01 Jul / A Bride’s Story (vol. 1) by Kaoru Mori, translated by William Flanagan
Before you read a single word, you’ll surely find yourself marveling at the breathtaking wonder of the artwork here. The word ‘exquisite’ hardly does the painstakingly detailed panels justice … you’ll just have to discover the pages for yourself.
Set in “Central Asia in the nineteenth century … in a provincial town near the Caspian Sea,” the eponymous bride Amir is a sweet, wide-eyed 20-year-old “who arrived on horseback from a distant village that lay across the mountains.” Local tradition dictates that the wife should be slightly older than her groom, but in this case, Amir is a full eight years senior to her 12-year-old boy-hubby Karluk.
Amir is not quite sure how she’ll fit into her new household; most importantly, she doesn’t quite know how to treat her very young spouse. She quickly proves herself versatile – a fearsome hunter, a talented seamstress, an accomplished cook, a patient playmate – and easily endears herself to her approving new family with her undemanding, nurturing nature.
The couple’s developing relationship (soooo very sweet!), Karluk’s mischievous (and adorable!) young nephew’s chore-shirking exploits, Amir’s family’s sudden attempt to reclaim her back into her native village, Karluk’s illness and his growing dependence on his reliable wife, surely promise the next volume will have even more adventures ahead …
The one question I have is about the figure of Smith: who is he? He appears regularly, a somewhat disheveled Caucasian young man with glasses and notebook usually in hand. He’s apparently a family friend … or hanger-on? groupie? His appearance and speech mark him as a curious anachronism, but his comical expressions and reactions are surely entertaining. I’ll be keeping a careful eye on him in the next volume!
Readers: Young Adult, Adult
Published: 2011 (United States)