Boys Over Flowers

"Hana Yori Dango" (jap)

Story and Art by: Yoko Kamio

Published by: Shueisha

Adapted into an anime: yes

Adapted into a movie: yes (a retelling)

Adapted into a live action: yes (with a sequel)

Genre: Romance, Drama, comedy

Number of tankoubon (volumes) : 36

ANN's plot summary: "16 Year old Makino Tsukushi is 16-year old girl, from a mid-class family, who, due to her brains, gets into an ultra high-class school called Eitoku Gakuen. One day she accidentally gets on the F4’s, bad side *they’re a gang at school*, and from then on she suffers from hazing. She fights this back, and while doing so falls in love with one of the F4’s members. However, another one of the members also falls in love with her. "

My Ranking: 3 1/2 hoshi.

My Rating: PG-13

There is some bad language (even the f-word a few times) as well some suggestive stuff. I mean two of the guys are playboys so that's one reason there is a recurring mention of sex. Also there is some partial nudity but nothing too scandalous .

My Review: well hum. What can I say about this series. I decided to read it on a whim hearing it mentioned by one of my friends. At first I was like "wth what is this?! its so weird. " and it was. The style was something I wasn't used to and I hadn't read a series quite like this before, but I was a good little anime fan and gave it a little more of my time because, though it may be weird, its surprisingly addictive. I was hooked. Despite the oddities I was not accustomed, to this series drew me in which is an extremely good quality in any manga/anime.

Boys Over Flowers takes you on a roller coaster of drama like I've never seen. One minute your like 'what the heck' the next your covering your eyes and a few seconds later its OMG!! I've never been fond of drama but this series grabs a hold of you and won't let go. There is never a lull in the plot to allow you to take a breath. As soon as it starts to calm down something else will happen to send you guessing again. For that I respect this series.

At the beginning I was introduced to the realization that the beginning of the series is a bit like Pride and Prejudice. But as it goes on this comparison is forgotten for it strays once again into a different entity. Its a romance story that will make you very frustrated at the characters but make you love them just the same. In this aspect the series can be quite clever.

Overall this series had me devour it in all its frustrating, exhausting, plot twisting self. Even if its not one of my favorites i definitely respect it.

Comparison: I read the entire series at OneManga.com. This series is still being released in the U.S. by Viz Media and will soon be finished. It was scanned by five different scan groups (wow) so it can get a little frustrating when scan styles change mid series. Though there is an anime I have no intention to watch it. It doesn't look enticing to me plus the manga series is so long I'm pretty whipped out from it. Unfortunately i don't know the difference between the manga and the anime but just to be safe I suggest the manga so as to get the real story and full affect of it.