Aod Review: Only the Ring Finger Knows novel #3

[Noodle]

[image]http://www.animeondvd.com/images/coverart/ringfingernovel3.jpg[/image]


Review

Why, WHY does it take half a book for Kannagi to get to anything worthwhile? Why, WHY can't this translation make sense? Oh well, on to the poll....

[The Pirate Queen]

You're a braver woman than I. It sounds like the bad parts of all three books should have been cut out entirely, with the good parts edited down, and published as just one story.

[Noodle]

Originally Posted by Dani

You're a braver woman than I.

As I've said more than once this past week, there is a very fine line between being brave and being stupid. I'm not quite sure which category applies this time?

I can't help but feel like these books wouldn't be so awful if it wasn't such a chore to get through them. I feel totally beat over the head by this translation and so rather than get wound up in the angsty goodness (used loosely) I'm stuck having to analyze everything - which is never really a good thing for a romance novel. I'm not saying these books are great literature or anything, but still, DMP has done them no favors.

[sunflower33]

Wait... Are you telling me there are going to be more of these? I thought about reading vol 3. I actually have it, but the second was so painful it's just been sitting there. Since I thought it was the last though I was going to try, so I could at least finish the series. But if the kind of fake conflict you describe is going to continue into the future, I'm just going to call it quits.

[Noodle]

Originally Posted by sunflower33

Wait... Are you telling me there are going to be more of these? I thought about reading vol 3. I actually have it, but the second was so painful it's just been sitting there. Since I thought it was the last though I was going to try, so I could at least finish the series. But if the kind of fake conflict you describe is going to continue into the future, I'm just going to call it quits.

*laugh* Well, the afterword certainly suggests more, as does June's recent email newsletter. I don't know what to feel myself - the good moments are good, but there is so much potential not being realized (or being ignored in favor of dragging things out) and the translation makes it such a pain to get thru. Like last time, the second half of the book got "better" (in that it was more interesting and moved the ideas of conflict beyond their tiny little world together), and it alllllmost gets to that place it wants to be, but I seriously wasn't lying when I said the first half put me to sleep.

If the conflicts can actually move out into realistic things, I'll be much happier -- I really hate Asaka, and the conflict with him is totally pointless. 1) it's an already-asserted fact that Yuichi and Wataru only have eyes for each other and 2) in this very book they have, as a couple, moved beyond the whole insecurity and jealousy thing.

[ayumu]

Originally Posted by Noodle

*laugh* Well, the afterword certainly suggests more, as does June's recent email newsletter.

I find it odd that June would suggest more is coming out when there is no more. Unless there's some plan to collect the odd short stories that have been in Chara Collection and such. (I don't think there are enough for a whole novel, though...)

The second half of the third book is my favorite part of the series since the original story that inspired the manga, which makes me think that I might like more...but considering that I didn't really care for the other 2/3 of the series (and that's without having to suffer through the bad translation :tongue, I think it might be better if it would just end.

[Noodle]

Originally Posted by ayumu-chan

I find it odd that June would suggest more is coming out when there is no more. Unless there's some plan to collect the odd short stories that have been in Chara Collection and such. (I don't think there are enough for a whole novel, though...)

I don't recall the wording exactly (can't be bothered to go look at my email, either) but it was something along the lines of "since it will be a while before 4 and 5!" .. perhaps they mean a collection of the short stories, or else they know of/assume plans for more? As far as we're all concerned, sure this is the end, but obviously Kannagi has some more ideas, so it's pretty open ended nonetheless.

which makes me think that I might like more...but considering that I didn't really care for the other 2/3 of the series (and that's without having to suffer through the bad translation :tongue, I think it might be better if it would just end.

I did like the end of the 2nd book, too (well, I mean the VERY END), but (once again) we feel pretty similar. XD I think I'll just go back to re-reading the manga from time to time.

[ayumu]

Originally Posted by Noodle

I don't recall the wording exactly (can't be bothered to go look at my email, either) but it was something along the lines of "since it will be a while before 4 and 5!"

Four AND five?? *boggles* My guess is that Kannagi is writing (or planning to write) more and June has the option to bring over anything else in the series, then. Which is cool with me as long as they don't have some crazy release-it-in-English-first plans. :tired:

I did like the end of the 2nd book, too (well, I mean the VERY END)

*thinks hard* I don't really even remember the second book. Was that the part where they went on vacation?

Side note: I like Wataru's sister a lot. I'd totally read a side story about her. [strike]She could be gay, too. Yuri![/strike] [hide]I'm an equal opportunity slasher. XD[/hide]

[Noodle]

Originally Posted by ayumu-chan

Four AND five?? *boggles* My guess is that Kannagi is writing (or planning to write) more and June has the option to bring over anything else in the series, then. Which is cool with me as long as they don't have some crazy release-it-in-English-first plans. :tired:

I went back and re-read the newsletter - for the curious (emphasis mine):

Satoru Kannagi is coming to Anime Expo!!

See, being on the June Manga mailing list has its advantages as you
are hearing this one first! The author of Only the Ring Finger Knows
and Rin! will be June Manga's guest this year at Anime Expo. It will
be a while before volumes 4 and 5 of Only the Ring Finger Knows are
published in English, so swing by our panel with Kannagi-sensei.
Maybe she will give us a few hints on what happens next...

......not really much to go on there.

*thinks hard* I don't really even remember the second book. Was that the part where they went on vacation?

Yeah. I liked the last few pages. Where they stand up to Shohei and have a little heart-to-heart on the beach, etc. The rest was just filler.