Customer Reviews

Emma, Vol. 5

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In Volume 5 of Emma, we see both Emma and William adjusting to their new lives without one another. However, are they really doing so well while remaining far apart? Volume 5 will certainly leave readers on the edge of their seats, alternately cheering and feeling frustrated by the characters. A true romance, after all, does not occur without obstacles. Volume 5 is a very nice addition to the series, and both the mastery of storytelling and graphic development shine through!

As a huge manga fan I can say this series is one of my favorites. The art work is stunning, a lot is portrayed without words and whole panels devoted a single glance.

In this 5th volume our favorite maid returns to Haworth after seeing William in London. William is still engaged to Eleanor, but in love with Emma. Insight is shown into why William's parents were separated quite a bit of the book tells their story. We also meet Eleanor's father and there's a lot of character development.

It is a quick and enchanting read, though it leaves you sorely wishing the next book was released sooner than December!

The Emma series is one of the best anime series I have read in a while, and worth reading through. It is a romance set in 1850s England. The story is driven by recurring and well-developed characters. Illustrations are well done and capture the settings well, as Emma moves between poor and wealthy houses and in-between. I don't like romances, but I liked this series.

Due to a fluke in Amaxon's system, reviews for volume 5 and 7 of the series are merged. So, when I write a review for one, it posts to both.

5th volume:

This book focuses on the story of William's parents. His father came from a merchant family and mingled with but got the cold shoulder from old money. William's mother, who does not live with his family any more and who we haven't seen much of so far, was a free-spirited aristocrat. The dynamic of their relationship 20+ years in the past unfolds and helps to explain some of why William's father is so concerned with appearances.

In the present, although William has followed his father's plans and become engaged to a socially connected and perfectly sweet girl, William and Emma begin to write love letters back and forth.

7th volume:

In the previous book, Emma was abducted by Eleanor's parents who wanted noble woman Eleanor to marry welathy but new money William. In this book, William travels to save Emma and bing her back to London. Emma has been taken to America... I think.. although it seems to take William about half a page and less than a week to travel there. Emma's journey didn't seem any longer. When they return to England, the same thing happens.

Daring chase and rescue is only a small part of getting Emma back. William must also convince his family that he is serious about his decision to marry Emma, and deal with the consequences, both personal and social, of breaking off another engagement.


Overall, this series was a good quick read. It's a mindless romantic comedy. There isn't much that's serious, including the ominous class differences which are not at all developed and just sort of there. Characters reemerge through the series and are fleshed out over the course of 7 books. Even minor characters are likely to reemerge and become more developed at some point in the future. The series does a good job of building personalities, and a self-contained world.

First off, epic fail to Amazon for using an incorrect product description for volume #5 of Kaoru Mori's, "Emma" series. This 'minor' error spoils the ending to this series, so if you haven't already be sure not to scroll UP. FAIL.

Now that that's out of the way let us move on, shall we? Vol #5 presents more Emma goodness. This time we get more back story on William's parents and how they came together and of course more weepy melodrama on the long-distance courtship taking place between our two star-crossed lovers. As always, the artwork in this series is nothing short of fantastic (highly detailed and immaculate all the way through) and the storytelling is concise and engaging even though you know what's going to happen next a mile away.

One of my favorite bits in the entire series though is the author's afterward included in every volume and hand drawn by Ms. Mori herself. Its always entertaining and a nice look into her inspirations and the comic creation process in Japan.

In this volume, we learn some history about William's parents, see some of the aftermath of his and Emma meeting at his engagement party, a series of letters between Emma and William, and we meet Eleanor's parents.

Ack, this is getting so good! Or it was good already, and I'm just getting more excited. Emma is changed after her trip to England, and the whole house seems to be involved one way or another. It sounds like there are a lot of Hans fans out there, and I don't get it. But I do love Dorothea and her husband. Dramatic! Heh heh! But as Mori puts it in the afterward, we're just waiting until the rich boy does something... and I want William to get on with it! I do like Emma coming out of her shell, though. And putting out fires.

By the by, the description of the book on GoodReads and Amazon is for the wrong volume. And it's a spoiler. Boo!

Kaoru Mori writes and draws a look of old england gone by in this really great litte comic / manga which I do recommend if you like real good story and drawn out characters who you can identify with. Never a dull book in this series which has been animated so I look forward to seeing that, along with her new manga which along similar lines. Please try this title out as it is very charming.