Saturday, March 26, 2011

Book review: Chi's Sweet Home by Konami Kanata

Title: Chi's Sweet Home
Author: Konami Kanata
Genre: Manga, Slice of Life
Subject: Cats
Publisher: Vertical Inc.
Release date: October, 2010
Length: 162 pages
I got this book: Purchased at the Book Depository

Summary:
The Yamata family find a lost kitten in the park and decide to take her in even though pets are forbidden in their apartment complex. Life with Chi, as they name her, is full of typical kitty mischief and misunderstandings between the cat and human perspectives.

Personal opinion:
I have watched the first season of the anime a few years back and this manga was on my wishlist for quite some time. I used the Hello Japan Challenge as an excuse to finally purchase this manga. This manga is quite different from the typical manga format. For one, this manga is full color, which in most manga isn't the case. I found this a plus though, because I think this manga wouldn't nearly been as cute in black and white. Normally I am not bothered by it, but in this case they made the right decision to go full color. The one thing I did find odd though is that they decided to change the format from it's normal right to left reading style. I know of course that reading from left to right is the norm in the Western culture, but I have read so many manga, that I was bothered that they changed the format. To me reading manga right to left is a part of the authentic experience. However this is the only flaw I saw in this series. Chi's Sweet Home is full of everyday recognisable situations for cat owners, which made this a real feast to read. I have read this manga from the beginning to the end with a smile on my face and even laughed out loud in some cases. So this manga is highly recommended to every cat lover out there. Even my BF, who first said it wasn't really his thing, gave in and read it in one go last night, enjoying himself. We will get the rest of the series for sure.


Loved It!

Purchase links: The Book Depository
Other reviews: Volume 2
If you have reviewed this book and want your link here, please leave a comment with the link, and I will add it :)

This book is part of the Hello Japan Challenge, Manga Challenge and What an Animal Reading Challenge.

6 comments:

  1. Ow...I didn't know Chi is from manga. I love the animation. Chi is SOOOOO cute. I haven't seen the manga in my country yet.

    in the animation,Chi's voice is so adorable. all cat lovers must read this ;)

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  2. I watched both seasons (too bad the episodes are so short!) and loved them a lot. Despite the fact that Chi could be quite annoying at times. She reminds me of my grey striped kitten Matcha ^___^
    Which did you like more, the manga or the anime?

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  3. I only saw the first season of the anime and I am not sure which one I like more. It is in fact the exact same story. With the animation things are cuter also because of chi's cute voice. On the other hand, the manga is full color too. So I am really not sure, haha.

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  4. I've flipped through the first volume a few times but really need to sit down and read it properly. It looks like such a cute story. :)

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  5. It really is :) It just make you go awwwwwww :)

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  6. Congratulations on winning the March Mini-Challenge - i mentioned you on my blog with a little congrats :D

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