Annarasumanara 

(안나라수마나라)

Author: Ha Il-kwon   Artist: Ha Il-kwon   Scanlator: Webtoon Live

Summary

Yoon Ai, one of the top students in her class, wants to become an adult as soon as possible to escape her bitter reality; poverty. Suddenly finding herself in an abandoned amusement park, Ai meets a childish magician asking "Do you believe in magic?"

First Read

November 05, 2014; Chapters 1-9

     The start of new reading has come! The manhwa Annarasumanara  is a despairing story about a teenager who is going through a hard time surviving on her own. It does not have heavy drama like my previous reading, but this story is quite sad. The main character Yoon Ai, has a sweet personality, almost too pure. After her dad has left her, she becomes the breadwinner for her and her sister. Maintaining grades, working for hours after school, barely having enough to get by everyday, any one would feel bad for her. Later in the story, she meets a mysterious magician that i believe will be the one who changes her life forever *wow*. While she is not convinced that he is a real magician, I am.

   

     The story seems to start off on a right pace but with a dim plot. In the beginning, I would honestly say that I am not really fond of the art style used for this manhwa. But as I get deeper in the story, this style fits the mood the author is trying to establish. At times, it would even have different effects and it really is cool. Overall, this toon is intriguing as I have a few questions i would like to receive an answer to and this is definitely what interests me the most. It feels like all the explanation will just blow up in the end.

Final Read

November 09 2014

     Today, i finished reading the 27 chaptered manhwa, Annarasumanara. I will admit in the beginning, the story line is quiet, the mood is dull and illustration is not my type. But as I get deeper in to the manhwa, like i said in the first read, it gets so much better. The story has a moral, and different art styles are used which is quite entertaining. This story did not have heart pumping, action-packed scenes, nor did it have a sorrowful drama. It is gloomy, it is mystique. In my opinion, what makes this manhwa work is that everything together, the illustration, the story, the characters, and the settings just fits perfectly.

 

      I have a lot of questions all throughout the story. My curiosity did not leave me. That is one of the things I like and did not like about the story. The story will get you thinking, asking a lot of questions. The sense of mystery is there but I thirst for answers. I want to find out a lot of things and i did for most part but some are just left unanswered. Overall, I really like how everything went in the end. It did have a plot twist and I think that ends the story on a good note.

A contrast between old
and new Il Deung

Something I've always wondered is why does Il Deung have a strange head. Everyone in the story looks normal except him. Then, I later understood why he and his family look different from the others; because unlike Ai and the other characters, Il Deung is expected of greatness. Everyone expects him to be the smartest, to be the most successful, to be the best. All these times, he is being pressured , even he puts pressure on himself, until he learns what it really is like to live life, Il Deung burst (literally) and let go of the cold path he is heading to in life.

Status: Series Completed

Interested? Here's the link: http://mangafox.me/manga/annarasumanara/

The Friendly Winter 

(다정한 겨울)

Author: Lee Jun    Artist: Lee Jun    Scanlators: Supreme Cream Scans

Summary

A nineteen year old girl named Han Da Jeong possess a rare growth disorder leaving her trapped in a body of a child meets Kim Min Seong, a seventeen year old with a mental disorder making him act like a child.

First Read

October 22 2014; Chapters 1-8

     Today, I have started reading The Friendly Winter and all I could say is, I AM HOOKED! This manhwa gets me feeling all types of emotion. From the beginning, with the main character, Han Dajeong's strong personality has caught my attention. At first, she appears to be a bratty kid, however she suddenly revealed to be a nineteen year old girl in a body of an infant. Kim Minseong's gentle personality has also captured my affection as well. Living in a body of a seventeen year old, Minseong's childish and sweet character makes it hard for him not to be likable. Moreover, the sudden twist in chapter two between Dajeong and Minseong is very much enjoyable. I sense that the first 2 chapters are supposed to be funny but I cant help but feel sad for both characters. Both of these characters possess an illness that is not very easy to run away from. Compassion is felt all throughout the first two chapters.

     Overall, the toon is funny and pretty dramatic. The graphics are well designed and story is well built. I am definitely intrigued, and definitely looking forward to read more.

Final Read

November 2 2014

     After a week of reading, I have finally finished TFW! One thing i could definitely say is that this manhwa has surpassed my expectations. I honestly expected a cute and super bubbly story line with the thought of " I hope it is not one of those". But what all this manhwa gives me is heavy drama with comedy, and a tad bit of romance. TFW is all about the drama, the abandonment, the sorrow, and the solid friendships. You can almost forget that romance even exists in this story because all the drama has overlaid it and on top of that, the story did not seem cliche. 

     This story has got me thinking, and my thoughts just lead me everywhere trying to find a clear conclusion as to why this or that happened. At the beginning of the manhwa, one of the questions that I am eager to find the answer to is "Has DaJeong's mom ever thought of DaJeong after she abandoned her?" Yes, it is a very simple question but this is the one thing that really intrigues me. Luckily for me, I get to find the answer to my curiosity. 

     In my opinion, i did not feel the sense of the author leaving behind any details or slacking off in the story plot. The story is fully developed and well thought of. I could understand the story, the purpose is clear, and the events are not too overwhelming to the point i cannot keep up with the story. One thing i did not like is the drama being too heavy where it feels like somebody has to cry in every other chapter. But despite that,  to be honest it didn't bother me much, I still enjoy the story. With the drama going on, I can sense that the author still tries to sneak in jokes every now and then. I just cannot point out something i do not like about this manhwa.

     Out of 5 stars, I would give this manhwa 5.1. I really like the story, i love how the visual is laid out, i love how the author kind of used his personal experiences in this story, i love how i did not feel bored while reading it, i just love it. 

Status: Completed

Interested? Here's the link: http://mangafox.me/manga/the_friendly_winter/