Blue (Paperback)

~ Kiriko Nananan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

If those adornments of our youth held any color, it would have been deep blue. Kayako Kirishima and Masami End(tm) are about to discover that their recent friendship is turning into obsessive love. But when today's hopes and yesterday's dreams meet tomorrow's problems, will they be able to continue? Kiriko Nananan reaches inside feminine sexuality to explore these intimate torments.

About the Author

Kiriko Nananan was born in a small town in Niigata Prefecture, Japan - the setting for the title Blue - on 14th December 1972. She started her career in 1993 when she published the story Hole in Garo, the prestigious magazine formed in 1964 as a window for adult manga, which became the bastion of all things avant-garde. She is famous for her realistic josei (female) work featuring understated artwork with a sense of detachment.Two of her works, Blue and Sweet Cream and Red Strawberries have been made into feature movies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Toptron Ltd T/A Fanfare (March 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 8493340979
• ISBN-13: 978-8493340971
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #662,707 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars good poetry !, November 1, 2009

By	Sergio O. Parreiras "Sergio Parreiras" (Chapel Hill, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

See the other reviews for the plot. This was the best graphic novel/manga I read in 2007. The story is minimal, almost too too banal but -- oh boy -- it was as if I was reading one of the poem but not an ordinary poem. T'was more like one of these rare poems that really get at you, punch your guts and bring tears of joy and sorrow to your eyes.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not your typical manga, April 28, 2009

By	Henry H. S. Yoon (Chamblee, GA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this on a whim, after reading about it somewhere online. I am afraid it might be out of print, so if you can find a copy, I would recommend that you get it.

What is the best way to describe this book? The art style is more realistic, yet very minimal compared to your typical mangas, where people look like a silly caricature of their real-life counterparts, if they even exist. Let's just say, the characters do look like real Japanese students, albeit in a very minimalistic fashion. Perhaps the saying 'less is more' applies to the art direction here.

As for the story, it is a high school drama, where two Japanese school girls have a homosexual relationship, but in a completely platonic matter. It is more like they needed each other, so they depend on one another, only in a short span of time.

So, if you are looking for an indie graphic novel with thoughtful story and a unique art style, this one is for you. I could easily see this being adapted into a short film or a short TV drama- the characters are well fleshed out and very close to the real world.