V Books

I just wanted to share with all my readers and reviewers that this book has touched many lives already since its release date. It has made its way through schools and organizations in Naples Florida. It has made its way into the sports world and many professional athletes have been touched by this book. Just to give you an idea of how this book came to be; after my rejection of not making the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996, I was driving home on I-75(living in Naples at the time) and I was very emotionally overwhelmed that for many years trying to make the team it came down to a meeting with the new head coach Tony Dungy and his decision that I could not play. He was very respectable and decent as was Mark Dominik. They showed me around the facility and introduced me to some players, and finally said I would not be able to play. I felt rejected, but at the same time very peaceful because I knew I put all my heart and soul into the attempt of making the team and the rejection was acceptable. While I was driving home, I was thinking of how I can turn this negative into a positive and build on it. I came up with the idea of a book filled with expression and emotions. Things that I have seen and felt throughout my life, and when I sat down at my desk it all flowed out. The ideas and visions were very overwhelming and I worked as fast as I could to get them all down. It took me a year to produce the book, and one year later to the date of my rejection from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I presented Mark Dominik and Tony Dungy with the first copies. I am very grateful how they treated me with respect even if I didn't make the team. It was an honor to give them the first copy because it was their rejection that inspired me to do something great for myself as well as touch other peoples lives. Over the past three years, I have donated copies to the Breast Cancer Foundation, Professional Athletes in their time of tribulations; The Miami Dolphins player that got paralyzed in a car accident, Tampa Bay Lightning player John Cullen who was going through sickness of cancer, Management and Officials in the Tampa Bay Lightning Organization, PGA Officals and some players, Government Officials, and numerous friends in their time of suffering as well as happiness in their everyday lives. This book is made out of honor and respect to Jesus Christ and St. Jude because without them in my life, I would have never been born. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. God Bless. #34

This book is a wonderful expression of both art and inspiration. It is a great experience to read something of such great creativity and inspiration that touched me in my life, and I know if others experience this book, they too will be touched. I share this book with all my friends, because I know an artist like this does not come around everyday. I believe this man is a true visualizer and will continue to touch many lives in the future. This book is a must read.

This book is a true classic. This style has never been seen before and amazon.com has taken the first step to become the only seller of this great book. This is must have book for all bookshelves. The message is from the heart and very powerful.

This book is fantastic. I have received this book as a gift and I have had the pleasure of working with John Jude Nodar. He is a remarkable man and has a special gift and talent. This book has a special meaning for all walks of life, and that is to never give up and never stop dreaming. I wish him the best in life.

I have had the pleasure of reading this book, and being inspired through the message within. It is very uplifting and touched me in my darkest hour. I continue to share this gift with others and the message is an on going event. This book will inspire you to do the best you can in everything.

I have read both of Timuel Black's books and recommend both highly. Black is the right person for this job, having a nearly perfect memory for a past that includes important work as an activist, educator and scholar. He knows what his subjects are getting at and knows how to tweek the most out of them. Timuel Black's memories intertwine with the memories of his subjects and create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. It is truly living history

This is a book that everyone should read but can particularly important to young people, black and white, who don't quite understand that they are standing on the shoulders of giants.

I loved Bridges of Memory Volume 1... and this book doesn't dissapoint either. I love his interviewing style and the variety of people he has choosen to interview about their personal Chicago experiences. This is a well written book and I am looking forward to reading the next volume when it is released.

Here's my bias. I like history. I like to hear people talk about their lives. I like intelligent, articulate, effective language. And I loved this book. The people interviewed are fascinating, and Timuel Black helps them tell their stories in an unpretentious but by no means diffident way. I learned a great deal and enjoyed myself for many evenings.

What a gift this collection is!

In 1988, Timuel Black began to record and preserve the recollections of people who had lived in Chicago a long time, particularly the first generation of the Great Migration. When he wrote the introduction to this book, he had recorded over 125 conversations and still had "many , many more people with whom I would like to speak." Thirty-six of those conversations are presented here, with two more volumes planned to follow.

The interviews are conducted using the "participant observer" technique, and since Dr. Black - a long time resident himself - is an "insider" these interviews are essentially honest, intimate conversations among old friends, many of whom have now passed. As Dr. Black makes clear, this book is not intended to be a history of Black Chicago and its institutions, but rather a collection of oral memories from people who participated in shaping those institutions. But his field work provides invaluable data for future researchers attempting to compile that history.

If this book contained nothing more than the biographical information about each of the 40 participants (some are joint interviews), it would make fascinating reading. But the interviews bring each vividly to life. We meet people from all walks, including civil servants, educators, politicians, jazz musicians, railroad workers, business people, even two generations of South Side Chicago represented by mother and daughter Mildred Bowden and Hermene Hartman. Some, like George Johnson, tell a story of "from rags to riches." Others fall into a category of "just keep on keepin' on."

But all are riveting. I look forward to the next two volumes!

The strength of this book is in its informality. Mr. Black is friends with nearly all of his interviewees (he has known several of them for over 40 years), and the sessions read as a conversation rather than an interview. This book is especially useful for one looking for supplimental material about the neighborhood of Bronzeville in Chicago, segregation (from an individual perspective rather than scholarly leaning), and smaller aspects of city history and social change that are often forgotten. Some of his interviewees include a man that owned a company that distributed hair straightener around the U.S., a man that started what would become the Illinois state lottery, well respected teachers, and military servicemen.

There is a great deal of repetition that could have been eliminated regarding DuSable High School, locations of buildings, boundaries of the neighborhood, and references to people that are not elaborated upon; it is possible that Black chose not to edit this out to keep the interviews intact. It would have been extremely helpful for maps of Bronzeville throughout the past 80 years were inserted among the small selection of pictures that are included, in order to help those unfamiliar with the neighborhood navigate through some of the interviewees' memories of businesses, theaters, and homes.

"FANS OF ADMIRAL GALLERY'S UNIQUE BRAND OF SEA YARNS WILL LOVE IT." -- Herman Wouk

"Vintage Gallery humor! As long as Fatso lives, the U.S. Navy will Survive." -- WILLIAM J. LEDERER

"The U.S. Navy doesn't need a whole fleet in the Mediterranean. All it needs is a 70-foot motorized barge -- LCU-1124 -- commanded by a resourceful Boatswain's Mate First Class like Fatso Gioninni ." -- THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW.

"It would take half the page to do justice to this ferociously funny novel... The imperturbable malice Admiral Gallery uses to spoof everything from the way the Navy is run to the poverty program is an exercise in risible ingenuity. This is one of the most hilarious sugar coatings over hard core of fact I have read and if it isn't made into a movie or serve as the nucleus for a TV series, there is no justice!" -- Jefferson Parish Times, Metairie, LA

Cap'n Fatso
"FANS OF ADMIRAL GALLERY'S UNIQUE BRAND OF SEA YARNS WILL LOVE IT." -- Herman Wouk

"Vintage Gallery humor! As long as Fatso lives, the U.S. Navy will Survive." -- WILLIAM J. LEDERER

"The U.S. Navy doesn't need a whole fleet in the Mediterranean. All it needs is a 70-foot motorized barge -- LCU-1124 -- commanded by a resourceful Boatswain's Mate First Class like Fatso Gioninni ." -- THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW.

"It would take half the page to do justice to this ferociously funny novel... The imperturbable malice Admiral Gallery uses to spoof everything from the way the Navy is run to the poverty program is an exercise in risible ingenuity. This is one of the most hilarious sugar coatings over hard core of fact I have read and if it isn't made into a movie or serve as the nucleus for a TV series, there is no justice!" -- Jefferson Parish Times, Metairie, LA

This is a "can't put it down" book. Full of amusing phrases and "what's going to happen next" plots. I love it, I love it, I love it.

This is a very well written story set in the US Navy of the 1960's. There are fascinating insights into the operation of the Navy -- how aircraft carriers work, how navies are supplied, how spying missions are flown, how American and Russian navies get along on the high seas.

But at a deeper level, it's a story about how the US Navy can be a family to its sailors. The main plot is the hell that Cap'n Fatso can raise, when his fleet abandons him and sails for Vietnam. Intertwined with it is a story about how Cap'n Fatso mentors young sailors, protecting them from harm -- he even sets up a casino, serving beer, so that young marines won't be corrupted by landside attractions.

I enjoyed it.

Americans, across the board, can be very resourceful people because of our freedom to operate within our system. In Capn' Fatso, Dan Gallery shows us a classic but outrageously funny example of this when a small group of American sailors led by a salty old Boatswain's Mate get cut off from their normal duties by accident. Every veteran of any branch of service, man or woman, will be able to relate to this light hearted tale of American military life since it brings to memory experiences and people each of us have known in our own lives. The characters in the story are all people we can relate to in one way or another, or remind us of unforgettable friends from our past.

In my opinion, anyone who reads this book and can keep from laughing hasn't "lived."

NOTE! I am actually seventeen, but I'm also lazy and didn't want to do all that extra work. ^_^ My review is below.

From the very first page--which shows Sakura crying over her brother's loss of magical power *cough*Yue's fault*cough*--to the last, you will be hooked on this volume. I speak from experience. It is the absolute cutest volume of the entire twelve-book series. There are no flaws in it whatsoever. *SPOILER!* My favorite part is where Sakura-chan finally confesses her love to Yukito-san. *SPOILER'S END* But anyway, please pick up the original first six, read them, read Master of the Clow 1-3, then take a deep breath and read this one. I was absolutely thrilled with my purchase, and I have a feeling you will be, too! Elissachan has spoken.

Card captors is about a 5th grader girl with the magic of the clow cards which are these cards that each have there own magic.When Sakura relizes the clow master is going to die she must find out the 2 yes 2 people who will take his place. It is pretty easy to guess who they are but still reading the books is still alot of fun. Very cute books. Like in the second book Sakura gets attacked by a giant teddy bear!The art is great too.Great book for all ages and Tokyo mew mew and Salior Moon fans.(to tell you the truth I like this book even more then Salior Moon ^_^!)
~*~Purin~*~

This continues along from the plots in the previous comic, which you should get before purchasing this or you'll be lost.
Summary:
The Tomoda kids host a cafe. There, Sakura confesses her feelings to Yukito. And then we can't forget about Clow Reed, who continues to test her. Later, we find out about Clow Reed, Kero, and Yue's past. If you want to find out about more stuff leading to the next book.

This is the best book in the cardcaptor collection.Sakura tells Yukito that she loves him but finds out that she does not love him in a #1 kind of way but as a father.Li helps her fell better .She desides to make a kinmoyo for him so that Li can go to a festivel with her and Tomoyo(my favoite character)you'll love this book if you're a card captor fan.

I will read them all! By the time I'm done, the sweetness of the series will probably have rotted my teeth out, but at least I will be a happy toothless person. In this book, Sakura finally deals with her feelings for Yukito, along with the usual battling of the Clow Cards. Sakura's talk with Li about her feelings for Yukito was, I think, the best reason to have this book. The Cardcaptor books always make me smile, even during a reread, which is as good a reason as any to get something, I think.

This book honestly made me feel like how could yu watase write this book so sad, but then I read the last volume (volume 14) and i said "Now I know why she wrote this book the way she did, and I wish that everyone could read the 14th book and be as happy as I am now". Yu Watase is the best artist and writer that I know.

I started on Fushigi Yugi originally through the anime, then resorted to the manga three years ago. This has become my longest series and this volume is one of the best I have read. The action has met its climax and the rival priestess has gained her soldiers before Miaka did, making everything more interesting. And the highlight in the manga in my opinion, Nakago's cold kiss with Tamahome. ^.^ Ok so it wasn't exactly what the events were leading to but one of my favorites.

Anyhow, I do like especially to this point how both Yui and Miaka have progressed and to this day, Nakago remains one of my favorite villains. If you are in to FY for the long haul, buy this one as well as the others to follow and complete your collection.

When i first read this book i could not belive what Aki did to Aya in the Libray of the school and Yuhi. The great thing is Toya starts to get his real memories back If you havent owned any of these books i really think that you should get them their really good. :)

This is a review of both a volume of Fushigi Yuugi and Ayashi no Ceres. Because Amazon.com links to both series, I will review both volumes.

This is volume twelve of Fushigi Yuugi. It is a wonderful volume. Miaka and Tamahome are a great couple. They have a wonderful love story. In this volume, Tamahome hugs Miaka and comforts her after the events from the last book. Miaka and Tamahome are girlfriend and boyfriend and each other's true love. When Miaka and Tamahome learn that now they can become intimate, they must face a decision. A war is coming, and Miaka knows what may be comign ahead. Miaka hugs Tamahome and says that he can make her his bride. Miaka and Tamahome kiss. As they kiss, they have a very romantic and sweet scene. When they are interrupted, they share a sweet moment. Tamahome hugs Miaka and tells her that they will continue this on their wedding night. They have a very sweet scene. When Miaka learns that she and Tamahome may have to separate, Tamahome hugs her and they appear in her world. Tamahome's love for Miaka let them be in her world together. Miaka and Tamahome hug that night. Yui finds out that they are in her world together. Miaka and Tamahome walk into town and Miaka shows her world to Tamahome. Miaka and Tamahome walk happily arm in arm through town and have lots of loving and romantic moments. When Tamahome and Miaka are on a date in a restaurant, Tamahome finds out the truth of how Miaka entered his world and must make a decision. This is a wonderful volume.


In Ceres, Tooya finds out that his memories were implanted into him. Aya returns to herself. It is revealed that Miori is not Tooya's old girlfriend. Tooya tells Aya he's sorry he can't remember their relationship, but he still loves her. He leaves to rediscover himself. Aya transfrers to a new school. Yuuhi is there too. Shiso threatens Aya, telling her he will kill Yuuhi if she doesn't leave him. Aya pretends to be cold to Yuuhi to protect him. Tooya realizes that even if he can't remember Aya he still loves her. Tooya returns to Aya and they reunite and kiss. Tooya asks Aya to elope with him. They move in together. Aya and Tooya have the place alone one night and kiss. They make love and share an intimate night. They go through the days happily. Later, Aya and Tooya go on a journey. Aya is hurt and Tooya awakens her. He greets her in bed and they kiss. They share many times together. Later, they visit an island and Tooya regains his memory and reveals to Aya that they knew each other before. Aya and Tooya go home and Aya kisses Tooya as he looks up their island.


Both stories are great. Miaka and Tamahome are a great couple. Soa re Aya and Tooya. Miaka and Tamahome are a wonderful couple. Both stories are great. I have read the entire series of both manga volumes and they are both wonderful.

Another uniquely Yuu Watase manga.

Ten was another one, like 5, where everything happens at once, but it is a better one to leave off on if you have too.

Poor Aya is alienated, the people in school think she is a slut because of Aki, and to keep Yuhi safe she has to be terribly mean to him. She is really alone with Shurro and Chidori gone. But it isn't all bad Toya realizes, again, it doesn't matter that he doesn't remember Aya a part of his heart does and that is enough. Aya saves Toya by destroying the hypnosis machine that took Toya's memories, so he remebers her. He comes to save her and Alec helps them both to make an escape.

Alec poor thing felt bad about what he did to Toya and couldn't do that to Aya. He is so cute isn't he.

This one at the end is like an action movie. The illustrations are just gorgeous. I am waiting for 11.

This old book was first published in 1950 by Pearl Buck (1892-1973), a 1938 Nobel laureate, but originally drafted by her in the much earlier days. Her first daughter Carol was born as a LD child in 1920, due to a delivery accident in a remote village of China. The cause is now known as PKU, a disorder in phenylalanine metablism (and PKU can be fully cured now), but then nobody knew either cause or therapy. That was a beginning of this tragedy of both Carol and her mother Pearl. But that is not the whole story. Pearl's first husband, a scholar, kept ignoring his own LD child, and did not give any special finacial support to this daughter. So when Pearl, then just a house wife, realized that Carol had to be taken care of by the best special school for LD children in the United States for the rest of her own long life (till Carol's death in 1992), she started writing a novel on Chinese farmers, The Good Earth, hoping to earn some money as royality for the sake of Carol's life-long welfare. In 1932, to her great surprise, this book becames the world best seller, and even filmed in 1937 with a great success, and eventually awarded her the big prize the followig year. In other words, this LD child Carol transformed her mother's life and career so dramatically, in a better sense.

Having met so many other mothers who also have LD children, eventually after the end of WW II, Pearl decided to publish her true story on Carol, which turned out to be her first and sole real daughter, in order to share her own difficult experience with these mothers. Meanwhile she adopted several orphan children including Janice Walsh with her second husband Richard Walsh, a talented editor who published "The Good Earth" very successfully.

In the early days of Carol's youth, Pearl had a great difficulty in being willing to admit that Carol's brain had been permanentally damaged. One day, however, at a small hospital in the United States, an old German doctor privately approached her and explained, though in his broken English, to convince her that her daughter would never grow further. To me, that particular scene was the most moving and unforgettable in this book. For I am a retired molecular oncologist who has been trying to develop, particular during my stay in Germany, the first effective therapeutics for a genetic disease called NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1) which causes not only tumors but also frequently LD in many young children.

I cherish this book. I am the mother of a wonderful little boy with special needs who is also terminal. I could never put into words all my thoughts and feelings. Ms. Buck did that beautifully and with heart. I reread it often and share it with other parents needing the encouragement that she bestows with her wonderful writing. Thank you!

It was fascinating to read the account from such an "open-minded" individual as Pearl Buck as having had such difficulty dealing with/ accepting her disabled daughter. Although she clearly loved her daughter she hid her from the rest of her family and the rest of the world almost until the end of her life. Ms Buck was an advocate for the disabled but could not deal with society's prejudices with regard to her own child.

"The Child Who Never Grew," by Pearl S. Buck, is the true story of the struggle of the author after learning that her daughter Carol, born in 1920, was mentally handicapped. The 1992 Woodbine House edition contains a foreword by James Michener, an introduction by Martha M. Jablow, and an afterword by Janice C. Walsh, who was Pearl's daughter and Carol's's sister.

Jablow notes in her intro that "Child" first appeared as an article in "Ladies Home Journal" in 1950 and was shortly thereafter published in book form. Jablow notes that the book is "a landmark in the literature about disabilities." As such, I consider "Child" a fitting companion text to a book like Helen Keller's "The Story of My Life." Jablow notes that mental retardation "carried a shameful stigma" when Buck first had this story published; Jablow provides further useful historical context for the main text.

Buck writes very movingly of her heartache at the discovery of her child's plight. She documents her awareness of the stigma against people like Carol, and also tells of her search for an institution where Carol's special needs might be met. Buck passionately defends the humanity and worth of the mentally retarded, and tells what her experiences with Carol taught her: "I learned respect and reverence for every human mind. It was my child who taught me to understand so clearly that all people are equal in their humanity and that all have the same human rights."

Walsh's afterword continues the story of Carol. She fills in some of the very obvious gaps in Buck's story. Walsh's contribution to this book is very moving, and includes photos of Carol.

In addition to being a work of historical and sociological importance, I found "The Child Who Never Grew" to be a moving and very personal piece of American literature. For another good companion text, try William Styron's "Darkness Visible," in which the distinguished writer tells of his battle against clinical depression. Also, try "On the Way Home," by Laura Ingalls Wilder; this book has additional material by Laura's daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, and like "The Child Who Never Grew" is thus a sort of mother-daughter literary collaboration.

A very moving book. The book was written 50 years ago, and it sounds as current as if it had been written today. A mother's feelings are timeless.

PORQUE SON MUY ABIERTOS Y RECONOCEN QUE EL HOMBRE ES Y SERÁ SIEMPRE...MACHO !

Lighten up ladies, yep I say give this to the men in your life so they can laugh, little will they know that we are hoping they get the message behind our madness. Gotta have a sence of humor to get through life. TO bad its not in English so he could share it with more of his friends. LOL

me empujó a comprar este libro :
QUÉ CHISTES, MI CUATE !
REALMENTE DE COLOR MUY FUERTE...PERO MUY BUENOS !
COMPRATE UNA BUENA DOSIS DE SEROTONINA RIENDOTE CON LOS CHISTES MACHOS

WITH THIS BOOK, SHE'D SURELY MURDER ME !
BUT I'D GLADLY DIE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE GRAVEYARD !

PORQUE SON MUY ABIERTOS Y RECONOCEN QUE EL HOMBRE ES Y SERÁ SIEMPRE...MACHO !

I have devoted a good portion of my life to the study of mathematics in general, especially algebra and number theory. This book is an extraordinary reference to many areas of number theory and extremely approachable. The book can be studied on its own or as a companion piece to more specialized texts such as Marcus's Number Fields.

I picked up this book as a junior in college and was simply stunned. The flow of ideas is so natural that there are times when you can even read the book like a novel. The exposition is clean, and the proofs are elegant.
However, keep in mind that this book IS a GTM. Hence, it requires pre-requisites by way of approximately a year of abstract algebra. As the author says in the preface, it's possible to read a the first 11 chapters without it. However, to appreciate the beauty of the theory, I would sincerely recommend algebra as pre-req.
The first 12 chapters can be considered 'elementary' (not easy, just fundamental). The others are specialized algebraic topics. For instance, the chapter on elliptic curves is useful to get a flavor of the subject. However, it includes very few proofs.

If ever there was a textbook of which one could say that it was a thing of beauty, this has to be it. The book is very clearly written, and it is readily accessible even to those without a deep understanding of algebra or analysis; despite this, it manages to touch upon a great deal of relatively sophisticated material, and in a way that makes clear the links between the problems of the past and those of the present. I'd imagine that the book would constitute an essential item of reference for anyone with more than a passing interest in number theory.

I am currently finishing my third year of undergraduate math at Brown University, and have just completed a course that used this particular book. I have to say it's the most WELL WRITTEN math book I've ever read, and I've read many, many math books by now (more than I'm willing to count as I'm typing this). Professor Rosen (and Ken Ireland, God rest his soul) have made a book that has both fun and interesting problems as well as clear explanations of proofs in the text. It does of course require that you know the basics of abstract algebra (in particular, one is expected to know that "1" is a unit and therefore cannot be prime, so of course when we discuss problems involving factorization into primes, one will of course ignore the number 1). One is also expected to know the basics of formal logic (i.e. understanding how a proof by induction works, how a proof by contradiction works, and knowing that any proper subset of the natural numbers will have a least element), and I choose to point this out simply because MrBigBeast's review makes it obvious that all these facts were not understood. Despite the fairly large amount of assumed knowledge (this is a book intended for advanced undergrads and first year grad students, afterall), this book takes one on an amazing adventure through the depths of elementary number theory, as well as introduces you to very advanced topics in both algebraic and analytic number theory (ever want to know about Zeta Functions? This book treats the topic quite nicely, making a fairly difficult concept accessible). Truly a gem of a book and worth buying even if you never use it for a course.

I'm currently an undergrad math and phsyics major at Brown, and I loved this book. Rosen is a great teacher and a great writer. As per the post below mine, the submitter is being overly nitpicky. If a reader cannot realize that unique factorization of Z+ extends to Z or understand immediately the nature of "1", then perhaps the reader shouldn't be trying to learn advanced number thoery. As per using the conclusion in the proof, it's called proof by induction. It's easy and trivial enough that I'm sure they didn't want to waste the readers time going through the incredibly obviouse steps.

The book is great. The problems are fun and interesting, and the book gradually generalizes which makes the abstraction easier to conceptualize. If you need something with tons of really baisc excersizes and proofs that will walk you through every step of the way, no matter how small, then this book may not be for you. But if you are a seriouse student looking for an interesting and insightfull introduction to the subject, I highly recomend this book

This set of books is a great asset to our rehab clinic. We were able to put the information into practice as soon as we got the books. It is an exhausive resource for UE rehab.

One of the most comprehensive textbooks on the market. Includes detailed anatomy reveiw, diagnostic and treatment methods. Provides concise and up to date information about a variety of hand and upper extremity conditions. The "must have" resource for all hand therapists.

So I am not sure why all the other reviews say this is great for a hand exam, but it is a fabulous book for any clinician interested in clinical immunology. Great reviews of the immunology behind the clinical diseases. I have to say I am an author of one of the chapters in the upcoming new edition, but I used the second edition extensively when I was a post-doc and needed to learn quickly what was going on in the field. A great book!

Worth every penny!! Used this as my main reference to study for the hand examination.

This book is wonderful.It was worth every penny. This is my main resource that I use when I have a question on any hand problems. The book is very thorough and informative.It is a "must have" for any hand therapist.

This is my all time favorite yaoi and remains my number one even as my manga library grows. Yugi Yamada's artwork is beautiful, her story-line amusing, sweet and dramatic all at once. This is most definitely a must read for any yaoi fan. Steamy scenes, lovable characters, and a plot that makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

this manga is pure brilliance.

consistently wonderful art, storytelling, characterization, sense of humor. the main character's sarcastic streak had me rolling. just read the first 2 pages, and you'll see what i mean!

sexy.

all of the smut was VERY sexy. just graphic enough, but not so much that you feel you're watching bad porno, and not so little that you feel gyped and are certain the characters feel that way too.

i yearn for a volume two. this manga is my #1 top favorite manga EVER. (followed closely by love recipe, and second by the 'little butterfly' series.)

buy it. love it. pet the cover. re-read it again and again.

If there is one thing I learned from this manga it is that beer inexplicably causes hot men to grope each other. (Of course, this is in opposition to what I learned in college, but no matter!)

In `Close the Last Door', the main character is Nagai, hopelessly in love with his old college friend Saitoh, who is getting married. He drowns himself in alcohol and is taken care of by Honda, who offers a special `comfort service' to the crying man. The path after this follows Nagai and Honda as they spend more `special' time together and brushes upon Saitoh who is beginning to rethink his thus far platonic feelings for his beloved Sempai Nagai.

I found several sections to be absolutely hilarious. Cute, innocent Saitoh dealing with the intrusion of Honda by behaving in an unexpected way and any scene with Nagai with his ex-girlfriend are pure gold for me.

I summation: though the story can be considered predictable, this is a light, fun, refreshing and entertaining read. As another reviewer mentioned: Get this!

I am surprised by how much I like this. Close the Last Door is definitely Yaoi as it focuses on relationships among white collar workers, from break-ups with girl friends, to denial of one's sexual orientation to finally embracing it. The centre plot is the triangle relationship among 3 twenty something guys, Nagai, Saitou and Honda. Nagai "thinks" he is in love with Saitou as a person (nothing to do with the fact that Saitou is a man), refuses to admit he is gay but is infact attracted to Honda. Sweet Saitou is abandoned by his bride on his wedding and seems to bear more than respect for Nagai whom he clings to. Honda is the interesting seme, outwardly cool but inwardly just as insecure, as he vied for Nagai's attention. Fast paced and often humorous the relationship and characters development is an engrossing read. And of course the sex from just initial gropping, while pretending to be drunk, to hot coupling is quite quite erotic. I hope Vol 2 is not too far away.

I have to admit to a history with this title. So many years ago, I struggled to translate the raws. Something about the artwork, the layouts, the smoldering looks, just caught me, and I *had* to know the story. Needless to say, with my pitiful, measly scraps of self-taught Japanese, I never knew much about the plot. So my soul was singing with ecstasy when I saw than June had published Vol. 1.

"Close the Last Door" starts out with Nagai Atsushi attending his junior's (Saitou Toshihisa) wedding. Not only has he been Saitou's extremely supportive senpai all these years, Nagai has been madly in love with him, as well. So he's understandably despondent over Saitou's marriage. Drowning his sorrows in alcohol, he ends up at the bar sitting by Honda Kenzou , a co-worker of the evil bride. With Nagai being too angry and hurting (and drunk) to be thinking clearly, and Honda-san lending a sympathetic ear, the whole story comes out. Nagai ends up passing out, and Honda-san helps him to a hotel room, even though he doesn't quite understand why he's helping this stranger out so much. Soon, some sexual sparks fly, but it seems to take both Nagai and Honda by surprise, and they back off pretty quickly.

The next day, Nagai finds out that Saitou's bride has left him, the very day after their wedding! (wow!) So Saitou's back to relying on Nagai and crying on his shoulder. Incredibly, it seems that Nagai may have a chance at Saitou, after all. Yet, why does he still have thoughts of Honda, even when he doesn't want to? This sets up the rest of the volume, a love triangle of sorts. Nagai still loves Saitou, so he can't understand his own feelings for Honda--and when it comes right down to it, can he really accept that he's--well, gay? And now, Saitou almost seems willing.... Throw in an ex-girlfriend, the runaway bride, and the story has a nice mix of gentle complexity.

On the surface, this story seems like a re-hash of so many boys' love stories, but underneath there is much more. I adore Yamada-Sensei's skillful drawing of faces, bodies, and especially her eyes. I can see the intense attraction between Nagai and Honda; I can see it in their eyes, their faces, they way they touch. Each time Honda and Nagai are even in the same room, I feel my heart beat faster. When they come together, their kisses make me swoon. The sexual chemistry between them is intense, and seems to build upon each encounter. I particularly like the touches of realism--no perfect first-time sex here! And sometimes things are awkward and comical. I love the careful attention to character development, making the mundane seem vital and new. They're not buff, macho stud-muffins, nor are they wispy, delicately beautiful youths. They seem like real men--real men filled with incredible sexual energy! There's also a fair bit of comedy throughout the story, which lightens the mood delightfully. At the end of the volume, I wanted to see these characters again, to get to know them better. Overall, it's sensitive, genuine, and hot, with a teaspoon of angst thrown in for seasoning.

Now, I have heard that the publishing company has not come forth with a date to publish volume 2. If they choose not to put out Vol. 2, that would be a crying shame, as we get to meet Honda-san's two older brothers--well, I think they are brothers, but I'm not too sure (poor Japanese, remember?). Anyway, that story looks just as fabulous as this one, being that Honda's big brothers are just as awesome and sexy as brother number 3. And we get to see Honda-san and Nagai from vol. 1 return (as far as I can recall). Please buy "Close the Last Door" and enjoy!

In a final note, I have to wonder about Amazon's decision to post reviews on boys' love manga from Publishers Weekly. It's obvious from their reviews that they neither appreciate nor approve of boys' love stories. While they are entitled to their opinion, I don't feel they need to intrude on the enjoyment of boys' love aficionados. We're not interested in their negative opinions, and they are certainly unhelpful in every sense of the word. Only someone who wanted to be convinced *not* to buy a boys' love manga would find them of any use. It's almost as if Amazon is trying to discourage the purchasing of these books.