|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||
|
|
Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane At this point in the series, Honey and Clover has crossed the line separating the characters' metaphorical search for themselves to a literal one: Takemoto, worn down by his inability to figure out what he's going to do after he graduates, finds himself cycling across Japan in search of...well, everyone else says he's looking for himself, but he's not even sure about that. It's just him, his bike, and an increasingly-empty wallet. In my vol. 6 review I referred to Takemoto's journey as the series' most iconic storyline, and it's in this volume that it really gets into full swing. Broke and exhausted, with his bike giving out under him, he's still easily filled with wonder at the beauty of what he sees around him. Arriving at a temple, he geeks out blissfully over the detailed craftmanship of its gate and resolves to spend more time stopping at temples and paying attention to the things he passes, but he then almost immediately falls in with a group of traveling temple-restorers who find him asleep beside his broken-down bike. In order to earn money to replace his bike, Takemoto finds a temporary place among them, doing their cooking and cleaning while they work. One of the things I love about Takemoto is his genuine appreciation for simple things done well. He's spent the series surrounded by geniuses and people who have at least some idea of where they want to be, but never recognizes his own positive, meticulous attitude for the gift it is. He now throws himself wholeheartedly into the task of making good food for the workers and loves every minute of it: here, he's found a place where he can belong, at least briefly, and where he feels useful instead of extraneous. It may be fleeting, but it's exactly what he needs to start him on both the literal and metaphorical roads home. Back at the school, Hagu takes on the challenge of teaching a summer painting class for kids, which may or may not be exactly what she needs: being an artistic genius comes with its own problems, and she's still struggling to live up to the expectations placed on her. Meanwhile, Yamada and Rika finally meet for the first time, which badly flusters Yamada and makes Mayama attempt some unnecessary--and unwanted--damage control. We're also given another brief look at Hanamoto's memories of Rika and her husband, which I always enjoy (and get misty-eyed over); the younger characters may sometimes forget or fail to realize that it wasn't that long ago that their teacher was in their place, but the narrative always remembers his past and the similarities between him and them. With only a few volumes left to go, the story doesn't precisely give the impression that it's wrapping up just yet, but the characters are spreading their wings and really starting to come into their own as they cross into adulthood. Volume 7 of Honey and Clover includes a bonus chapter, a short behind-the-scenes comic from the creator, and two pages of cultural notes. Review copy provided by VIZ Media. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
24 February 2011
|
||||
 |
| home | reviews | news | features | about us | advertise | privacy policy | contact us |
