Honey and Clover, Volume 8

May 15, 2010
This deeply involving and emotional manga about art college students trying to find their way in the world is something like a Japanese "Friends". Talented postgrad potter Ayu has loved Mayama for years, but he thinks only of his beautiful architect boss, Rika, scarred emotionally and physically in the accident that killed her husband. Tiny Hagumi's paintings are celebrated, but the pressure to produce leaves her struggling with inspiration and motivationand her shyness renders her unable to deal with the feelings the earnest Takemoto and the loopy Morita both have for her. By this eighth of ten volumes, the desire to see how these characters work things out and move forward in life is palpable; change begins to come, as the two most intractable hearts of the series finally start to bend. VERDICT Umino occasionally relieves the heartfelt introspection (focused on each major character in turn) with crazy comedy. Though marketed as shojo, this is a josei manga written for an adult female audience, though so far it's not inappropriate for teens. Strongly recommended for fans of "Maison Ikkoku" and the non-otaku aspects of "Genshiken".S.R.

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