Some people say you can't marry a rollercoaster.

Some people say you can't actually make love to an octopus.

Well I'm here to tell you at the age of twenty that I, for realzies, have fallen madly in love with this shoujo series.

I was tired of rifling through shoujo after shoujo... After almost ten years of reading the stuff and harnessing some sort of addiction for the high, for the heart-wrenching glee, the giddiness, THE FEELZ, after so many years, nothing seemed to do it for me anymore. I knew all too well what i wanted to be reading in my manga and nothing from the shoujo genre delivered anymore and it was finally feeling like i should move on. Shoujo became like a Twilight to me instead of a Walk to Remember, like all i did was laugh at it nowadays, not with it, you know?

But this.

This fucking series.

Has me squealing like a baby piglet about to explode, every chapter (I'm on 24). Even after experiencing High school for what it is (HELL), even with all these feminist values actively shadowing every work of literature i touch, this series is so charming and funny and cute and ASDFGJK. People complaining about cliche's are in the wrong genre. People who are looking for unrealistic borderline fantasy romances should look elsewhere, because the development will seem boring and slow to some. Go to Desire Complex or something if steamy heart throbbing romance is your only interest. This is a story with depth and like MatrixM said, a story that deals with family issues (angst). An actual story that no one good enough should miss out on.

I like that the characters in Taiyou no Ie---no, these PEOPLE---know each other so well, they can tell if someone is being a crybaby on the other line even though she just texted something like "You're so stupid, Stupid." But at the same time THEY ARE SO DENSE toward each other (it's fucking delicious).

I like how they point out the little things to each other like if someone sounded a little catty by saying that one comment someone would call them out on it and they actually aren't offended. Like actual clear-minded friends who know how to talk to each other.
Or how some characters aren't doofuses when in front of the one they truly like, while some do get a little stiff in a completely adorable but believable way. "Yeah I'm jealous and worried that you're even remotely rumored to be dating this other guy even though you're not but I was saying earlier how I needed that school tour." Etc.

I look for shoujo series that make sense to me. I look for characters who are self-aware, but something with cuteness in the feel of the story... A series that can make a jaded person like me actually giggle or smile in a big way.

If you're anything like me (in age, in understanding of others, in that specific kind of maturity or spot in your life where you're not looking to escape RL, just to live it better), this series will be all of the things. A new chapter of taiyou no ie is a ray of sunshine to my otherwise crappy and depressing life. There are small cliff hangers after every chapter i suppose, but they don't get me so bad because I know the next time i read a new chapter, it will be a good day, and I like spreading out the good days.

Anyway, if I sound like an annoying person to you, don't read this series (they probably cant read this since they probably stopped reading earlier on). For everyone else, especially the people who didnt roll their eyes while reading through my entire review, you really need to read this series and have your day made. Constantly. Those other people can't in their personality appreciate this series like you can, and it sucks to be them.

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EDIT (10/23/2015): I've finished the series. Props to Maigo for translating the series so beautifully. They kept the same translation for Mao's fic word for word, and that brings a tear to my eye. Here is my series review:

I agree with mystichead in the sense that the protag Mao does indeed flail her arms when she gets nervous and sputters and turns red and all that good stuff. She makes mistakes, she gets nervous, and I respect how she expresses herself because I sputter too. I don't think the problem is really her nervous mannerism, but the fact that it correlates so much with the moe caricature, which brings up the subject of pedophilia and misogyny. I know this series is above catering to those perversions, but it has crossed the deepest deeeeeepest part of my mind, the thought that what if Taamo was subscribing to the 'moe' craze, and the celebration of pedophilia/misogyny along with it?

Those thoughts aside, the humor and the fluff and the maturity of the characters all within Taiyou no Ie prove to be the driving force behind the excellence of this manga. The art and the taboo don't carry this series, the content--the humor, the style/personality, the characters--do. Taamo's soft, resonant, deadpan but also kind and a bit witty--style.

I find it hard to hate a character but I hated Mao's father for a good chunk of the series, I hated Mao's mother when we met her later.

I found it hard to screencap a moment/scene I loved and wanted to blog about, because the context and foreshadowing were so essential to that emotional hit that was that single panel that it's a fraction without them.

There were beautiful moments explored through side stories between side characters that satisfy plotholes in the best way, and I like seeing coming-around-full-circle situations done well in manga (ie. Kids on the Slope). Taiyou no Ie is what I want to reread if I ever get my hands on a printed English version.

I would definitely still recommend this to people as a pick-me-up and a light hearted read. But, like I mentioned earlier, I do not recommend this to those who are triggered by plausible-pseudo-incest, a 17+24 high schooler/blue collar worker in-a-7-year-age-gap relationship, because the series doesn't quite portray the negativity within those taboos.

... Last updated on October 23rd, 2015, 10:45pm

It hasn't got any of that mushy,floweriness that makes so many shoujo annoying to read at times. In fact, it seems to blur the division between the shoujo/seinen romance genres. Incredibly sweet, freaking fantastic drama when it comes to familial relations (and Mao's relationship with her new friend), great romance (for the most part) and frequent, light-hearted comedy.

Great read.

EDIT: Just thought I'd mention, this series isn't about romance. That's a heavy part of it but it's mostly about family. And belonging, I guess. Though I hate to say that thanks to seniour high school English >.>
Anyways, family.

... Last updated on July 9th, 2013, 7:34am

Extremely well paced, there's enough melancholy in each chapter to make you appreciate the characters; yet there is enough fluff to keep everyone happy. The characters are not stupid for once Definitely one of the top series I'm reading. Not overly dramatic, nor overly depressing; tranquil describes my feeling perfectly when reading this.

The main heroine isn't overly airheaded or obnoxious (she is by no means soft-spoken, but sweet enough to be adorable, unlike vixens that constantly remind you that you're reading something meant for girls). The guy is cool in his own way without being unrealistic. The story isn't melodramatic, yet sufficiently poignant. The parents could use more development but at any rate, this should be an enjoyable read for everyone.

This manga is a beautiful read. The art is very simple, but at the same time expressive enough to serve well. It's also hella cute, so that's just fine.
The story is sometimes heartrending, sometimes tense, but it's always engaging. I read it all in one sitting and I can't say I'm disappointed. I don't think I had any of those moments where I wish the author had done things differently. It didn't feel like it was too hurried, nor was it unnecessarily dragged out.
The psychology behind each decision and behind all actions, as well as behind the story itself, as far as I can tell, is sound. Some people may find that the protagonist is a bit too childish for her age, but I believe that is actually not the case. Every person might come out of that kind of life differently, but your reactions are more than anything else governed by your "inner child", by the expectations, disappointments and experiences you made during your childhood. Her behaviour reflects this very accurately and is appropriate for somebody of her life.

I just had to give this one a 10 of 10, and that's rare for me.

... Last updated on October 24th, 2015, 10:51pm

Summarized in 3 sentences:
Cute to a fault, Sweet and lovely enough to keep the excitement. Something that I reread 3 times, which is pretty rare.
Incredibly real and no over exaggerated cliche shoujo moments, and something I recommend all manga readers to read, despite not liking the genre.

(It'll shoot heart shaped bullets and sometimes devil shaped bullets through your fragile thumpin heart.)
You'll seriously enjoy this.

Popular =/= Good.
Like most of on-going shoujos around that are popular and sells a lot doesn't mean they are THAT good. Maybe some but most probably have gone downhill.
While Taiyou no Ie is quite popular and have average sells, it's a very good manga.
Which means it's not about the sells/rank but the quality, although that's still arguable.

From the development of the characters to the events that follows.
Characters act as if they were real human beings depicted in a fiction work. Others are exaggerated but I get it, it's to make it lively.

qwaszx summarize my inner thoughts about Taiyou no Ie.

Just the need for things to wrapped up on its own pace and we're done since everything is building up already. It'll be a memorable manga.

While this would not be my definition of a masterpiece, it is a really entertaining read that leaves me wanting more. MORRREEE!!!

This manga is certainly not super original, but it has a freshness in it that somehow keeps me reading. The series has the same underlying plot as many: school girl with broken family, guy that comes to rescue, another guy who is interested in the girl.... etc.

But what makes this series somewhat different is the way that the author lets the characters grow. They all MATURE in some way, and you can see things progressively getting better for everyone, rather than the random BOOM and happily ever after stuff.

Anyhow, I really respect the progression of the manga and how the characters don't dive into love but don't pointlessly hold back either.

The guy in question, Hiro, is really lovable. And, for once, I root for the main guy more than the love triangle dude. He is mature and "quick" to realize things (such as the girl's feeling for him), and knows to do the right stuff at the right time. *smirk* Plus, he's not one of those overly jealous boyfriends. (but his rare jealous face is hot too ha ha)

The girl is also adorably tsundere (even though I usually don't like this kind of character; I prefer Kuderes). You can really tell that she tries her best to mend any broken relationships, and even though she is not my favorite kind of female character, the other characters maturity and wonderfulness really make up for any flaws she has.

Overall, I just get this fluffy feeling from reading this, and not in a bad way.

... Last updated on February 16th, 2014, 3:18pm

For me, what really resonated with this manga is the idea that the Nakamura home is one that is full of warmth, frienship, filial love, laughter,acceptance, and caring, in stark contrast to Mao Motomiya's own fractured family, which left her lonely, alienated, unwanted and to her own mind, an existence that is only bothersome to her own parents. Despite the tragedy that struck the Nakamura's, Hiro became the steadfast source of light who persevered to put back together his own family together, as well as inclulude Mao into the fold. This just shows that a true family need not be those forged by blood ties, but more importantly, by true caring and loyalty. Excellent read.

I don't read shoujo. I avoid it whenever I can. Why? For the usual reasons people don't read shoujo.
Basically, because it's shoujo. So I haven't read a shoujo in many years.
But House of the sun, judging from the first chapter alone, has potential. That is, the potential to not turn out like any of the other shoujo I've been foolish enough to try over the years.
It's got that sense of melancholy, without being angsty or dramatic. It's less of a soap opera, and more of a slice of life.

Basically, I enjoyed it. And I'm looking forward to more.
I just hope it maintains the things that make me enjoy it now, and not turn into just another shoujo.

Plus Mao is cute.

EDIT: 10/10. Mao is still cute.

... Last updated on August 1st, 2013, 6:35am