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ライフ [Life] #1
Life, Vol. 1
Ayumu Shiiba is studying for the all-important high school entrance exams. She is struggling to get by, but thankfully has help from her best friend Shii-chan, who is at the top of their class. Test results come back and their friendship falls apart when Ayumu surpasses Shii-chan's scores and gets into her high school of choice while Shii-chan doesn't! Losing Shii-chan is so painful for Ayumu that she starts cutting her wrists for comfort. Hoping for a fresh start, Ayumu arrives at her new high school and finally opens up to a new friend, Manami. But will Manami prove to be the friend that Ayumu truly needs or send her further in a downward spiral?
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2002
22 people are currently reading
589 people want to read
About the author
Keiko Suenobu
77 books58 followersSee Also: すえのぶけいこ
Keiko Suenobu is a female Japanese shōjo manga artist from Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka. In 2006, Suenobu's manga series, Life won the Kodansha Manga Award for best shōjo manga. Wikipedia
Keiko Suenobu is a female Japanese shōjo manga artist from Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka. In 2006, Suenobu's manga series, Life won the Kodansha Manga Award for best shōjo manga. Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
June 25, 2017
Original title: ライフ (Raifu).
Genre: Action, Drama, Mature, Psychological, Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Slice Of Life, Tragedy.
Volumes: 20.
Chapters: 80.
Status: completed.
*Read all chapters of this manga.
TRIGGER WARNING: Bullying, violence, rape, self-harm, suicide.
Review to come.
April 19, 2022
This is a rating and review of the entire series.
Story: ☆☆☆☆
Art: ☆☆☆☆
A really great read. This series is dark and depressing, showing us the all-too-real struggles of high school bullying, especially as it manifests in (East-)Asian societies. The perpetrators who take joy in unleashing their unresolved issues upon those they deem "weaker" and of lower status. The classmates who secretly get a kick of seeing someone humiliated without having to get their own hands dirty. The onlookers who simply think "I'm just glad it's not me". Those who want to help but are too frightened. Teachers and incompetent staff members who just want to sweep things under the rug in order not to taint the image of their institution. And of course the victim.
This is the story of Ayumu and how she eventually teaches herself to have a voice. The support system that slowly builds up around her. The story of how every single voice counts against bullies and oppressive institutions.
There are many dark themes present throughout this entire manga. Self-mutilation (cutting), sexual assault, attempted suicide ... it does not shy away from the depictions thereof, either; so if these are things you have a sensitivity for, then I strongly advise against reading this series.
However, if you can stomach explicit content, then this is not one to miss. It's a really powerful story to tell; one that is ultimately about victory, self-love, and the power of friendship.
Story: ☆☆☆☆
Art: ☆☆☆☆
A really great read. This series is dark and depressing, showing us the all-too-real struggles of high school bullying, especially as it manifests in (East-)Asian societies. The perpetrators who take joy in unleashing their unresolved issues upon those they deem "weaker" and of lower status. The classmates who secretly get a kick of seeing someone humiliated without having to get their own hands dirty. The onlookers who simply think "I'm just glad it's not me". Those who want to help but are too frightened. Teachers and incompetent staff members who just want to sweep things under the rug in order not to taint the image of their institution. And of course the victim.
This is the story of Ayumu and how she eventually teaches herself to have a voice. The support system that slowly builds up around her. The story of how every single voice counts against bullies and oppressive institutions.
There are many dark themes present throughout this entire manga. Self-mutilation (cutting), sexual assault, attempted suicide ... it does not shy away from the depictions thereof, either; so if these are things you have a sensitivity for, then I strongly advise against reading this series.
However, if you can stomach explicit content, then this is not one to miss. It's a really powerful story to tell; one that is ultimately about victory, self-love, and the power of friendship.
March 20, 2023
If you read this back when Tokyopop released it, you already know it's brutal. Ayumu gets the world's worst introduction to how vicious teenagers can be when her best friend dumps her after Ayumu gets into the high school they were both aiming for - but her friend doesn't. Reeling and in pain, Ayumu begins cutting to deal with the emotional pain, and when she eventually does allow herself to make a new friend, the girl turns out to be unstable. If you never lived this, it could seem melodramatic, but it's an accurate depiction of how raw and immediate high school can feel. There are hefty content warnings for cutting, bullying, and suicide ideation, and honestly, if I wasn't so far removed from high school, I'm not sure I'd be able to handle it. But it's the sort of open wound of a story that needs to be told - for some of us, social interactions at that age really do feel like life and death.
May 21, 2010
Okay, I've actually read the first seven volumes of this. *I* loved it, but I can't really speak as to anyone else's enjoyment of the story. LIFE is rank, bleeding melodrama. Nothing happens in this story that isn't at the peak of emotion, the nadir of despair and anger or the zenith of incandescent joy. The art carries this emotion, lingering on a single moment in time for pages at a time.
Life is the story of a young girl who has just gotten into a prestigious high school. She is bullied, raped, blackmailed, physically and emotionally tortured at her new school. When she asks for help, her teachers refuse to believe her. The sequence of events is like a freight train, one damn thing after another with no relief.
The thing is, I *loved* this. There's something completely cathartic about the wallowing in emotion, the, the reveling in raw uncontrolled display. If that strikes you as the sort of thing you'd enjoy, give Life a try.
Life is the story of a young girl who has just gotten into a prestigious high school. She is bullied, raped, blackmailed, physically and emotionally tortured at her new school. When she asks for help, her teachers refuse to believe her. The sequence of events is like a freight train, one damn thing after another with no relief.
The thing is, I *loved* this. There's something completely cathartic about the wallowing in emotion, the, the reveling in raw uncontrolled display. If that strikes you as the sort of thing you'd enjoy, give Life a try.
Read
April 2, 2018
(sou fã dessa mangaka e fiz alguns comentários sobre ela no meu blog, se quiserem ler, basta clicar na imagem)
Então entramos com aquela que deve ser a sua maior obra, Life. Outra obra brutal. O nome da antagonista, Manami, é algo que até hoje me lembro de tão vaca que ela era. Life é como uma versão longa de Vitamin, também tratando de bullying de forma bruta e (talvez) exagerada. Nunca vivi no Japão, não sei a realidade para saber o que é considerado como o bullying extremo, mas deve ser o que acontece nesse mangá. Logo no começo, a protagonista, Ayumu, já é vitima de algo que ela não fez: como tinha dificuldades nos estudos e queria ir para a mesma escola que sua melhor amiga inteligente, ela pediu para ela para que a ajudasse nos estudos. Aqueles ao redor da sua amiga foram contra, dizendo que iria atrapalhar seu rendimento, mas a amiga ajudou assim mesmo (e um detalhe: uma das melhores maneira de aprender mais sobre algo é ensinando alguém, então essa amiga deveria estar era se beneficiando por ajudar Ayumu). Logo Ayumu melhorou as notas, mas as notas dessa amiga caíram. O resultado disso foi que Ayumu entrou naquela escola, a amiga não conseguiu, e por isso tentou suicídio. E imagina quem que culparam?
Nessa escola, na qual não conhecia ninguém, logo acabou ficando amiga de uma das garota mais populares, Manami. Manami era popular, bonita, rica, boazinha e com um namorado. Basicamente, invejável. Devido a um desentendimento, no qual Ayumu tentou ajudar na relação da sua amiga e do seu namorado, Manami confundiu as intenções dela como quem estava interessada no seu namorado e a sua verdadeira personalidade apareceu. Basicamente, Manami era uma garota cruel que sentia prazer em torturar as pessoas, e tinha encontrado a pessoa perfeita, a fragilizada Ayumu.
Acho que essa é uma das obras dela na qual o leitor mais vai sentir o os sentimentos do protagonista durante a leitura, a distorção do antagonista. Em um momento no final, no qual Ayumu acaba sendo perseguida por vários alunos, tive a sensação de que o que via não era como a cena se passava, mas sim como ela percebia e sentia o que estava acontecendo.
Não sou uma chorona, mas esse foi o único mangá que já me fez chorar.
September 3, 2024
Cutting Drama
I am sure if you read the description to this book that there is self mutilation as one of the characters discovers cutting herself helps her deal with her anxiety and low self esteem. There is also at least one attempted suicide as well in this volume so if you are sensitive to these subjects or are easily depressed you might want to avoid this series.
Now that said, regardless of the depressing nature of the story I should mention that the human element is compelling primarily focusing on Ayumu whose low self esteem and fear of disappointing anyone she considers a friend has to deal with stressful elements such as getting into the right high school and making new friends after her old friend ends up blaming her for taking her place in the school she also wanted to go to.
Another thing I really like is the art of this series. It not only clearly shows the emotional ranges of the characters but also at one point takes on a bit of a surreal moment where Ayumu is running through darkness toward a gash of light just for her to transform into the blood oozing from one of her fresh cuts as though her negativity seeped even as her blood flowed. A dangerous mentality for sure and potentially dangerous for the main gal if she doesn't learn the dangers of her actions.
I am sure if you read the description to this book that there is self mutilation as one of the characters discovers cutting herself helps her deal with her anxiety and low self esteem. There is also at least one attempted suicide as well in this volume so if you are sensitive to these subjects or are easily depressed you might want to avoid this series.
Now that said, regardless of the depressing nature of the story I should mention that the human element is compelling primarily focusing on Ayumu whose low self esteem and fear of disappointing anyone she considers a friend has to deal with stressful elements such as getting into the right high school and making new friends after her old friend ends up blaming her for taking her place in the school she also wanted to go to.
Another thing I really like is the art of this series. It not only clearly shows the emotional ranges of the characters but also at one point takes on a bit of a surreal moment where Ayumu is running through darkness toward a gash of light just for her to transform into the blood oozing from one of her fresh cuts as though her negativity seeped even as her blood flowed. A dangerous mentality for sure and potentially dangerous for the main gal if she doesn't learn the dangers of her actions.
July 10, 2019
Il disagio dell'adolescenza, l'inadeguatezza e l'autolesionismo. Un manga dai temi forti che non chiede perdono e regala pietà.
March 10, 2012
Melissa Wickelhaus
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Life follows the story of Ayumu Shiiba as she studies for the entrance exams for high school with the help of her best friend Shii-chan. However, when the results come back and Ayumu passes but Shii-chan doesn’t, their friendship falls apart. Devastated, Ayumu begins cutting herself to feel relief. Things don’t work out as planned at her new school, and Ayumu continues to cut herself. This book deals with a very serious issue, and does it quite well. It is not an emotionally easy read, but it provides the reader with the opportunity to relate to someone in this situation. The translation, from Japanese, is well done, and the art is appropriate for the story. Another great thing about this book is that at the end, it provides information on what to do if you know someone who is cutting themselves and places to get help. I highly recommend it.
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Life follows the story of Ayumu Shiiba as she studies for the entrance exams for high school with the help of her best friend Shii-chan. However, when the results come back and Ayumu passes but Shii-chan doesn’t, their friendship falls apart. Devastated, Ayumu begins cutting herself to feel relief. Things don’t work out as planned at her new school, and Ayumu continues to cut herself. This book deals with a very serious issue, and does it quite well. It is not an emotionally easy read, but it provides the reader with the opportunity to relate to someone in this situation. The translation, from Japanese, is well done, and the art is appropriate for the story. Another great thing about this book is that at the end, it provides information on what to do if you know someone who is cutting themselves and places to get help. I highly recommend it.
January 11, 2012
This series is horrible and unreadable. I've never read a more offensive, vulgar book. It brings the reader to a very dark place and brings a new meaning to human ugliness. If you enjoy reading about bullying, rape, cutting, suicide, and other heavy and disturbing issues then feel free to read this book; however, after a certain point I found myself having to put the book down because it disgusted me so much. I would absolutely not recommend this to anyone under 18 years (or even older).
March 19, 2022
The story is based on a false premise -- a student, by coaching her friend for exams raises her friends score while lowering her own. Tutoring someone else is a wonderful way to study!
The story is somewhat compelling though not particularly well-told. The art is workman-like but will win no awards.
This is volume 1 of 9 -- ugh.
The story is somewhat compelling though not particularly well-told. The art is workman-like but will win no awards.
This is volume 1 of 9 -- ugh.
June 24, 2017
A bit confusing at times, and everyone looks the same, but it's okay.
November 13, 2015
It’s so intense! It makes me cringe through on through.
July 1, 2020
This was just okay, and just a few months later I remember litterally nothing about it.
January 26, 2023
wow it got serious real quick. I'm not mad though. It definitely reminds me of high school and some of the things my peers and I were experiencing, especially during the 'emo' days.
June 30, 2024
There’s a magazine quality to the cover and opening, modely but macomb poses. I like the textured and shiny hair. The eyes are extra big, kittenish. The plot is meh about Ayumu wanting to get accepted into a high school with her smarter friend Shi. The latter wants to go due to fuzzy memories of a neighbor with a pretty uniform (tame yuri implications?)
Very cute supportive friendships and families. How many different actions are on a spread is very appealing to the eye, making something that should be boring captivating. Things take a serious twist like two-thirds in and it’s interesting but I don’t get exactly why—like shouldn’t we have had more foreshadowing or flashbacks of a rift? Maybe in ch 2…
So it’s at least shown one girl isn’t well-liked, but maybe the new friends are as catty as everyone else. They’re certainly as depressed while projecting the opposite. This book was smaller than most manga. It could have been better with more hints at motivations besides teenage melodrama that comes off goofy when you’re grown.
Very cute supportive friendships and families. How many different actions are on a spread is very appealing to the eye, making something that should be boring captivating. Things take a serious twist like two-thirds in and it’s interesting but I don’t get exactly why—like shouldn’t we have had more foreshadowing or flashbacks of a rift? Maybe in ch 2…
So it’s at least shown one girl isn’t well-liked, but maybe the new friends are as catty as everyone else. They’re certainly as depressed while projecting the opposite. This book was smaller than most manga. It could have been better with more hints at motivations besides teenage melodrama that comes off goofy when you’re grown.
April 29, 2024
Life begins already telling the audience how dark is going to be it doesn't pull it punches with exploring very dark topics. But I did find this first volume very relatable to my own life as someone who has struggled with loneliness and betrayal of life long friends. I feel very emotionally connected to the main character as well as feeling a deep sense of unease that you just know is going to get harder and harder to endure. The author does a great job of building dread and darkness within the reader. I personally loved this opening volume.
January 16, 2024
2.5/5
Romantic friendship is my jam, even when it can be toxic, but this got kind of too dark/melodramatic for me. A falling out between close friends leads to a downward spiral of depression and self harm. And then it got darker... I'd write it off entirely, but I've seen mentions that it gets more uplifting later. If that's the case I'd just need to worry how bad the romance might be.
Romantic friendship is my jam, even when it can be toxic, but this got kind of too dark/melodramatic for me. A falling out between close friends leads to a downward spiral of depression and self harm. And then it got darker... I'd write it off entirely, but I've seen mentions that it gets more uplifting later. If that's the case I'd just need to worry how bad the romance might be.
March 1, 2023
Un tomo que refleja muy bien lo que significa la amistad, la presión social y lo mucho que pueden llegar a marcar las palabras a los adolescentes. Una historia sobre como el fin de una amistad y unas crueles palabras se vuelven una espiral de sufrimiento para una adolescente (con la cual empatizo tanto que duele)
March 27, 2018
Just because I gave it three stars doesn’t mean that I think it’s good. I liked it, but I recognize how horrible, melodramatic, and boring it is. I didn’t miss that, but maybe you should. Just skip it. Though I’ll probably see if my library has the second one. I’m so fashion.
December 29, 2021
I got this originally as a teenager and loved the art, and the story, well, it's hard-hitting but a reality for some (therefore aptly titled!). Rereading it today, I still find it engaging and the drawings are super expressive. Great manga.
April 11, 2023
Review de la serie entera
Empecé a leerla con 13 años en físico, pero la dejé por el tomo 5 o 6 y ahora la he terminado leyéndola online en inglés. Es una historia dura y con escenas impactantes y dolorosas.
El dibujo es excelente, transmite perfectamente lo que sienten los personajes en cada situación.
La historia me ha gustado mucho y creo que acaba bien, todos los personajes tienen consciencia del bullying y sus consecuencias. No estoy de acuerdo con que el novio de Anzai quede impune, ya que el también ha abusado de chicas, Ayumu podria haberlo denunciado a la vez también.
Empecé a leerla con 13 años en físico, pero la dejé por el tomo 5 o 6 y ahora la he terminado leyéndola online en inglés. Es una historia dura y con escenas impactantes y dolorosas.
El dibujo es excelente, transmite perfectamente lo que sienten los personajes en cada situación.
La historia me ha gustado mucho y creo que acaba bien, todos los personajes tienen consciencia del bullying y sus consecuencias. No estoy de acuerdo con que el novio de Anzai quede impune, ya que el también ha abusado de chicas, Ayumu podria haberlo denunciado a la vez también.
December 29, 2024
20 tomes lus • terminé.
j'ai aucune idée de comment je me suis retrouvée à lire ça un jour de ma vie au lycée, mais de mémoire j'avais pas détesté, juste c'était clairement répétitif sur la fin + give her a break pitié
j'ai aucune idée de comment je me suis retrouvée à lire ça un jour de ma vie au lycée, mais de mémoire j'avais pas détesté, juste c'était clairement répétitif sur la fin + give her a break pitié
May 23, 2017
Bastante chunga y eso que aún no ha comenzado el bullying...
January 2, 2018
Read this years ago, I think it was geared towards older readers but not the josei crowd but I didn't care for it.
August 20, 2019
This manga is really great! Very relatable to teenage life! It talks about bullying and how people react to it. I recommend this manga! Should read until last chapter!
Read
June 9, 2022Didn't read what the book was about beforehand and uuuuuumm <_<
November 24, 2023
wtf was this shit
May 9, 2024
poca gente sabe apreciar esta maravilla
July 26, 2024
- complete -
c'est dramatique, c'est terrifiant, le perso principal est maxi slay, she's also a lesbian TO me, l'antagoniste est slay, bref A LIRE!!!! (il faut être dans le mood pour mais voilà)
c'est dramatique, c'est terrifiant, le perso principal est maxi slay, she's also a lesbian TO me, l'antagoniste est slay, bref A LIRE!!!! (il faut être dans le mood pour mais voilà)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews