Aquarium

Very sweet book. When I first read this I was nervous it was going to be depressing however, the story twists and the end was very satisfying. Three stories that are very different but very adorable. The art is well done and looks very professional. The stories move at a good pace (hard to do with three stories in one book) and the character flow is very well done. You can see who each of the characters are and they stay in character throughout each story. Overall, I must say well-done.

This is one of the greatest single volume mangas I've ever read. Tomoko Taniguchi is a master of shojo manga. This has three stories in it. The first one is the main story, Aquarium. A girl who didn't get into the prestigious school she wanted (which has her crush) seeks solace in an aquarium and meets someone who could give her life an unexpected turn. It has a depressing tone to it at first (because the girl contemplates suicide, and there is a little blood). But the ending is very satisfying and amazingly fluffy. It can be very inspiring for those who don't always get what they want (basically everybody at one point). The second story is about an airline stewardess who feels that she is missing something important in her life. She finds out what that is as the story progresses. The art is a little different than the last story, having a cheery bright tone throughout. It's so cute! The last story is probably my favorite. It's called "The Heart is Your Kingdom" (or something like that) and it is about a girl who has loved a boy since they sat in church together. The title comes from a priest's sermon that states that the Heart is your kingdom that must be ruled by you and your "other half". The girl immediately felt that the boy sitting next to her was her other half. But unfortunatelly in the present, he has a new girlfriend and she can't get over her inability to smile when he comes near. It's the fluffiest story in the book. I read it again and again! This book left me with a smile on my face for hours. I read it everytime I feel down and it picks me right back up! You must try this masterpiece for yourself. You won't be disappointed. ^_________^