aiyazawabookclub - Tumblr blog

[aiyazawabookclub]

6am: Just know I've been writing up stuff from Kagen no Tsuki volume 1 that I read a few weeks ago. It's taking a little longer than anticipated (because of school and work) but I'm gonna continue reading it through October and probably kick off the discussion at the end of the month.

I also think I want to wait until I'm completely done reading so that I know how all the storytelling ties together - hard to remember with this series for me.

Also! Thanks to the lovely people who msgd your introductions 😭💌. You're wonderful! Gonna respond tonight hopefully. A few people also asked where I'm reading it, so I'll send over links too! Ad blocker is your friend lol.

[aiyazawabookclub]

Hey folks! I'll be starting Kagen no Tsuki volume 1 within the next week hopefully. There's a post under construction ✌

If you're planning on reading along and/or joining the convo please feel free to introduce yourselves - I'm particularly interested in the following:

Your favorite Ai Yazawa series and/or character and why

How long have you been reading her work?

What's your opinion on Yazawa's art and/or writing style(s)?

Your favorite series and/or mangaka in general (feel free to recc me anything you love)

Favorite books, authors, genre... literature of any kind

Etc etc.

-L

[aiyazawabookclub]

Kagen no Tsuki (1998-1999)

aka. Last Quarter (of the Moon) 

Since I plan to go through the series in detail, I want to keep this one post as short as possible.  In summary, Last Quarter is a story about a little girl named Hotaru and her friends solving the mystery of the “ghost” they call Eve. It is also the story of a girl named Mizuki who falls in love with a mysterious musician named Adam.  Ultimately it’s classified as a drama and supernatural mystery, but Ai Yazawa’s style of incorporating comedy into her narrative is not lost in this series. At the point of writing this, I am only one volume deep and have laughed several times.

Mizuki/Eve is the central character, but the children are equally important and drive the plot. I’m interested to eventually re-discover how the live-action movie spins the story without them. 

Here is a link to a (better) Wikipedia plot description: [x]

“First” Impressions:

Right off the bat, I love that the chapters (or “Acts”) have titles. They’re not necessarily descriptive, but with the way I’ve been obsessed with NANA, I would be referring to the Chapter Title Names like old friends if she did the same thing with that series. Furthermore, the art is on par with Paradise Kiss and early-to-mid NANA eras style. I’m a fan. 

There is not an official U.S. release (for me to have a readable physical copy) but is not difficult to find Kagen no Tsuki online. This post will have links to whatever I post pertaining to the series. It has 16 chapters spread across 3 volumes, so I am going to make 3 (possibly lengthy) posts.

Finally, I must say this isn’t my first read-through but it definitely feels like one with all the time that has passed. If anyone has read it (or if you’re planning to) feel free to comment or correct me on anything I discuss.  The first volume really brings you into the mystery - like what happened to Mizuki? Where does Adam go?  *I* certainly can’t remember lol. 

Volume 1 [Post]

Act 1: Mizuki / Act 2: Border/ Act 3: Cross/ Act 3: Ring/ Act 5: Eve

Volume 2 [Post]

Act 6: Key/ Act 7: Stay/ Act 8: Life/ Act 9: Remember/ Act 10:  True

Volume 3 [Post] 

Act 11: Sayaka/ Act 12: Fault/ Act 13: Wish/ Act 14: Heaven/ Act 15: Over/ Act 16: Last Quarter

Image Source [x]

Edit: looking again this post is a MESS on the app view yikes sorry

[aiyazawabookclub]

Hey folks! I'll be starting Kagen no Tsuki volume 1 within the next week hopefully. There's a post under construction ✌

If you're planning on reading along and/or joining the convo please feel free to introduce yourselves - I'm particularly interested in the following:

Your favorite Ai Yazawa series and/or character and why

How long have you been reading her work?

What's your opinion on Yazawa's art and/or writing style(s)?

Your favorite series and/or mangaka in general (feel free to recc me anything you love)

Favorite books, authors, genre... literature of any kind

Etc etc.

-L

[aiyazawabookclub]

Starting this soon!

[aiyazawabookclub]

The Ai Yazawa Book Club

Hi everyone, it’s me Lori (aka. elpantalones) and honestly, it has been years (~over a decade) since I’ve read some of Ai Yazawa’s most famous series. I usually just talk about NANA despite having read Gokinjo Monogatari, Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai, Kagen No Tsuki, and Paradise Kiss in the past.

After watching a very mediocre film called  ‘The Jane Austen Book Club’ (2007), I decided I too would love to talk about *my* favorite author/artist’s [available] body of work with other fans in a more structured way than I usually do (because my main account is messy lol).  I set up this page to document and discuss her books as I go through them again, and hopefully, others can join in as well as I take on this endeavor. I won’t be speeding through everything so it might take a while. NANA will be a lower priority on the list, but I will talk about this topic anytime.  

Agenda

Literature:  Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (1992-1995, 8 volumes), Neighborhood Story (1995-1998, 7 volumes), Kagen no Tsuki (1998-1999, 3 volumes), Paradise Kiss (2000-2004, 5 volumes), NANA (2000-2009, 21 volumes/ hiatus)

Other works I’m not sure if I’ll be able to read: Ano Natsu, 15-nenme, Love Letter, Kaze ni Nare!, Escape, Ballad Made Soba ni Ite, Marine Blue no Kaze ni Dakarete, Usubeni no Arashi. 

*Other Media: Last Quarter movie, Paradise Kiss movie, NANA movie 1, NANA movie 2, NANA anime, Paradise Kiss anime, Gokinjo Monogatari anime...

*Anime is lower priority

Tentative Schedule:

[NANA movie 1] (August 2019) - Complete

[NANA movie 2] (August 2019) - Complete

Kagen No Tsuki (Last Quarter) manga (finish by Oct. 31, 2019). I think as autumn approaches this would be a great place to start since it’s a good ghost story. Last Quarter is fairly short and I remember loving the dynamic of the kids. Message me here or on @elpantalones for a link to where I’m reading the series if you can’t find it. It’s not officially translated in English from what I remember. 

Kagen No Tsuki Movie (finish by Oct. 31, 2019). I’ll probably talk about the differences between the book and movie (for which there are many lol), production choices, actors, and music. Ask me for a link to this as well.

[TBA] If anyone actually joins me I’ll take their suggestions.

-Other-

Add me on Goodreads: link expires 9/21/19