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| Book cover, courtesy of Amazon.com |
Have you ever been in love with a
loaf of delicious ham?
Neither have the characters in
"Honey and Clover: Volume 1" by Chica Umino, but the way Takamoto and
his fellow college students behave, you'd be sure it was love at first sight
for them.
When
I interviewed students about what sort of graphic novel they enjoyed reading,
many of my female respondents were quick to answer, almost unanimously,
romance. Sophmore Jenna even went so far as to say that she enjoyed reading
Shoujo (romance manga for girls) every day! "Honey and Clover" has
romance in spades, though it comes in a very unusual package. Takamoto, an art
student, is struggling to find out who he is when a new student arrives. Fresh
from high school comes Hanago, whose almost child-like stature instantly
attracts Takamoto's attention and that of Takamoto's unusual friend Morita, who
instantly (and creepily) begins taking photos of her.
"Honey
and Clover" is an excellent title for readers who prefer drama and budding
romance to action. While the book does have some humor (typically involving
running gags such as the dorm's love affair with meat and the kickboxing queen
Yamada, whose nickname is "Iron Man"), its primary focus is exploring
who the characters are and how their lives are being changed by the people
around them. With a cast of fun and lovable characters, "Honey and
Clover" is sure to please. The book also includes a "study guide"
at the back of the book to explain the story's obscure references and Japanese
terms, such as System 6 Macs and Koropokkurs, that is sorted by the order in
which the references appear.
If you enjoyed "Honey and Clover: Volume 1," be sure to check out the rest of the series. All ten volumes of "Honey and Clover" have been translated and released in the US.
Umino, Chika, and Akemi Wegmüller. Honey and Clover. San Francisco, CA: Viz Media, 2008. Print.
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