Mori, Kaoru. 2011. A Bride’s Story. Translated by William Flanagan. First Yen Press ed. Vol. 1. A Bride’s Story. New York: Yen Press.
9780316180993 0316180998 WordlCat record
I heard about this lovely book from Unshelved and added it to Goodreads 20 March 2012. I acquired a copy from my public library and, thankfully, they have rest of the volumes published so far. [According to Wikipedia it is still ongoing.]
The book reads from right to left in the traditional Japanese format. I knew I was supposed to start at “the back” and read “forward” but it took me a couple pages to quickly figure out to read the page right-to-left, top-to-bottom. The story (narration and art) made it fairly evident quickly though.
This is a historic romance from the Silk Road in Turkic Central Asia in the late 19th century. Amir is a 20-year-old bride to a boy eight years her junior, Karluk. Her family is still nomadic in the summer while the husband’s family has settled down in the last couple generations.
I was expecting not to like it due to potential gender issues but it is so far a very liberating and progressive tale. Her young husband’s extended family have really taken a liking to (and appreciation of) her. A show-down is coming with her family soon.
As soon as I was done with it I checked the library and most volumes are available so I requested volumes two and three. It is quite lovely and I look forward to reading more of Amir and Karluk’s adventures and watching as their relationship grows despite its unconventionality.
Highly recommended. 5 of 5 stars.
This is also the 1st book I am posting abut for my 2015 8th Annual Graphic Novel/Manga Challenge. I read another one before this one yesterday but I do not have my post ready yet.
Update: 02 January 2015 Split the new book challenge information into its own post as it always should have been.
A Bride’s Story ticks off 6 of the 50 items in that challenge: female author, set in different country, finish in a day, graphic novel. author never read before, translation. I could possibly justify a 7th with written by someone under 30 but it appears Mori was barely 31 when first volume appeared in Japan. Or she was just 30; Wikipedia is confused. Oh well. There’ll be someone else.