xxxHOLiC: AnotherHOLiC (Hardcover)

by NISIOISIN (Author), Clamp (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: fake glasses, abnormal eyes, Kimihiro Watanuki, Eye World, Nurie Kushimura (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Introducing the thrilling first novel set in the exotic, mysterious world of xxxHOLiC! Written by bestselling author NISIOISIN, and spectacularly illustrated by CLAMP, this original story features the ever-excitable high school student Kimihiro Watanuki, the mystifying time-space witch Yûko Ichihara, and a host of fascinating new characters.

Nothing could have thrilled Kimihiro more than stumbling upon the bizarre wish-granting shop of the beautiful but unnerving Yûko Ichihara, who solemnly promises to make the spirits plaguing Kimihiro go away just as soon as her fee–rendered in daily afternoon chores at her shop–is paid in full.

Of course, the thrill wears off as soon as Kimihiro realizes that his payment plan bears a disturbing resemblance to indentured servitude . . . eternal indentured servitude. Still he soldiers on, ready for whatever number of adventures lie ahead. But in Kimihiro’s case, three may not be the charm!

His first assignment–to procure a pair of fake eyeglasses–is exceptionally pointless, even by Yûko’s standards. Or at least it seems that way, until Kimihiro watches a woman throw herself into traffic. He soon discovers that the doors of bespectacled perception can swing both ways.

Next, when a classmate seeks help solving a mystery involving text messages from the dead, Kimihiro is glad to play Sherlock. But he must turn to Yûko to determine whether the root of the riddle is otherworldly shenanigans, deceit, or murder.

Finally, however ready, willing, and able Kimihiro thinks he is to face the most unusual of circumstances, he still finds himself completely bewildered by the stranger who chases away his darkest spirits, condemns Yûko as a craven charlatan, and offers Kimihiro a way out of his preternatural predicament–and a fortune besides.

About the Author
Born in 1981, the prolific NISIOISIN has already revolutionized the Japanese literary world with his fast-paced, pop culture-fueled novels. He debuted with The Kubikiri Cycle in 2002, beginning his seminal Zaregoto series, and Bakemonogatari was published under Kodansha’s popular Kodansha Box imprint. In 2007 came the magnificent conclusion to his twelve-month consecutive serial novel Katanagatari–for which NISIOISIN wrote one novel a month for an entire year–also for Kodansha Box. In addition to xxxHOLiC, NISIOISIN has tackled another major manga franchise with Death Note: Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases, based on Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s blockbuster series.

CLAMP is a prolific collective of four female artists–Igarashi Satsuki, Mokona, Nekoi Tsubaki, and Ohkawa Nanase–who have become the most popular manga creators in the United States. From their U.S. debut X to their hugely popular series Chobits, Tsubasa, and xxxHOLiC, CLAMP has been creating unique and immersive worlds for several years.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey (October 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345505182
• ISBN-13: 978-0345505187
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #593,922 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, November 17, 2008

By	K. Landis "kujata070" (Rutherford, nj United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being a XXXholic-holic, I had high hopes for this novelization, but found that it had almost nothing of the qualities that made me love the manga. There is almost no supernatural presence, and while we're told about Watanuki's ability to see spirits, the writer gives no sense of what this would actually be like. All the supporting cast is kept offstage, and since a large part of the manga's charm is Watanuki's love/hate relationship with Domeki, this takes the personality right out of the story. Furthermore, the whole thing is told in an artsy-fartsy stream-of- conciousness style that is just plain annoying. There are three nice drawings by CLAMP, but fans will still want to give this one a miss.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Avoid this addiction, November 15, 2008

By	Nick A. Dejager "xavon_wrentaile" (Maplewood, MN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a light novel that tries to be a manga collection. And maybe it is the translation, but it just isn't very good.

The book consists of three stories. The first was adapted into the anime as episode 17. It involves a young woman who rejects happiness by acting out in minor ways. The second involves a young woman who appears to be haunted her recently dead friend. And the third involves Watanuki meeting a person who claims to have similar powers.

Part of the problem with the book is the disconcerting and unclear way the author shifts between first and third person perspectives. In addition, either the original author or the translator sometimes leaves off quotes, making lines that characters are saying at the time into statements relayed by others.

Also, the story is entirely too mundane. Only the third revolves anything supernatural. Of the XXXHolic cast, only Watanuki and Yuko appear, the others are all mentioned in passing, but unused.

The first story is fine, but the anime did it better. The second story is interesting enough, but is more like a detective story than a XXXHolic story. Without giving to much away, the 'Holic' of the story is not a 'Holic'. And the third story is just bad. It is like a fanfic intro, in which the author attempts to introduce his own pet version of the rules of the universe. Not that that is bad in and of itself, butit is poorly executed, and the character who introduces the the author's theory is an annoying jerk who spends as much time insulting Watanuki as he does explaining his theory.