KOYAMA Yukari offers to her readers characters that are deep and believable. She utilizes a broad scope of characteristics and emotions—from lovable, cool, thoughtful and talented to sneaky, hateful, angry and bitter—to convey a realistic, yet addictive, story full of events which takes her readers on one of the most thrilling roller-coaster rides through the lives of her characters. This is a well done slice-of-life piece.
Initially, the reader is given just enough information regarding the characters to develop some emotional attachment to them. KOYAMA Yukari uses each consecutive edition of Half an Apple to build onto the original thoughts and emotions and manipulate them to mirror her characters’ thoughts and emotions. She does a relatively good job. Realistically, everyone has their own distinct perspective and cognitive interpretation of situations—Americans do not quite see circumstances the way Japanese do; the same goes for other cultures—and every once in a while you may find yourself thinking, “Why the heck would you fall for that?!” or “Are you really going to react like that?”
I was skeptical when I read this series would end with the 14th edition. The 13th edition ended with such a cliff-hanger, it seemed impossible to me that KOYAMA could tie up the story--as deep and open-ended as Half an Apple had become--in the few short chapters that would comprise book 14. I feel, after having skimmed over the last book, that I was correct in my speculation. With the exception of reading some key parts at the beginning of the 14th edition, I headed straight for the end to relieve myself of the romantic anxiety KOYAMA Yukari had put me through—after all, Half an Apple should be read as a romance first!
Though my initial reaction was to feel disappointed with HOW things ended, I realize that the end, though rushed, was realistic and acceptable.
It is true what they say. “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”
(-28)
