Boys Over Flowers, Volume 1

I finally get why I like shonen more than shoujo. Nope, it's not because I'm not girly. It's because of all the cliché in shoujo. Let me point out some of them in Boys Over Flowers:

1. Female MC is poor, hardworking, headstrong, selfless and sometimes silly.

2. Male MC is rich, despicable and full of himself. He is good at sports and can play a musical instrument.

3. Female MC’s family is in a financial crisis. She works part-time and strives to take care of her younger sibling.

4. Serious issues like bullying, violence and attempt to rape are treated lightly.

5. Male MC has a lot of fan girls, but eyes none.

6. Backstories to explain (unsuccessfully) male MC’s bad behavior

7. Situations that show female MC’s benevolence (she's kind to show more a fault)

8. Both MCs hate each other at first sight, then fall in love later on.

9. Female MC is not exactly pretty, but so many guys fall for her because of her good nature. (I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, just pointing out the cliché)

10. There is a pretty and innocent looking girl, who is evil.

11. Male MC’s family doesn’t want him dating a poor girl.

12. Female MC is threatened to stay out of male MC’s life.

13. Everyone who hates female MC in the beginning realizes their mistake, becomes her friend and helps her out in her bad times.

14. Extreme possessiveness and jealousy are misrepresented as love.

15. Male MC turns a new leaf and becomes a better person because of female MC.

The only redeeming quality in the manga was Tsukushi's never give up attitude. If she didn't have that, this manga would be way worse than Twilight. Hmmm, maybe Twilight is based on bad shoujo.

Initially, although I hated the series, I thought of reading it till the end only to lecture the people who recommend the Korean drama to me. Halfway through the story, there was this je ne sais quoi that kept me interested. I still wouldn't recommend it. show less

For a lot of people when they think of manga, they'll probably think either of a battle manga, like Naruto, or an over-the-top melodramatic romance series, of which Boys Over Flowers is a perfect example. It is in every way absurd and improbable. There is nothing of the real world about it. Every page oozes with romantic drama, love triangles and betrayal, not to mention amnesia (oh wait, I just did).

However, I did read the whole thing (twice...because I wanted to review it and my memory was fuzzy), although I have no plans to read it ever again. At the outset, I actually rather liked the story, even though I find a school so in the thrall of its students preposterous. I mean, at one point, Tsukushi is tied up and dragged behind a show more moving vehicle in front of the school. In what universe would a teacher or administrator not put a stop to this, if only for liability's sake? (I told you it was over-the-top.) Plus, why would these guys allow people to call them the Flower 4? Yes, that's what the F stands for. SUPER LAME!

What I liked though was Tsukushi's spirit. She's not particularly attractive, she's poor and she's not even brilliant. Still, she refuses to let others make her feel like she's worthless. If only to spite others, she finds resources within herself to face the challenges and pain life gives to her. That trait I found to be rather admirable.

Another thing I appreciated at the beginning was that this is not another story where the girl pines away for the guy she's been obsessed with, waiting for him to want her. Instead, Tsukasa is desperately in obsession with her, but unable to make her his. This brings me to one of the many in this story that I just cannot get over or accept. His frustrated longing for her makes him do something stupid, namely to attempt rape in the school. He doesn't actually do it, but he does force kisses and rip open her shirt. As much as the story takes the reader in hand, I find it impossible to ever forgive such behavior.

This may be why, even though after that incident Yoko Kamio tries really hard to show the reader Tsukasa's true feelings for Tsukushi, I just don't buy it completely. Even now, after reading all 36 volumes and Jewelry Box, and additional volume she added to close some plot lines, I still ship Tsukushi more with Rui Hanazawa. His character grew into such a great person and it's really a shame.

A lot of what happens here is just awful. Still, there's a reason it's so incredibly popular. It's addictive, much like Gossip Girl and Twilight. The lives and loves it depicts are in now way something to emulate; they're a car crash and you just want to watch, even though you hate yourself for it.

P.S. Yoko Kamio's actually the author of one of my favorite manga's Cat Street, which is not yet licensed in the U.S. It's so much better than this one, her most famous work. show less

"Tsukushi" means weed. When it gets stepped on or kicked, it stills springs back. It is very strong. That's the personality of Tsukushi Makino, a middle class student in an expensive private school Eitoku Academy. She's unlike those pampered plants that can only survive in green houses, like the Flowery Foursome (F4). F4 are the richest and most powerful guys in the academy. No one messes with them--until they met Tsukushi.

I like how the mangaka became playful with layouts and scenes. The art style shows the time when it was made, it's old school but pleasant (published in 90s).

The Taiwanese tv drama Meteor Garden became a hit in the Philippines some years ago. Then came the Japanese live action and the Korean version. It was all show more adapted from this manga.

P.S. I bet those people who rated this as 1 star were those who really don't read a lot of mangas lol /justsaying show less

Tsukushi goes to a private high school which is ruled by the F4 - a group of bullying boys. When she crosses them, life gets complicated for Tsukushi - she is both tormented and pursued by the lead boy Domyoji while being intrigued by Rui who seems different from the other bullies. Tsukushi refuses to back down and allow herself to be chased from the school and begins to fight back as well as she knows how. Humor abounds in this first volume although the lighter tone contrasts oddly with the rape threat that Tsukushi narrowly escapes about halfway through. I'm interested enough to read the next volume.

I love this series. This is what shoujo should be. While I was reading this series, it kept reminding me of all the classic love stories -- Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights. The heroine of the series reminds me of Jane Eyre -- very moral, has respect for herself, guilt, repression. The main hero of the series, Tsukasa, saves the heroine time after time, and has a confidence, an honesty, and tactlessness that are irresistible and charming.

A 90s manga about a high school girl who gets bullied by the popular rich kids.
I didn’t love this one; I thought the writing and the artwork were a little weak, but I’m glad to have read the first volume, since it’s another early and influential work in the genre.

Hana Yori Dango is classic shoujo manga and a favorite of mine. When it comes to this first volume, give it a chance. The artwork gets better as volumes come along and the storyline gets more fleshed out. Hana Yori Dango has a good mix of romance, humor, and interesting characters. Also has an anime, but the manga is better, in my opinion.