It's time for Manga Mondays! Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where love is constantly entangled with music, heartache, and happiness.
Description (from Goodreads): Nana K. tells herself that she's got her eye on the future and her life with Takumi, Trapnest's bassist, but she just can't let go of the past and her friendship with Nana and the rest of Blast--especially Nobu. And the tangle gets thicker when Nana K.'s wedding has to be postponed in favor of Nana and Ren's nuptials. Can Nana K. handle another delay in her happily-ever-after?
Review: Vol 12 has an unique chapter opening in any of first eleven volumes of this series. We are given a brief glimpse into the future where some of the main characters are present while some are notably absent. I'm now extremely curious to see how this future comes to be and what happened between our present time to the first chapter of this volume. In hat seems to be typical Yazawa fashion, the tone is bittersweet and it carries throughout the entire volume.
The last volume ends with the possiblity of a reunion between Nana K. and Blast. I was really excited to see how the whole Nobu and Nana K. meeting the first time after a very messy break-up turns out as well as have this great group of friends revert back to the good old days. Yazawa slows the pace for the actual meet-up and cleverly builds suspense as the time to meet comes closer. The band dons on clothes and wigs to conceal their identity while Nana K. is starting to have second thoughts about really attending. She in fact tells Nana O. while sobbing that she'd only come if Nobu isn't present. Watching Nobu's reaction to the news broke my heart. He's clearly not over Nana K., but is willing to do anything to make her happy. I think the main reason why Nana K. doesn't want to see Nobu is because of her illogical decision to stay with Takumi (who I hate with a passion). She's clearly not convinced she made the right choice nor am I. I keep hoping that something or someone will knock some sense into her and she realizes that she is going to ruin her life
After the fireworks, the next big event in the volume is Nana O. accepting Ren's proposal for marriage. Unlike many engagement announcements which is filled with excitement, Nana O.'s engagement seems completely orchestrated by the music labels of both bands. Ren and Nana O. have to do a media conference, and fill out official marriage licenses in front of their respective managers. I thought it was interesting that Nana O. has the exact same engagment ring as Nana K. and I'm sure we're set up to see how both of these marriages match-up as the story progresses. Blast and Nana K. are happy for Nana O, but now Takumi always thinking as a businessman wants to delay his marriage so that Ren could marry first since their news will most likely increase the sales for both band's albums.
Volume 12 ends in a some what of a cliffhanger as a joint birthday party for Shin and Reira is underway. Nana K. has been interestingly invited by Reira not Takumi. I guess the fireworks was a precursor to the actual reunion between all memebers of Blast and Nana K.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, some drug references, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.
If you like this book try: Nana Vol 13 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa
Description (from Goodreads): Nana K. tells herself that she's got her eye on the future and her life with Takumi, Trapnest's bassist, but she just can't let go of the past and her friendship with Nana and the rest of Blast--especially Nobu. And the tangle gets thicker when Nana K.'s wedding has to be postponed in favor of Nana and Ren's nuptials. Can Nana K. handle another delay in her happily-ever-after?
Review: Vol 12 has an unique chapter opening in any of first eleven volumes of this series. We are given a brief glimpse into the future where some of the main characters are present while some are notably absent. I'm now extremely curious to see how this future comes to be and what happened between our present time to the first chapter of this volume. In hat seems to be typical Yazawa fashion, the tone is bittersweet and it carries throughout the entire volume.
The last volume ends with the possiblity of a reunion between Nana K. and Blast. I was really excited to see how the whole Nobu and Nana K. meeting the first time after a very messy break-up turns out as well as have this great group of friends revert back to the good old days. Yazawa slows the pace for the actual meet-up and cleverly builds suspense as the time to meet comes closer. The band dons on clothes and wigs to conceal their identity while Nana K. is starting to have second thoughts about really attending. She in fact tells Nana O. while sobbing that she'd only come if Nobu isn't present. Watching Nobu's reaction to the news broke my heart. He's clearly not over Nana K., but is willing to do anything to make her happy. I think the main reason why Nana K. doesn't want to see Nobu is because of her illogical decision to stay with Takumi (who I hate with a passion). She's clearly not convinced she made the right choice nor am I. I keep hoping that something or someone will knock some sense into her and she realizes that she is going to ruin her life
After the fireworks, the next big event in the volume is Nana O. accepting Ren's proposal for marriage. Unlike many engagement announcements which is filled with excitement, Nana O.'s engagement seems completely orchestrated by the music labels of both bands. Ren and Nana O. have to do a media conference, and fill out official marriage licenses in front of their respective managers. I thought it was interesting that Nana O. has the exact same engagment ring as Nana K. and I'm sure we're set up to see how both of these marriages match-up as the story progresses. Blast and Nana K. are happy for Nana O, but now Takumi always thinking as a businessman wants to delay his marriage so that Ren could marry first since their news will most likely increase the sales for both band's albums.
Volume 12 ends in a some what of a cliffhanger as a joint birthday party for Shin and Reira is underway. Nana K. has been interestingly invited by Reira not Takumi. I guess the fireworks was a precursor to the actual reunion between all memebers of Blast and Nana K.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: There is strong sexual content, crude humor, some drug references, and some language. Recommended for mature teens and adults only.
If you like this book try: Nana Vol 13 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa
"I keep hoping that something or someone will knock some sense into her and she realizes that she is going to ruin her life."
ME TOO!!!! I can hardly deal with her Rummanah! She's driving me batty and I'm only exposed to the things she does secondhand through your reviews. Poor Nobu. I just want to hug him.
Hi Rummanah. I'm back! I still need to pick up Nana. Is the series done? How many total volumes are there?
@Jenny: She drives me up a wall! Seriously annoying.
@Alison: The series is complete and there's 21 volumes total.