2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but still brings nothing new to the table, February 8, 2009
This review is from: Papillon 2 (Paperback)
This volume brings a little bit more to the table than the previous volume, but it still seems to follow the same formula as Ueda's previous work "Peach Girl". The artwork is as gorgeous as always (like you could expect anything less from her), but with even the character's physical descriptions mimicking her previous work it's difficult to separate this from her the far superior work in the past.
This volume follows up with Ageha as she watches her sister kiss Ryuusei. Rather than confront her scheming sister Hana & the waffling boy, Ageha dashes away from the pair. Luckily for her the unusual Kyuu (the counselor) is there to help her pick up the pieces as well as shanghai her help with a group of crying babies left in his care. Afterwards Ageha is caught in public by her mother, who assumes the worst of the counselor's intentions.
This volume does pick up the pace some as well as moving the plot forwards a bit in some areas. (Mainly concerning Ageha's relationship with her mother as well as Ageha's relationship with Kyuu.) It's nice that Ueda isn't drawing such elements out for volumes & volumes, but at the same time I can't help but still note the incredibly strong similarities between PG & this work. We know who is supposed to be best for Ageha b/c we can look to see who most closely resembles the cast from the previous work. Still, this volume is a drastic improvement from the previous volume & it's steadily becoming something that could potentially stand on it's own if Ueda uses tricks others than the ones she's already used. Could this story last for as many volumes as the previous series? Nah- this is the type of story that's best if it's only about 4-6 volumes long.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Ehh, still., December 27, 2011
This review is from: Papillon 2 (Paperback)
3/5
I can't really say that this volume was any better. It's still kind of terrible, but I still enjoyed reading it, for some reason. I haven't really read a lot of the drama type of books, mostly because there aren't that many out there any more, but I enjoy them. Even if they are terrible. And this one... is.
So, this one starts with Ageha seeing Ryusei and her sister kissing, and then she freaks out and runs away. And then Hayato catches up with her and she tries to act like everything is fine, even though she just freaked out. But he's all nice and cheers her up. And then they talk some, and she talks about her mother, who she thinks doesn't like her. A bit of the volume is about her and her mothers relationship. Her mom tries to control things between Ageha and Hayato, and then they get in an accident. Hayato plays a trick to get them all to talk things out, and it works and there's a heartwarming moment between them. Or whatever.
And then later, Ageha makes some cookies in class and wants to give them to Hayato. She gives them around, including to Ryusei without feeling any bit of weirdness, because she sees a bunch of girls hanging around Hayato. This part actually wasn't done too badly. Because she doesn't think much of Ryusei, like how she obsessed over him earlier, and is thinking lightly of Hayato without it being overwhelming or realizing it. And she even mopes around the house and eats all of the cookies without really realizing what she is doing.
Anyway, then Hayato calls her for help, and she has to watch these kids for him. She assumes wrong, but does it anyway, and finds out how her mom felt when taking care of her, and gets a little attached. And then she talks with Hayato after the kids leave, (because they are his sister-in-law's), and they go out on this fake date thing to a carnival. He does some perverted, fun things, and they go on a Ferris wheel where she confesses and he's says 'alright', pretty much.
It's kind of cute, I guess, but a little stupidly over-exaggerated and petty. I'm not even sure what I like about it. Because, as I've said, it's terrible. Even the sappy moments, like the ones between her and her mother, were kind of stupid. Really, the art isn't amazing, the story isn't all that well done, the characters aren't even that interesting. Hayato is probably the one I like the most, and he's just alright. Ageha is getting better, I guess, but it seems like she supposedly matured so much between now and the first volume. And while she needs to mature, that's too fast for it to happen, and she still has several moments of immaturity. And her and Hayato's relationship isn't very believable. I just don't see it.
Again, I hope that she gets better. I hope that all of it gets better. Even though the style is probably going to stay the same, and Ageha is probably going to still bother me. Maybe Hayato will get even better, and I will start to believe their relationship, at least?
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5.0 out of 5 stars
I love Miwa Ueda..., April 17, 2009
This review is from: Papillon 2 (Paperback)
...and this novel is no exception to that love!
There was already a great review on this with a good description, and all I want to add is, if you like a good story with more drive than boy-meets-girl, this satisfies rather well. Ueda brings more to the characters by doing psychological research and shares her experiences in the novel at the end. Well thought out, endearing characters, and life situations most of us can relate to, this book is a winning and unique look into teenage life.
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