honey and clover" is definitely worth reading! Definitely a young adult manga series worth reading

~3.5-4/5[More of my reviews are available on my blog, Geeky Reading, to which there's a link on my profile.]This a really, really good series. I started it a really long time ago (back when the Shojo Beat magazine was still running), but then never got around to continuing it. I picked it back up a little while ago, though, and it really reminded me how much I like this series.Back when I first read it, I really liked the humor, and the characters. Now that it’s been so long (and I’ve mature), and now that I’m in college, I find that I can appreciate the college relations and the whole concept of finding yourself at that age, and the thoughtful moments. I’m enjoying it even more now.Also, I love the art. It has a sketch-y look to it, and it’s just so pretty. The surprised and scared expressions are hilarious, and the scenery and sweet moments are beautiful. Umino is probably one of my favorite manga-ka’s, honestly. (It also helps that she was the artist of Eden of the East, an anime series that I really loved.)Anyway. In this volume, there was some surprising development for both Ayu and Mayama.I’m most surprised by Mayama’s, because I really wasn’t expecting his situation to go in that direction. I’m happy about it, though. Happy for him.I really, really like Ayu, and feel bad for her. I also wasn’t quite expecting so much to come of her and Nomiya, but I’m less surprised, and really happy about it. He’s kind of adorable. I’m excited to see more of that.We got a hint of something deeper going on with Shinobu. I wasn’t expecting that, and am very intrigued.There wasn’t much of Takemoto or Hagu this time, sadly. I really want to see what happens with them, and Shinobu. Plus, I just really like all of them. The company characters are fun, and I do like them, but I love the original group most. (And, Takemoto’s arch of finding himself was the absolute best thing ever.)I really, really like this series. It’s really funny, but it’s also very thoughtful. A bit nostalgic, sentimental. The band of characters are all very unique, and funny, and enjoyable. I’m close to the end of this series, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all wraps up.