Website I am loving

This time I am not going to blab about what I am reading. I wanted to mention a few places I go to get my fix. I do most of my reading on my laptop. My desktop is on the fritz but more importantly I can bring my laptop with me and read stuff I have downloaded. However, that means limited memory. I have anime I watch downloaded on it to. So, here is a site I like to go for reading stuff online: www.mangafox.com The only complaint I have it sometimes it take a bit for a page to load. Sometime it goes fast and other times I have to wait so I usually go off to another site and read fanfiction...lol. There is a ton of stuff to read there. Another fun place is: www.myanimelist.net  It is great place to find new manga and anime. It is a community where you can see what other people and reading and watching. Read reviews and talk to others. I recently joined and have been lurking. I have been lax on adding to my list so it is very small but I will add to it when I get time. I don't have much so it could take a while. My name there is perphila if anyone wants to say hi. Anyway, check these places out and have fun exploring...:)

Beauty Research Club

I just started reading this one. I am only in the third chapter of volume three. Why did I start reading it? I saw a blurb about how whenever this girl sees someone beautiful she throws up. I could only imagine how funny that would be and I was in mood for funny. I remembered reading Wallflower/Perfect Girl Evolution and how Sunako would get nose bleeds from seeing anyone beautiful and that was rather funny. But, throwing up? Even better I thought rubbing my hands together in glee. However so far I am disappointed in the fact she has only gotten nausea and not hurled. I feel like I am just waiting for it now. Ok, some basics. Makoto is pretty herself (maybe she shouldn't look in the mirror) but the naive type ( which I am enjoying since it makes one the other characters crazy). She meets Kiyoshi and Atsushi. They are brothers and both beautiful. Atsushi (not his real name?) is kind of mean but since she is not the sharpest tack in the box even when he is about to ravish her she thinks he is only helping her. It drives him nuts to think he has this rep as a nasty guy and she thinks he is the gentle type. Kiyoshi falls for her instantly since she can't stand to look at him. Atsushi however is beginning to fall for her himself kicking and screaming against it. So you can see where some of this is going. Makoto seems to be liking Atsushi at this point. As for the title, Beauty Research Club. It is their school club which Makoto is forced to join by Kiyoshi in order for him to be near her. The brothers (Atsushi was blackmailed into joining by Kiyoshi) and the other two members minus Makoto research beauty each in their own way. I have found it funny. Not sidesplitting but certainly and snicker or two. Now if she would just THROW UP on Kiyoshi he might not keep bugging her. I am waiting patiently.

Ichigo Channel

Here is something I just stumbled upon the other day. I find the plot summary interesting...from Anime News Network:

Plot Summary: Ken will do anything to become an idol, his sister Ichiko will do anything to help her brother...even pretend to be a boy to form the new male idol trio called TRIJET. The third member, Kanzaki, turns out to be the same boy who almost kissed ichiko only days before, it’s a good thing he doesn’t recognize her in her boy form, as she cannot tell anyone about her true identity. When she bumps into Kanzaki again in her girl form, she tells him her name is Ichigo. Having no idea that she's really the TRIJET member, Number one, whom he detests, or Ichiko, the girl he almost kissed. Kanzaki begins to fall for...Ichigo. Things are getting complicated.

I found a scan and have read the first chapter. The scan wasn't very good. The translation was iffy. Still even with faded art and distracting english words I will still read the next few chapters and see if I like it. I am hoping I am just unnerved by the bad scan. I am grateful I have anything at all so I am not complaining. I have to really try hard to not be distracted though. Really it is the plot summary that is keeping me going. The very end of the first chapter got interesting. It was a little jumbled at first and a little hard to follow. I think this has potential though. I haven't heard or seen anything about this becoming an anime yet.

Mei-chan no Shitsuji

Here is a synopsis:

Mei Shinonome always has this dream. When she was younger and lost her way in a dark forest, she sang her favourite song, "Mei-chan's Butler", to build up her courage. Suddenly she was lifted up by a man who said he was her butler. Now she can't remember what he looks like, but remembers his shimmering brooch and long slender fingers. Kento Shibata is a pretty boy who, along with everyone else in the class, doesn't believe Mei's dream was once real. Emiri Enari has a crush on Kento and looks down on Mei as her father is a noodle chef. How will Mei find the butler from her dreams and will she get everyone to believe her?

I am not sure who to credit this with since I have seen it on everything I have seen for this. Now I'll add my two cents. I have only read the first 6 chapters of the first volume so far. The art could be a bit better but Mei is always cutely drawn. Of course she has a butler..there wouldn't be a manga if she didn't. Kento reveals his crush on Mei but pretty boy or not he can't compare to the butler, who happens to be his big brother! I'm not riveted waiting for the next chapter. Still, I like it and find the butler interesting. She now has people after her. I had no idea butlers also had bodyguard in their job descriptions. I will keep reading this for a while. I have been getting the scans from SMM scanlations

http://s15.invisionfree.com/Shoujo_Manga_Maniac

Shinobi Life

Who wants their own personal ninja bodyguard? I do! I do! I am in the mood for unconditional devotion and having someone around who can protect me and would die in order to do so. Still, Beni isn't sure if this is a good thing or not. Especially when she realizes Kagetora has somehow come through time and was her ancestor's personal ninja who just she happens to share her name with. In fact at first she thinks he is a co-playing stalker. Kagetora of course is confused and at first thinks she is the original Beni. His "Beni-Hime-Sama". Beni's home life is not good. She even suspects her father in her mothers death. He keeps hiring bodyguards for her but they all keep disappearing...until Kagetora is mistaken for her bodyguard. Beni keeps getting kidnapped which she attributes to her father's dirty dealings. He is also quite cruel. Maybe things will begin to change with Kagetora by her side? What is the real truth behind her mother's death? What does a real ninja think about thong underwear?

Hush

Quickie description... Gyu Hwa Lee looks like a guy, but she has feelings just like any other girl. She's currently in love with Korean pop idol Kang Un Ryu. After a tragic accident Kang Un ends up transferring to Gyu Hwa's high school. The only problem is he has to keep his identity a secret so he's cross-dressing as a girl. Gyu Hwa discovers Kang Un's secret and winds up helping him. Will she ever be able to win over his heart? This is  Korean manhwa that's funny and tearful by the author Ji Un Yoon (Yun)who also did Cynical Orange. You can gets scans at Condensation. Other groups scanning are HMR and VNManga XD Team.

Megane Ouji/Glasses Prince

Sachiko confesses her love to her glasses prince and is totally rejected. She has no time to recover however since she has to move from her grandmother's home to live with her mother who she hasn't seen in years. When she gets there who answers the door.....her glasses prince, Masuda senpai! Now she is living with him and he isn't a prince at all. He has a double life. How will Sachi handle all these new changes and stress? 

There are currently 2 volumes and it isn't licenced yet. You can gets scans at Nagaraboshi. I added the link on the right. I don't think the series will be a long one. It seemed to be moving fairly quickly. Still, Sachi is funny and honest. Glasses prince has some serious issues but seems kind underneath it all. We'll have to see how it progresses.

Fall in Love like a Comic

Rena has a double life. She is a normal high school girl but she is also a mangaka. She has a popular comic and she likes to write love scenes. She accidentally bumps into Tomoya the school idol and drops her latest manuscript. She tries to keep being a mangaka a secret in fear of being found out and being kicked out of school because of her sexy drawings. Fearing the worst she goes back to school and finds that Tomoya has her work and he threatens to tell everyone. She tells him the truth then asks him if he would be her boyfriend to help her out. She has never had a boyfriend before and feels her work is missing something...first hand experience. He shockingly agrees. He has turned everyone else down. Why does he agree and what does he have in mind? 

There is only one book so far with another one being planned. This isn't anything groundbreaking but it is funny to see how hard she works and how happy it makes her. You wonder if all mangaka are like that? Also, I liked the frame of Tomoya's face when she tells him he is just like a shoujo manga hero. I can't quite tell if he was in pain with hurt feelings or is it disgust...maybe something smelled really really bad. Whatever the case, she totally missed it. It's cute and classic. It was previewed in Shojo Beat if you don't want to buy the whole book.

Bride of the Water God

The book hails from Korea by Yoon Mikyung/Mi-kyung Yun ( I am not sure of the proper spelling). It is licenced and is being published by Dark Horse comics. This is romance no question. There is a seriousness to it however that from as much as I have read so far could be explored some more. The art is beautiful. At first I thought some of the people were a bit too distracting and less impressive than the backgrounds. That seemed to work itself out or maybe I just got used to it. There are funny moments and the art reflects that.

Soah is a local girl made into a "bride" aka sacrifice for the water god to stop a draught. Instead of dying she is rescued by Habaek the water god and is now in a magical world. Her new husband is a little boy and not what she was expecting at all. Gods however are never what they seem and it is something Soah needs to figure out. There are other Gods and intrigues and she may son have to pick sides. I won't spoil it for you. I know have been looking forward to this for a while. I started reading it in scanlations and had to wait seemingly forever before the book finally came out in the USA. Even if you don't want to read it look at the art at least. The feudal Korea/magical world look of it is nicely done.

Oresama Ouji

Not much to say about this one yet. I have only read the first chapter. The main character Sawa hates Judo. Her father has a dojo and she is strong. However, being too strong is why she has always been rejected in love. She decides to just be a regular high school girl and start over. She is chosen as the Judo club manager against her will by the handsome captain. He even claims to know her but she can't remember him. He makes her work hard yet watches over her to make sure she is ok. How will she handle being involved in the sport she now hates with a captain that seems to like her? What is their past? I have the link to the scans on the right. Nagara-boshi.

Love Monster

Hiyo Osora failed the entrance exam to the high school. She then receives a strange acceptance letter to Saint Monster Academy. Her father is an alumni of the school, so she decides to go to the school. When she first arrives there, she gets hazed and meets the school president, Kurou Tenma. She is surprised to find the school is filled with people who are actually monsters in disguise. Then Kurou announces that she is his fiancée. She faints and wakes up to find that Kurou and her share a room. The only way she can get out is with him carrying her in his arms because he is a crow demon with black wings and he can fly from their tower bedroom. Hiyo becomes more and more used to the monsters of the school, though strange things happen that reveal Hiyo is a monster herself. She is the great White Crow who is also rarely seen. I really like this manga. It is fun and I like the art. At first it was a little hard to follow. The flow seemed a little off. There are a few more uhm...romantic moments but it ( so far as I have read) haven't been too far. There are some of the usual tight shirt, panty shots with Hiyo that I could do without. I like the plot with Hiyo and Kurou's past and the mystery of the white crow. I love her dad! There are scans at ShoujoMagic and you can read them online at OneManga. I will post the links. Read and have fun..:)

Shibutanikun Tomo no Kai

I have no idea why I like this. I should be too old. I think it's cute so, there you are. I am a sucker. Anyway, Shibutani by Tohru Fujieda is center around the boy above, Ageha. He is the eldest (and shortest) of three brothers. He takes care of them all since they have no parents to look out for them. He cooks (very well) and cleans and is almost like a mother. He has a crush on a girl in his class named Nina. She doesn't know about his lack of parents and thinks the lunch he brings in for her every day was made my his mother. Ageha tries to impress Nina by singing for her in the park with his brothers in a band and meets Range. Range is a mysterious character. he is handsome and can sing, much to Ageha dismay since he can't. Later on we also find out Range is a model. Range thinks Ageha is cute and basically kidnaps him to "the big house" where he lives with a few other odd people. Nina was late and missed it but in the end they all wind up living with Range. Ageha to keep an eye on Nina (who is enthralled with Range) and cook. His poor brothers are left at home..:( How can Ageha get Nina's attention? What is up with Range? Is he just really aloof? What does he want from Ageha? Later on another character is introduced with ties to Range. Jealous ones once he/she meets Nina. He/she you ask? It's complicated but that is what keeps it interesting. I like this story being mostly from Ageha's point of view. I really like him. He is just a regular guy. Short but sweet. Insecure but bold when he needs to be. An honest friend. I think Range is surrounded by so many people who want something from him he likes being around Ageha. I am at Vol. 3 chap. 11 scanned by Entropy. I have a link for them on the right. Check them out.

Zero Count

I've Just finished reading Vol.1 Chap. 6 of this scanlated by DragonVoice. Check out their link. The pretty girl here on the left is told by her father she has a fiancee she knew nothing about. In fact they are a wealthy family with some business trouble. Which results in her father "borrowing" some money from and old friend. In exchange he gives his daughter over for marriage. To say she isn't pleased would be reasonable. Unfortunately her father refuses to tell her the name of her fiance. He does tell her what school he goes to, his letters of his initials (not in any order) and a few other clues. She decides to change schools, track the guy down and talk him out of the marriage. After all she figures he has been forced into this as well. So the hunt begins. The art is a little stiff for me but it is starting to become more interesting if a little disjointed at times. Just my opinion. I'm still going to read it though. I could never be a reviewer. I need to set limits. Can't....must....read.

Boku Ni Natta Watashi

OK, so I want to back track a little an make a quick statement about definitions and how I really don't care. I do care and want to be responsible but I mean I don't wish to get into huge arguments about semantics. Right off the bat let me say I am just a fan and make no claims of authority about this or that genre. I only know a few Japanese words my father taught me when I was little so I am not multilingual. I read Korean comic too so I don't want a fight about...no..no..that's manhwa. Also, the spellings of things might not be "accurate". For example, the title of this blog. I used Shojo and not Shoujo. I want to try and keep the blog more about the "young girl" definition even though I know shojo can mean virgin. The last post was about a comic that falls more into the Josei category. I added some links to definitions for people who may not know what I am talking about but I am not going to get to strict about stuff. I know there has been a lot of debates about what comic falls into which category. I wouldn't mind seeing comments. After all  feedback is what I'd like. So I hope I don't make anyone furious for those things.

It may seem like I am picking stuff out of the hat to write about. Actually I am only writing about what I am reading myself. I am reading a ton of different things. If I run out of ideas I'll let you know. So, Boku Ni Natta Watashi by Ako Shimaki is the lovely picture above. If you've ever read Hana Kimi you know all about the girl dressing up like a guy in an all guy school. That is about it for similarities.  Momoko has to take the place of her brother to save his spot in school by her mother. It isn't easy for her to do so since she is obviously a girl. Of course her roommate becomes the object of her affections. He figures it out right away and unlike in Hana Kimi he says so! I just finished Vol. 3 scanned by Storm in Heaven. I will add their link. I am not a reviewer. That is not my intent here. I just want to share what I am reading. I am reading Hana Kimi too. In fact I started reading that first so I really like the contrast in stories. I always get a kick out of the gender changing stuff anyway. I love the close calls and who is going to discover the secret next. Boku Ni Natta Watashi seems to be more romantically inclined earlier on in the story and we'll see how it plays out. 

O Butterfly O Flower

Hi all and welcome! I have never been a girlie girl but I have a bit of the hidden pink within. Hence, a secret and now not so secret love for shojo manga. I have liked them since I was a teen but my love for reading and art kept me interested. I like all manga but this blog is going to be about shojo. If I diverge feel free to fine me from my future lottery winnings. So, I am just going to blab about what i am reading and hope it spreads the word and gives people ideas of things to check out. This lovely picture to my left represents the manga, O Butterfly, O Flower by Yuki Yoshihara, published by Flower Comics.  I am currently finished reading Vol.2, chapter 10. Before I get into the plot at all I just want to say I do my very best to purchase my manga. Because of money issues my purchases are slow but sure. In the mean time, I borrow from my friends, the library, anywhere and anyone. I also look for scanlations. Scanlations are scans of manga that have been translated for us linguistically challenged people. I use them to see if there is a manga I may want to buy. If i like it I will put it on my list, if not dump it. It is a great way to find the ones you really want to spend your hard earned money on. I do not endorse one site over another. I do NOT want to get in the middle of any turf battles between the sites either. From what I gather, and since I do not scan myself it is just inference on my part, sites generally scan certain books and there is a unwritten rule that other sites find their own stuff to scan that way not more than one site is scanning the same thing. Sounds good to me since there will be more stuff to read. It is just some sites are slower than others and people get ansty in this instant gratification age. So, that said, scan on and keep me out if it except to enjoy the efforts and to offer my thanks to the book gods for having people spend their well deserved free time, energy, money and whatever else to provide this service. I am actually reading this book scanned by Serenus-Dreamers. I will post a link to them on the side. Kuze Chouko is a former lady interviewing for a job in real estate. her family lost their fortune and now own a noodle shop. Little does she know the person she will be working for used to be one of the family servants. Although it starts off seemingly racy it isn't a smut manga. A least not yet. Her boss does ask in the interview if she is a virgin which stuns her. UH yeah, that would shock me too. However after that awkward opening things seem to smooth out other than then fact he is a demon boss. Doesn't matter Doumoto Masayuki is handsome and has all the female office drones buzzing. Chouko is funny. She is a regular girl and honest. Masayuki is slightly older and I just can't spoil his personality for you. Read it because I think this guy has a switch somewhere that enables him to get that hard do as I say or die face then, click, he is another guy completely. I am having fun with the romance. It has been sweet. It got a little more mature in the last issue I read but it's nothing compared to other stuff I have seen out there. The art is nice. I wish I could have a copy of the original work to compare. Collected works sometimes miss all the wonderful color art. What I have seen is good. lol. What a bad word that was, good. Real descriptive huh? I mean to say, I like the soft edge feel to it. So check out tall, dark and handsome and ask yourself...what answer would i have given....then click the poll.