Yuki Kure

Wow... I did not expect that to happen... though i probably should've haha. Sooooo Lili's magical violin breaks! and there is absolutely no way to fix it or get a new one! but there's one more concourse left, who will she be able to do it?!? Len and Ryo were being mean to each other as usual haha i still LOVE this manga! It combines Music and Manga (to of my passions) in one! I play the violin, but my favorite instrument is the cello (i love Keiichi Shimizu!!! he so adorable I just want to show more give him a BIG HUG, even if he falls asleep lol) show less

Based on--get this--a romance video game, La Corda d'Oro (The Golden String) focuses on the romantic and social adventures of Kahoko Hino, a self-described "average" High School girl in modern-day Japan. Kahoko's life takes a turn for the strange when an annoying music fairy called a tata gives her a magic violin, propelling Kahoko into a prestigious music competition for which she has no training. Kahoko can only play the violin when she is passionately moved by the music, and unbeknownst show more to her, the tata is actually using the competition to pair off the competitors in romantic relationships. Oh, and for some reason everyone except Kahoko has green or blue hair.

Like many teenage girls, Kahoko is just discovering the various potential applications of boys, but unlike the truly average 12-14 year old girl, she is spoiled for choice. Despite her shy and humble demeanor, Kahoko seems to inspire strong emotions in every male she comes across--whether protective instincts from dark and brooding Tsuchiura, fierce competition from golden boy Len, or light-hearted support from emotional Kazuki. Even with "no particular hobbies or talents", Kahoko quickly assumes the role of the hero in this little psychodrama, defeating a squad of meangirls with her determination and purity of spirit.

Furthermore, the art in this volume is less than inspiring. The elongated bodies and exaggerated shoulders on the men seemed dated, more a convention of the 90s than modern manga. The characters' piecey hair and vacant expressions--while common in this kind of artwork--was vastly overused. As manga series like this often number in the dozens of volumes, I see a series of angst-ridden love triangles in Kohoko's future. Maybe as the mythology of the series develops and the characters have time to grow, the premise won't seem quite so ridiculous. Even so, I have a hard time recommending this to a teen looking for anything but sugariest of pop confections. show less

I love Len's hard work for Hino to get better at the real violin! He really wants her to do well and progress! I thought the part with little Len was especially cute. But I can't believe he's leaving her to study abroad! Kahoko and Len went on a date and he took care of her when she hurt herself

Well. Well.
When I think about it, most of the interesting things I've read came to me through chance. This is not different.

It made me want to listen to classical music. I mean, there is no way I'm passing by the works mentioned without listening to them. That's like, sacrilegious! Or something...

I enjoyed it.