Love Song: 4 Tales by Shojo Artist Keiko Nishi

and this book is amazing! The first story "Love Song" is a twist on most abusive relationships, this time the woman being the abuser. It was mind boogling at how the man just took her abuse like that, instead of fighting back verbally or physically. "Jewels of the Seaside" was a bit confusing toward the beginning, and very mind blowing at the end. "The Signal Goes Blink-Blink" is an extrememly touching story in my opinion, and it shows that some people have a change of view after a life threating experience. "The Skin of Her Heart" was too short for my taste, but it was enjoyable, and I think most people can relate to the main character. This book is really worth buying, and though I am a person who reads a book once, I will be reading this agian.

I'll come clean. I'm the translator of this volume, so I couldn't give it a lower rating. (On the other hand, there are manga I've translated which I *wouldn't* give good reviews, but in such a case I'd review anonymously. ^_^ ) While translating for Viz (I only stopped because I became too busy with teaching and had trouble meeting deadlines), I was fortunate to be able introduce several "shoujo manga" (Japanese girls' and women's comics) to the English-speaking world. The first compilation of these, "Four Shojo Stories" is unfortunately out of print (though you may be able to find it on BookFinder.com). Hagio Moto's "A-A'" is a wonderful series of interconnected short stories by the great Hagio Moto, but, being science fiction, it's almost too easy to import. What I had always wanted to do was to translate "real" shoujo manga, which is to say stories of human relationships that don't rely on the trappings of science fiction or fantasy in order to be accepted by English-reading audiences. The title story of this volume is just such a story, and then some. "Love Story" is the crystallization of the white-hot intensity of Nishi's early work. Ths story illustrates, with frightening (yet compelling) realism, the old song lyric: "You always hurt the one you love." "Jewels of the Seaside" and "The Signal Goes Blink Blink" are tongue-in-cheek fun (and you'll be glad of that, after "Love Song"), but the finale, "The Skin of Her Heart," is a quiet, moving vignette that is only incidentally science fiction (in a Bradbury-Tiptree-LeGuin vein). I'm quite proud of this translation, and I hope you'll like it.

Love Song is a collection of four short stories by shoujo artist Keiko Nishi. The first story, "Love Song", is about a girl who knows only physical violence as a way of expressing her love. The second story, "Jewels of the Seaside", is about three sisters who fall for the same guy. The third story, "The Signal Goes Blink Blink", is about a young man who is often ostracized and bullied by his peers. Later, it is discovered that he possesses wondrous healing powers. The last story, ""The Skin of Her Heart", is about a girl who seems to be trapped in the perpetual routine which is her life.I don't regret buying this book. I found it to be refreshingly different and relaxing, the kind of reading I'd want to do while lounging on a lazy afternoon. Love Song doesn't have swords or sorcery, it's basically good story-telling coupled with lovely and uncluttered art. These stories make you think and feel, with characters who are as real as the next person. The treatment is quite mature, but not in the sense that it'd contain sexual or other explicit stuff. Rather, the maturity pertains to the emotional level these stories convey. There's also a nice sprinkling of light moments and comical situations. It's truly a unique manga experience, which can be likened to reading a novel. I wouldn't recommend it for those who are looking for action and excitement though... this just isn't that kind of manga.

A beautifully drawn graphic novel with original and captivating stories. This manga will be an automatic favourite with girls as it contains both romantic stories and stunning tales of adventure.