Kaoru Mori (森 薫) is a Japanese manga author. Her stories tend to be intricately drawn female lead historical dramas set in exotic locations like Britain and along the silk road. Her series include Emma (2002-2008), Shirley (2003-present) and the best known A Bride's Tale (2008-present).
The ninth volume of this remarkable manga series that focuses on girls-to-marry, exclusively by parental arrangement, on The Silk Road in the nineteenth century. The focus switches from girl to girl in each volume, all of them teens, in arranged marriages, creating a kind of historical panorama. This practice of teen arranged marriages from the perspective of the West, is seen as horrific, maybe. But Mori has something else in mind: How do women negotiate this patriarchal space, how do they connect with and support each other, and yes, even find love?
Pariya can't really officially talk to and get to know her hopeful fiance, Umar, but she finds ways. The two of them actually really discover they like each other very much. But Pariya is also socially awkward, which is both sweet and causes comical situations. She also has a lot of embroidery to complete, part of her dowry, which could slow down the process, but she gets help from friends.
Amazingly researched, painstakingly illustrated, and just plain fun. For fans of historical fiction, manga, and feminist history.
It's been over two years since I've read volume 8, but the beautiful art and superbly-crafted tales make the wait well worthwhile. The main storyline is a continuation of the possible romance for Pariya, the village tsundere, but all my favorite characters show up to deliver some delicious tidbits.
A romance book set in the 1800s in a small village in Central Asia along the Silk Road may not be for everyone, but I highly recommend it.
Book blurb: Crafted in painstaking detail, Ms. Mori's pen breathes life into the scenery and architecture of the period in this heart-warming, slice-of-life tale that is at once wholly exotic, yet familiar and accessible through the everyday lives of the characters she has created.
I continue to love this historical manga set along the Silk Road during the 19th century, and picked up the next two in the series as part of the #AsianReadathon.
I love young Pariya, and this installment continues her marriage talks. Watching her learn some of the skills required of the girls/women in her culture has been both fun and heartbreaking. This young, fierce spirit is realizing that though she is singular in many ways, she also needs to conform to fit in. This series wonderfully explores female friendships, and the ones in this installment are even more delightful, given Pariya's social awkwardness. She has also realized that she knows nothing about the boy she is to marry, and sets out to rectify the situation. Oh Pariya!
Bride Stories ou le manga le plus beau que j'ai découvert. Ce tome 9 est majoritairement axé sur Pariya. La demoiselle doit refaire son trousseau de mariage qui a brûlé dans l'incendie de sa maison. En même temps, son prétendant est dans le village pour aider aux réparations. Elle souhaite profiter de cette occasion pour mieux le connaître. Seulement, la tâche n'est pas facile pour la jeune fille qui souhaite se montrer irréprochable mais qui a du mal à refréner son naturel entier. Dommage que parfois, elle ne sache pas être un peu plus tempérer dans sa manière de parler à son fiancé. Nous avons aussi l'occasion de voir un peu mes deux tourtereaux préférés, Amir et Karluk mais malheureusement, leur intervention est de courte durée.
A Bride's Story continues to be the most intricate, vibrant, and oddly compelling slice-of-life ever. This volume concentrates mostly on Priya and her potential marriage. I adore this socially awkward character trying to fit within the norms of community, and it's wonderful to see her succeeding without having to give up herself. Plus she and her beau are adorable :D
Mostly about Pariya, though there's some advance on a few other stories, too.
Against the backdrop of repairing the town, Pariya is flustered a lot about Umar, works on her embroidery (necessary to replace all those items before the wedding!), and tries to find out about him.
He tries to figure her out too, which is difficult because she's acting oddly. It includes kittens, the friend Pariya made last volume, someone collapsed on the road, waterwheels, Pariya's singing some local songs, and more.
Another great volume! I love that the stories in this volume picks up where the previous volume left off (aside from the short comic strips at the beginning of the book), which depicts Pariya's social anxiety when it comes to making new friends and getting to know her fiancé. Pariya is definitely my favourite character in this series - her awkwardness is endearing and relatable. I hope we get to see more of Pariya in future volumes!
I'd also like to add that the Author's Note at the end seems to include more and more interesting information as the story progresses. The Author's Note at the end of this book includes an interesting tidbit on each chapter of this book.
SUCH a feel good series. I kept bothering my bf while he was playing video games to tell him about all the funny/ cute things that happened during this volume.
My short review is not an indictment on my lack of enjoyment of this volume or this series but rather that I am running out of ways to say “this manga series is great - I loved it. Check it out”
The sentiment holds though.
The volume follows Pariya and her budding romance / crush on her finance Umar. It was so cute and honest - there were a couple of scene with made me giggle and happy. This is probably the happiest volume of the manga (and unlike the volumes with the Twins), the cute scenes are balanced with honesty and detail. Here is it Pariya finding her friend groups, her courage and her voice.
Plus, Umar is also a stronger, more well drawn out character which was a plus.
This series is truly a splendid piece of art that focuses on a (pretty much) untold history of people that were living around the Caspian Sea and alongside the Silk Road in 19th century. The art is gorgeous, characters lively and these little short stories make you feel homesick for a home you never even dreamt about before. It's not a manga about romance as it might occur on a first sight. Yes, there are stories of brides, husbands, people in the talks of being engaged etc.. but remember that being a wife doesn't mean you can't be something else. This manga is full of beautiful stories worth reading. It has a wide range of topics to offer to everyone and it wields them masterfully - From mundane things you wouldn't even bother to think about to things that move the world. Highly recommend.
Pretty fun since it focuses on awkward Pariya. But you get to drop in on a bunch of different characters in her social bubble. The cultural expectations around Pariya and what it takes to get married are interesting. Sounds rough! But it's nice to know that the characters support and help each other too to make it through.
Freaking loving this manga. Pariya's arch was my favorite so far (let's see how long does that last). My onliest complain, if I had any, is that all of the male fiances are a bit samey and "ideal". While the focus is femenine, that shouldn't restrict Mori into improving their characterization.
But it's honestly a non-issue, this manga is great and you should read it.
ফারিয়া কিছুটা অসামাজিক হলেও ভিতরে ভিতরে সে সবার বন্ধুত্ব কামনা করে।সে তার হবু স্বামী ওমর সম্পর্কে জানতে আগ্রহী, কিন্তু সামনাসামনি হলে আচরণ কেমন জানি হয়ে যায়।একটা সুযোগ মিলে তাদের সময় কাটানোর। এতে তাদের মধ্যে থাকা জড়তা কেটে যায়, সম্পর্ক সহজ হয়ে যায়।একে অপরের ভালো বন্ধু হয়ে উঠে।
This volume was a particularly fun read. Pariya and Umar's courtship is both sweet and hilarious and I loved seeing how Pariya grew to understand him more and made more friends along the way. People are starting to understand her personality a little better!
Nous suivons toujours la jeune Pariya dans ce tome. Ca avance doucement avec son futur fiancé et en plus, elle arrive aussi à se faire des amies, en plus d'Amir ! Enfin ! Ce manga est un vrai bonheur ! Ca va être dur d'attendre la sortie du 10ème tome !!!!! JE SUIS FAN !
Kaoru Mori's A Bride's Story, Volume 9 mostly tells the story of Pariya's developing relationship with Umar, the boy who wishes to marry her. Not being the most traditional of brides-to-be, Pariya has a lot to learn both about her possible husband-to-be and about getting things ready to make her own home after marriage.
Pariya is actually one of my favorite characters in this manga series (Amir being the other), so I was happy this one mostly featured her. I also like that it shows that, although she is a bit awkward around men and isn't into more traditional feminine hobbies within her society, that it does not affect her relationships with others. And the illustrations of her internal dialogue versus her outward reactions make the storyline quite funny at times!
I would recommend this manga series to anyone who likes reading a manga series that is more realistic and historically based--maybe historical romance set in the 1900s Central Asia with only light nudity (in a few volumes only) and no sexual content (thus far).
I've given a lot of 5 stars reviews this year! The art of this manga series by Kaoro Mori is truly above and beyond anything I have ever seen. This manga could have no words and i would want to "read it." Book 9 features Piriyah, a difficult girl whose family thinks it will be impossible to find a boy to marry her! There are some wonderful side panels that refresh our memories about the earlier lady "Brides" from volumes 1-8. I've read the series in order which I am sure has enhanced my enjoyment. I love it.
After a year or two away from A Bride's Story I came back to read vol. 8 and 9 which continued to be great. There is so much about A Bride's Story that I enjoy--the art is fantastic, the story is dramatic and engaging, and of course it's historical fiction (which I love as a setting for mangas). A Bride's Story, and really all of Mori's works, are true gems in the world of manga.
Extremely wholesome content about Pariya that picks up from the embroidery adventures in volume 8. This volume is so beloved to me that I own both a hard copy and the kindle edition!