Koizora: Setsunai Koimonogatari

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Story:
I'm writing this review because I literally just finished reading the whole manga and it's one of the most tear jerking manga you will find. The story is so different and so surreal and it's so hard to comprehend the shoes that the main character is trying to withhold. She's suffering daily and daily with the love of her life and simply the life that she has while holding her lover's hand. It's amazing how this one author can make so many tragedies while making it beautiful at the same time.
Art:
Reminded me of Bokura ga ita's art. Didn't really bother me.. I ... mean for me the characters and the story plot is all that matters. The art isn't mad though, like if you prefer bi-shies that are abnormally shiny..go ahead you do you. Though I do admit the way that the art is being portrayed is unique and feels like you're in every position that each characters are in.
Characters:
Oh my, so many characters but each characters are so important to the point that they hold a very important meaning in a real life situation. The only thing I didn't like was that the girl tended to cry constantly but the way the guys consoled her kind of made up for all that sobbing, so I think i'm good.
Enjoyment-
I really really really enjoyed this series. It was beautiful. I would go home after school everyday and directly go to my computer and read this manga because I was so interested and couldn't wait for something to happen. It was fun, sad, emotional, and romantic at many areas. I do recommend this manga to 16+ of age because there are many and I mean MANY times where they have sex, rape, and many of those things that are unpleasing to a child's eye. But, if you can withstand such areas and focus on the main plot itself, well.. I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!
Overall-
I really loved it so much, can't tell you how many times I cried and normally after a manga I don't watch the drama, but since I really loved this manga, I decided to watch it after all and that means something. Well then I hope you read it and it is NOT a waste of your time like other views that are said around me -.-

I am writing this review to try to persuade you NOT to give this series a chance.

After reading MoonLight's review, I was convinced to give Koizora a try. As much as I hate to admit it, I often judge manga by their cover - I'm more likely to read something if the art looks appealing to me. In the case of Koizora, the characters and detailing are spot on and art is more or less to my taste.

I've read numerous comments on the manga that touch on how sad it was, how touching, and how they would read it over and over. This bothers me ... as there were many themes in the manga that I thought were frankly quite wrong and troubling.

These themes were:
1) Rape is not a big deal, do not prosecute it.
Rape is a sensitive topic and the way the mangaka treated the issue was highly inappropriate. Rape is scarring, it has overbearing effects on the victim. Very few people actually just "feel better" right away. It's awful how the only retribution the rapists received was being forced to make an apology. "Sorry" doesn't make it better. Most rapists repeat their crime if not prosecuted and corrected.

2) Friendship should be fragile and revolve around attitudes about the opposite sex. It's never the guy's fault.
Aya's friendship with Mika was completely unhealthy. There was little trust. Aya repeatedly blamed Mika even in situations where the guy could've been at fault. True friendship should not be blame games. And it's never just one person's fault - this manga too often takes a misogynist viewpoint.

3) It is okay to hurt someone, mentally and physically, so that they are protected from the truth.
Lies hurt, often more than the truth does. Mika forgave Hiro far too easily for the damage he did.

4) Attempts at suicide will always result in positive outcomes.
The mangaka uses suicide too lightly, throwing it in whenever there needs to be an element of drama, and then having others come to the character's rescue. There are issues in mental health related to suicide, it isn't something you should be using to make your plot transitions. People who attempt suicide need to get proper help. Not just carry on with their lives. If you're going to use suicide in a manga, at least show gradual recovery and therapy.

5) Being someone's wife as a life goal/dream.
It's a nice goal to have, but to have that be the protagonist's main dream? Really? What are you going to do when that someone doesn't like you anymore? Please, always aspire to have something of interest outside of your significant other. It's never good to live a life where your happiness is entirely dependent on another person's decisions.

If you do read the manga/have read it, I hope you will note the lack of caution taken when approaching these topics.
Do NOT take suicide nor rape lightly.

I finished the manga for the sake of closure, but it was difficult for me to enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed other mangas. I wanted to see where mangaka was going with all the drama she implicated with Hiro and I must say even in that regard, I was thoroughly disappointed. The ending was indeed sad, but cliche and predictable.

To end on a slightly positive note, I did enjoy the little "be strong" and "enjoy life" messages the mangaka emphasized. I liked the perseverance of the protagonist and most of the characters were likable. I liked the development of the romance between Mika and Hiro despite it taking a huge turn for the worse. The mangaka's good at animating romance, not so good at avoiding cliches and sensitive topics.

Art can be influential. I ask that you please take caution in learning attitudes and behaviours from mangas. There are often stereotypes and insensitive behaviours that don't appear "wrong" at first.

This is a story that's written by a psychopath and a rape apologist. If you want a story about weak and terrible people doing idiotic and terrible things, a manga that thinks that an apology is a good enough punishment for rape then go ahead.

But if you are a sane person don't read this.(Bitter Virgin is a similar but much better story written by someone who has seen what rape can actually do.)

If the author would have done some research they would have found out just how scarring rape can be. People can't just Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps. The character in the manga ... does not need years of therapy and just 'feel's better' right away