Customer Reviews

Fruits Basket, Vol. 2

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't read manga. I don't buy manga. I have always thought that those who get interested in manga are over the top otaku's who love their anime way too much. However, I watched the show and ABSOLUTELY LOVED every minute of it and I could not get enough of it!

I decided to pick up the manga after I read some online forums that talked about how much the show left out. After reading it, some things in the show just make more sense. I feel like I understand the whole story a little bit better, and understand the characters better. I really enjoyed everything about this manga and I plan to buy the rest of them!

So, if you're wondering about whether you'd enjoy it, whether you should buy it... I would say that you should just do it! If you loved the show, you'll love these (especially because it helps to fill in a lot of the blanks!) If you haven't seen the show and are interested in reading this anyway, I say go for it, it can't hurt ^_^ Even if you haven't seen the show, I think you'll still love it.

Tohru Honda's adventures really get going in the second volume of "Fruits Basket," where the upbeat teen moves into the Sohma household. Natsuki Takaya's storytelling is stronger and steadier in these chapters, since she's introduced the main characters and can now get going on the plot.

Tohru is moving into her newly furnished room, and her pals (wave-reading goth Saki and toughgrrl Hana) decide to stay over to make sure that the guys will take care of their cheerful friend. And when New Year's rolls around, Kyo and Yuki find themselves wondering what to do -- go to the main house with the other family, or stay with Tohru?

And at the school, the students are planning a cultural festival, and Tohru encounters two other Sohmas -- the chilly doctor Hatori, and the effusive half-German Momiji, who is instantly pals with Tohru. But Tohru learns of a different side to the zodiac members' lives, when she hears about Hatori's tragic past.

The first volume of "Fruits Basket" was all about introducing the characters and getting them into the same house. And in the second volume, Takaya gets to flesh out the cast with new characters and new storylines, and hints about the more sinister aspects of the Sohma family's curse, and the family head Akito.

The storylines in general are darker here, especially the harrowing flashbacks of Hatori's love affair with his ex-fiancee, and the bitterly chilly way that it fell apart. But Takaya also sprinkles it with happier moments, such as the naughty novels, the preparations for the cultural festival ("She brought an IRON PIPE to school!"), and poor Yuki having to wear a dress, much to the delight of his crazed fangirls.

There are also some new dimensions shown in Tohru here. Sure, she's always cheerful and pleasant, but Takaya hints that she is actually quite lonely now, despite the presence of her friends. But the zodiac members also get some development -- including Tohru's whole talk with Kyo about the "umeboshi" on people's backs.

The second volume of "Fruits Basket" is even better than the first, and introduces the mix of tragedy and comedy that Takaya is so good at. And it will only get better.

Fruits Basket is one of the best manga I've read in years, hands down, and volume two is just as good as the first one. It is a little darker (perfectly balanced, though) and you get to dig deeper into some of the characters. You learn more about the Sohma family and about the curse, too. You won't regret adding this to your bookshelf!

Quick review of the manga: Sweet, beautiful, slow-paced.

Now, a quick guide to Japanese Honorifics (titles) used in Fruits Basket

-san is the most common honorific. Comparable to Mr. or Ms.
-kun is an informal and intimate honorific used by superiors addressing inferiors, or by males of roughly the same age and status. Also used among male friends.
-chan is the imformal diminutive of -san, used by children to refer to friends and family members, or by family members, close friends, lovers, pets, etc.
-sama is the most formal honorific used in everyday conversation. Used in addressing one of much higher rank.

Fruits Basket happens to be one of my FAVORITE animes, and ironically, it's completely insane. It will DEFINITELY remind you of Ranma 1/2.
Tohru Honda is a very pleasant and independent High-school girl. When her mom dies, and her grandfather cannot give her a home, she decides that everyone would be happy is she lived by herself...in a tent. On her way to school, she meets Shigure, who just happens to be "Prince" Yuki's cousin, the school heart-throb. She also meets another relative of Yuki's; Kyo, a foul tempered red-head. But what is *really* strange about the three? They have a curse, that when hugged by the opposite sex, they turn into their animal of the zodiac. Tohru is given the chance to live their if she keeps their weird secret. So...everything will be alright? Maybe if this weren't an anime.

I think that the storyline is so nice and is definitely worth reading. I prefer reading it in Nihongo though. All in all the story is very enjoyable and it has a good balance of darkness and drama against lightheartedness and comedy. Ga suki furuuts basuketto!

This series is awesome! My dad sent me an article on manga for girls and this was on the list. I read the first one and I got hooked. I got my friends hooked too. They are really good.

I purchased this book and two others in the series for my 12 year-old daughter after she received the first volume as a Christmas present. She absolutely loves them all.

I checked it out at school and I thought that would be best. Of course I already read volume 1 but this 2....wow! I am big fan of all kind of MANGA. You may think I am some freak but maybe I am freak. Yeah, I am student of high school but who cares!? I LOVED IT!!

I love this series. It's full of comedy and romance and even several hints of action (which I love). I am NOT a fan of romance/chick-flick/love story kind of thing, but I LOVE this series. Natsuki Takaya did an awesome job.