The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa
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Book Reviews of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
Book Review: Wonderful novel that adds to the anime experience
Summary: 5 Stars
As many people already know, this is where the the whole Suzumiya Haruhi craze got started: with the light novels by Tanigawa Nagaru. However, it is more than likely that people in the Western world have been exposed to the anime first. So while the anime should be a complement to the novel, to most Westerners the novel will end up complementing the anime. And believe me, it is well worth the experience to visit the novel after watching the anime.
For one thing, the translation is extraordinarily well-done. Like the anime, the novel is developed from Kyon's first-person narrative. Reading Kyon's witty self-reservations on Haruhi and the other's behavior is hilarious and to some point better done than in the anime. Since there's no 25-minute time limit on the novel's chapters, we get far more insights from Kyon in the novel than we do in the anime, to great effect. Also, the novel's translation does a far better job at dealing with all the high-level sci-fi explanations from Nagato and Koizumi than Bandai's translation of the anime.
On the topic of Tanigawa Nagaru's style in itself (regardless of the translation), he has a tremendous ability for setting a very good pacing to an already wonderful story. Also, beneath all the aliens and ESPers and time-travelers there is a simple, touching story of an unlikely high school couple trying to feel special and unique in what is a seemingly non-special world. A wonderful story masterfully crafted.
In conclusion, the novel is a wonderful experience to anyone, whether they have already been initiated in the Suzumiya Haruhi universe or not. 5 stars.
Book Review: Sneaker Award Winner
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished reading this book in the original Japanese, and I can understand why it was so successful. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya won the third ever grand prize in the Sneaker Award from Kadokawa Publishers, an award for new authors that has only been granted to four authors in its fourteen year history. In the normally strict judging conference, this work was easily and universally agreed to be the best in its year by the judges and editors, with wonderful characters, an interesting take on the central theme, and an engaging first-person narrative style.
The story contrasts the contentment with everyday life with the desire for something more, through a narrator who remains comedic in a very human way while surrounded by the strange and unusual. Even though both the setting and action feature elements that are culturally characteristic of Japanese life, the central question is something familiar to every youth: Is this life all there is for me, and is it OK for me to be satisfied with it?
In my opinion, it's worth reading this book at least twice. Once the reader begins to understand Haruhi and the other characters for who they are, the events of the story take on a new meaning and we begin to see what the desires and conflicts of the "creator" of this world engendered in the lives of the mostly harmless narrator and other members of the SOS Brigade.
Book Review: A Most-Own for any Fan!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is simply awesome.
I just bought the book and the detail is excellent. Its hardcover and the original cover by Noizi Ito makes it look almost to the original Japanese bunko.
The translation is very good and almost literal to the japanese version. And that's good for me.
Even though the paper is not the best, it mantains the details of the few excellent images made by Noizi. It even has a special section at the end of the book with colorful drawings on special magazine-like paper.
For any fan of Haruhi Suzumiya and her SOS Brigade it's a most-own. And for any one that is not a fan, it's very recommended, since it has one of the most original and spectacular stories I've ever seen!
9.5 out of 10
Book Review: Haruhi-riffic!!! TOTALLY!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Having been the type of Otaku who watches the anime first, read the manga second, and MAYBE read the light novel third, I was pretty impressed with this one. Haruhi is one of the highlights of Japanese pop culture and this book is where it all began. Not to spoil anything for those who haven't read it, but some of the things Haruhi convince Kyon to do in this book is plenty of reason to purchase this book. It's totally worth the under $20 price tag. (It was $13ish when I got it). Included is a brief but nontheless magnificent illustration of the characters. There's also a short manga insert in order to let you preview what the manga's about. All in all, must buy.Book Review: Cute, Witty and Funny
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was extremely gripping and well written. I was very impressed that the writing was very consistant for being told from a 1st POV. Kyon had a lot of personality, and so did the minor characters.
For most of the characters being in high school, they felt like very realistic despite some of them possessing special gifts. It was a very lively story of discovery, and I think that Kyon had grown a little from meeting his classmates.
The manga was cute, but it was lacking the deep characterization the book had. In the manga, most of the characters were hard to tell apart from their appearances. However, it was still a good read.