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Flower of Life #2
Flower of Life, Volume 2
Harutaro is at a loss. He has been chosen for the lead role in the class play, but his lines are embarrassingly, overwhelmingly romantic! Meanwhile, his classmates are also at a loss. Who knew Harutaro was such a bad actor?! The only person they can ask is -- him. The otaku to end all otakus, Majima, the president of the anime club, is on his game!
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Fumi Yoshinaga
156 books248 followersJapanese: よしなが ふみ
Fumi Yoshinaga (よしなが ふみ Yoshinaga Fumi, born 1971) is a Japanese manga artist known for her shōjo and shōnen-ai works.
Fumi Yoshinaga was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1971. She attended the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo.
In an interview, she said that "I want to show the people who didn't win, whose dreams didn't come true. It is not possible for everybody to get first prize. I want my readers to understand the happiness that people can get from trying hard, going through the process, and getting frustrated."
Little is known about her personal life. She mentions that her favourite operas are those by Mozart in the author's note of Solfege.
She debuted in 1994 with The Moon and the Sandals, serialized in Hanaoto magazine, but was previously a participant in comic markets.
Of Yoshinaga's many works, several have been licensed internationally. She was also selected and exhibited as one of the "Twenty Major Manga artist Who Contributed to the World of Shōjo Manga (World War II to Present)" for Professor Masami Toku's exhibition, "Shōjo Manga: Girl Power!" at CSU-Chico.
Outside of her work with Japanese publishers, she also self-publishes original doujinshi on a regular basis, most notably for Antique Bakery. Yoshinaga has also drawn fan parodies of Slam Dunk, Rose of Versailles, and Legend of Galactic Heroes.
Fumi Yoshinaga (よしなが ふみ Yoshinaga Fumi, born 1971) is a Japanese manga artist known for her shōjo and shōnen-ai works.
Fumi Yoshinaga was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1971. She attended the prestigious Keio University in Tokyo.
In an interview, she said that "I want to show the people who didn't win, whose dreams didn't come true. It is not possible for everybody to get first prize. I want my readers to understand the happiness that people can get from trying hard, going through the process, and getting frustrated."
Little is known about her personal life. She mentions that her favourite operas are those by Mozart in the author's note of Solfege.
She debuted in 1994 with The Moon and the Sandals, serialized in Hanaoto magazine, but was previously a participant in comic markets.
Of Yoshinaga's many works, several have been licensed internationally. She was also selected and exhibited as one of the "Twenty Major Manga artist Who Contributed to the World of Shōjo Manga (World War II to Present)" for Professor Masami Toku's exhibition, "Shōjo Manga: Girl Power!" at CSU-Chico.
Outside of her work with Japanese publishers, she also self-publishes original doujinshi on a regular basis, most notably for Antique Bakery. Yoshinaga has also drawn fan parodies of Slam Dunk, Rose of Versailles, and Legend of Galactic Heroes.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 24, 2024
I'm not sure why so many manga involve students and teachers hooking up. I'm not fond of it. (And there's a cheating plot as well. Great.) This isn't a moral stance thing, since this is fiction, but more my getting tired of the same trope not even being allowed to gather dust for thirty seconds before it's taken off the shelf again. slightly more amusing than annoying.
Manga about creating manga always seems like a cheat to me. There's writing what you know, and then there's creating a story about what you're doing at that very moment. That said, I liked the arcs for Takeda, and for Harutaro and Shota. Takeda's is about following your passion regardless of what might be marketable, and the boys' is about building a friendship and a collaboration at the same time.
While painful, the argument between Sakura and Harutaro at the end of this volume also rang true. As Sakura made treats for the study group, day in and day out, in the earlier part of this volume, even then I had the impression that she was being taken advantage of because she's a shut-in and doesn't currently have a job. I'm sure that those feelings had been building up in her for quite a while.
Nice slice of life, very well told, with some insightful bits here and there, some of which land more naturally than others.
Manga about creating manga always seems like a cheat to me. There's writing what you know, and then there's creating a story about what you're doing at that very moment. That said, I liked the arcs for Takeda, and for Harutaro and Shota. Takeda's is about following your passion regardless of what might be marketable, and the boys' is about building a friendship and a collaboration at the same time.
While painful, the argument between Sakura and Harutaro at the end of this volume also rang true. As Sakura made treats for the study group, day in and day out, in the earlier part of this volume, even then I had the impression that she was being taken advantage of because she's a shut-in and doesn't currently have a job. I'm sure that those feelings had been building up in her for quite a while.
Nice slice of life, very well told, with some insightful bits here and there, some of which land more naturally than others.
July 18, 2020
This one got a little crazy.
It’s really amazing that the girl’s manga got to be a play. The acting elements were done in a funny way. It did get a little intense because of one character, though.
I don’t get why the “bitch” parts are funny. It was kind of stupid.
It’s really amazing that the girl’s manga got to be a play. The acting elements were done in a funny way. It did get a little intense because of one character, though.
I don’t get why the “bitch” parts are funny. It was kind of stupid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2007
Still as charmed as I was when I read the first volume. Harutaro is such a doll!
Things I liked: otaku boy's explanation of all things yaoi, shoujo manga creator girl's learning to stick to her guns and draw the kind of manga she wanted to. The shoujo manga girl's awkward old-skool style. Harutaro's sister. Shota's dad.
Thing I disliked: the "man's fantasy" stuff. Obviously Majima's shouting "you bitch!" and the crowd cheering him on were supposed to be funny, but it made me uncomfortable. Maybe I'm oversensitive? Shoujo manga girl's outburst made me feel a little better, but it was still an ucky bit in an otherwise highly enjoyable manga.
Things I liked: otaku boy's explanation of all things yaoi, shoujo manga creator girl's learning to stick to her guns and draw the kind of manga she wanted to. The shoujo manga girl's awkward old-skool style. Harutaro's sister. Shota's dad.
Thing I disliked: the "man's fantasy" stuff. Obviously Majima's shouting "you bitch!" and the crowd cheering him on were supposed to be funny, but it made me uncomfortable. Maybe I'm oversensitive? Shoujo manga girl's outburst made me feel a little better, but it was still an ucky bit in an otherwise highly enjoyable manga.
August 28, 2019
Still love the nuances in Yoshinaga’s work.
May 9, 2022
Why is every vaguely outgoing blond male in manga also French
November 2, 2024
This volume had some serious laugh-out-loud moments for me.
May 9, 2010
Well, it's clear now that this is not going to be much more than a typical school manga. But it's an interesting and well-done one.
In this volume, two groups of people make some doujinshi, a play gets performed about one of the manga stories, a study group is formed, and a few things like that. We get some backstory on the teachers too.
As for an overall arc, I assume the main character's going to resolve some issues with his family by the end of the series. And maybe they'll become sophomores.
In this volume, two groups of people make some doujinshi, a play gets performed about one of the manga stories, a study group is formed, and a few things like that. We get some backstory on the teachers too.
As for an overall arc, I assume the main character's going to resolve some issues with his family by the end of the series. And maybe they'll become sophomores.
April 4, 2013
I was mildly disappointed by the first volume of "Flower of Life," but the second one really lost me. Chaotic storytelling utilizing random story elements and a failure to approach any potentially fruitful ideas kill the book almost completely.
Some of these characters are somewhat pleasant to spend time with, but many times the motivations of a character are left completely in the dark as what appears to be random association by the author controls their actions.
Some of these characters are somewhat pleasant to spend time with, but many times the motivations of a character are left completely in the dark as what appears to be random association by the author controls their actions.
August 3, 2007
Overall, I enjoyed this almost as much as the first volume in the series; it made me laugh out loud several times with its pointed jokes about otaku culture. That said, it did introduce one of my least favorite plot elements of all time at the end of the volume, and for that, it loses a star.
November 1, 2014
2 much majima 2 handle
i know the 'man's fantasy' stuff is meant to be funny but uck. i don't need that misogyny in my fluff manga
sumiko is great though. :D someone who tells majima off! a girl after my own heart
2.5 stars
i know the 'man's fantasy' stuff is meant to be funny but uck. i don't need that misogyny in my fluff manga
sumiko is great though. :D someone who tells majima off! a girl after my own heart
2.5 stars
March 14, 2015
Bought this in the oldest comic bookstore in the Netherlands :)
March 21, 2014
The school play and Harutaro starting his comic with Mikuni- I cannot be more in love with this series!
July 31, 2014
Majima-kun... you're so hilarious! m(_._)m
November 17, 2013
again very funny...I loved it :)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews