Tricky Prince, Mushishi, & an announcement
It gives me pain to see those two titles listed together. Heh. So, I have two reviews out today. First, at Manga Recon I have a review in this week’s Manga Minis for DMP yaoi title Tricky Prince. You know, DMP has such pretty books–nice large size with a dust jacket and everything–but man… as I lamented to Michelle right after I read it, I think there was actually more character development in Hanky Panky. And that’s just sad.
Now I have a cool announcement. About a month ago, Brian Cronin at Comics Should Be Good (home of Danielle Leigh and sometimes host to Michelle Smith) asked me if I’d like to be an occasional contributor to the site, like Michelle. I jumped up and down in an undignified manner and said I would like to very much. Today my first contribution has been posted! Behold my review for Mushishi, volume 6 which will be a part of my new, occasional series, “Tokidoki Daylight” (meaning “sporadic daylight,” TokiDay for short). Many thanks to Michelle and Grace for helping me decide on the name. I’m pretty thrilled to have been offered this opportunity, as I’m sure you can imagine. So go on over and see! :D
February 23rd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Welcome, of course, to the site! However, I’m really commenting here to complain about DMP/June! ;-)
Their licensing choices drive me nuts…there is so little quality in 95% of their books. There is some very good yaoi out there but they often seem to be taking the dregs from Japan without a second thought. *sigh*.
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Whee, thank you! :D And. Gah. Yes. Though I have to wonder if there is even a point to someone like you or me reviewing this stuff. I stopped by the Amazon page to check on the page count (my usual routine), and the only two reader reviews there both gave Tricky Prince five stars! So I guess these releases are pleasing certain readers.
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Michelle Smith Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I wanted us to review DMP’s offerings because there are a large number of people who read them, but you’re probably right that we’re going to be more critical of them than most.
Conversely, I’ve mostly been impressed with the yaoi coming from Aurora Publishing’s Deux line. They seem to have the right idea about licensing, for the most part.
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I have to hope we’ll like some of them more than this, yeah? And I suppose our reviews are valuable for others *like* us, who want more from their yaoi than something like Tricky Prince offers.
I probably started off on the wrong foot with Deux (you know, Hanky Panky). Certainly I’ve loved the est em books they’ve picked up.
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Michelle Smith Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I think you probably did start off on the wrong foot. The ones I’ve read—FreshMen, Lovers and Souls—have had at least something about them that I liked. Even the story about the dog—Ruff Love—was kind of unexpectedly amusing.
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I’ll have to keep a look out for some of those.
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Danielle Leigh Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Future Lovers, Future Lovers, Future Lovers!
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
So I take that as a recommendation? :D
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Danielle Leigh Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 pm
yes. Also Fumi Yoshinaga. Lots of Fumi Yoshinaga (just skip Solfege, which is her weakest work published in English).
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 pm
I have read some of hers! Only a couple–Gerard & Jacques and Antique Bakery, which I realize are probably the typical ones. But I liked them very much!
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Danielle Leigh Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Flower of Life is probably her best yet….not yaoi but really great slice of life high school story.
Can’t wait for her Ooku, which is supposed to be her “masterpiece,” and will come out in August.
Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Oooo, exciting! :D
I will also look for Flower of Life!
(fyi, I’m replying to the response above, because for some reason my blog will not allow threads more than 10 comments deep. I have no idea why.)
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Deanna Gauthier Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:13 pm
I loved Antique Bakery. And I thought Only the Ring Finger Knows was quite good (with some of the best kind of heart-fluttery moments). And I found Rin! to be a pretty sweet Yaoi. But I’m still floundering about aimlessly when it comes to knowing how to find Yaoi that *I* will like.
“So I guess these releases are pleasing certain readers.”
I had a similar experience with Necratoholic. I had such a strong negative reaction to it, but amazon.com readers (those who commented anyway) loved it. And I’ve since come across other positive reviews of it. So yeah, it wasn’t for me, but it hit the right notes for someone else.
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
See, all of those have one fatal flaw for me (this doesn’t include Antique Bakery)… the relationships seem to come out of nowhere, and move too fast to be real. My biggest problem with yaoi in general, is just that the time isn’t taken to make them good stories. They rush too fast to the romance.
So I have that problem too, of finding things I like. :)
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Deanna Gauthier Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I think that’s why even of the Yaoi I *like* none of them make it onto my favorite manga list. I enjoy them for the fluffy, but they are not emotionally satisfying.
And romance? I thought they were just rushing to the sex (although in these the sex equals the romance, no?)
That said, I realize there is a LOT of Yaoi out there. And a lot of different Yaoi for different tastes. And I am willing to try more (oh the self-sacrifice! *grin*). Because I do like to read romantic stories involving boy-love.
Which reminds me (sort-of), I’ve been wondering about Yuri. I have yet to read any and I was wondering if you had and if you had any recommendations?
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 24th, 2009 at 6:44 am
Regarding yuri, I haven’t read a lot, but of what I *have* read, I particularly enjoyed Indigo Blue by Yamaji Ebine, which unfortunately I think has never been licensed over here. If you’re looking for lots of info, though, what you want to do is start reading Erica Freidman. She’s the go-to person for yuri in English.
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February 23rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
A beautiful review that makes me want to read the series!
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I actually have always thought you might like this series, and possibly the anime as well.
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February 23rd, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Congrats on the new writing gig. That’s great!
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Thank you, Ed! :) I hope I’m not spreading myself too thin.
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February 23rd, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I really want to read your review of Mushishi 6! My copy of just arrived at the library today! I get to pick it up tomorrow and I look forward to reading your review once I’m finished :-)
Congratulations on being invited to join Comics Should be Good!!!
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Oh, I hope you enjoy the volume!!
And thank you! :)
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