風と木の詩 8

風と木の詩: 8 volumes #8

by Keiko Takemiya, 竹宮惠子

Genres: Manga

422 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Keiko Takemiya (竹宮惠子), earlier known as 竹宮恵子 (note: it's the first kanji in her given name, 恵→惠) is a Japanese mangaka.

She is one of the 24-Gumi (Magnificent 49ers), the group of female manga artists that pioneered the shoujo genre. Professor of manga studies at Kyoto Seika University.

Reviews

[Rosenblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parental advisory:
Suggestive themes and partial nudity.

*Spoilers*





Volume 8 covers the story Aslan(Serge's father)in his late teens and his first encounter with Pavia (Serge's mother).
This arc has similar problems to the last arc.
There was an attempted sexual assault scene randomly dropped in the story where a group of boys try to -what it seems- to r*pe Aslan randomly in the meadows without explanation.
This is when Alsan first met Gilbert's uncle/father Auguste.
It seems Auguste saved Aslan from being assaulted.
Since the scene is never mentioned again in this volume I don't see the point of this encounter or assault.
Aslan only sees Auguste randomly on the way to school once after this scene.
This is the fourth or fifth volume where Serge doesn't make a appearance in the story.
He was supposed to be one of the main characters yet he is never mentioned or shown after volume 4 because volumes 4-8 are mostly flashbacks.
The thing is Aslan's struggles with fulfilling his father's wishes while living with an illness and having next to no social life because of his father's pressures and over bearing personality was the highlight of this arc.
Unfortunately this arc is overshadowed by Aslan's friends jealousy of his status and the random inappropriate situations he and Pavia end up in.
Aslan wants to be a pianist but his father doesn't approve of this and pushes Aslan to be a lawyer instead.
Aslan is given a choice in his career,what he studies nor who he is married to.
His friends are jealous of the supposed privilege Aslan has despite Aslan spending his life doing only what his father wants and dealing with tuberculosis and insult him.
His friend Genè - Louis calls him pampered,naive and states he never had any hardships.
His other friend Francois sated Aslan only has the life he has because of his father's efforts.
I think Aslan should drop his friends.
They aren't kind nor supportive of his dreams and pressure him to drink underage.
I can understand why Aslan's father doesn't approve of his son's relationship with Pavia but I don't agree with his pressuring his son to quit piano.
The end of this volume ends unfinished but there is a hint that Aslan will either challenge the man who owns Pavia or that he might give up his title as viscount for her.