Like I mentioned in my review of Kylooe #1, this is very different from what I was expecting. And it starts in this second volume in particular.
First, we're definitely not picking up after the end of the previous volume (), as we're following completely different characters here. Also, the second surprise was that the big white plushie thing didn't have as much importance in this one as it had in the previous volume. It's still there but... very sparsely?
Also, the colours. While still being beautiful, it was also completely different, less psychedelic, less dream-like. Although, the sunsets towards the end of the book still give this book the dream feeling.
Among the three volumes, this is the one I liked the less. The story wasn't quite as touching (and/or heartbreaking) as the previous one, and... I don't really know what, but it was missing a something to keep you truly hanging. Some bits were a bit confusing considering that the dude from which POV it's told is slightly unreliable at times, so you end up not really knowing if you're supposed to believe it or not. And I think I didn't really understand how we reach the ending?
But all in all, it was still enjoyable in some way. (Head up to Kylooe #3 (my review) for the last adventure.)
Extrait : On continue avec le second tome de Kylooe, qui nous raconte l’histoire de nouveaux personnages. Je m’excuse d’avance, car je n’ai pas trouvé beaucoup d’image pour ce second volume… Cette fois-ci, on suit Lin Sanyi une fois adulte et qui semble (littéralement) blasé par tout ce qui se trouve autour de lui : son travail comme sa copine. S’en suit un flashback (qui est en réalité l’intrigue principale) sur sa période du lycée et son premier « amour ».
Des personnes dites « marginales » on en connait tous au moins un. Mais j’imagine que dans certaines sociétés, cette dénomination peut devenir vraiment péjorative (comme au Japon par exemple). Là il s’agit d’une œuvre chinoise, et j’avoue ne pas connaître suffisamment cette culture pour savoir si elle est plus proche de la notre ou bien opposée… Une chose est sûre, Ling Fei est clairement victime de harcèlement, même s’il elle n’en tient pas compte. Sa situation est clairement catastrophique, et son comportement laisse supposer qu’elle n’a jamais vraiment eu d’amis ou de relations sociales…
Malgré l’impression de détachement qui se dégage d’elle, elle est très intentionnée et sensible, notamment quand il s’agit d’un être dont elle est un minimum proche. Sanyi voudra sortir avec elle juste sous le coup de l’ennui et car il pense qu’il n’aura aucun remord à la larguer… Comme vous l’aurez deviné, il finira par comprendre sa situation et à avoir pitié, même si son caractère reviendra au grand galop lors d’une soirée trop arrosée…
The Chinese subtitle for this book is called the Green Tunnel (綠色隧道), however I am not sure how to link the subtitle to the theme of the book.
This book focus on past relationship between a young couple, who were connected on their mutual fondness for the white fluffy creature Kylooe. It tells a very realistic and bittersweet story about being "in love" with another person (although the comic never express the word "love" in it),the conflicts between your priorities in life (peers, pride, romance, etc), and the brutality of facing the real world. I have some personal problems with the characters, which didn't make me fall in love with the book. The book does portrait teenagers realistically, I do think the ending is made sense for the characters.
The colors of this book is different from Kylooe 1 as it is heavier on naturals, which portraits the reality world instead of the colorful dream world. Nonetheless the art is very pretty.
This is a by no means bad book, as it does tells a love story about two teenagers rather realistically and without the cheese. Just unfortunately I felt sort of meh about it in the end. While I don't think the book was originally intended for audience (at least it didn't feel like that to me), I think younger readers will resonance with the couple's experience well. Read it to judge for yourself!