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A review by floralfox
The Heart of Thomas by Moto Hagio
4.0
This is the very first manga I've ever picked up. Mostly I hadn't really considered the genre much, although I do have a few friends that have recommended it, but I felt it was a little bit of an intimidating thing to get into, especially when a manga series is divided up into several books. The Heart of Thomas, however, is all part of one giant 500 page tome, which I was into.
I picked this book up off the shelf at the library because I liked the spine. And then I read the back about how Moto Hagio was essentially the founding mother of shôjo manga, and then I was like, well I have to read it, considering I'm on a kick of reading books by women and I'm trying to make sure that doesn't mean a kick of reading 100 white, American women. It was an introduction to something I knew nothing about with a woman who was pioneering something else I knew nothing about. I was sold.
This is the story of Juli, Oskar, and Erich mostly, three boys who attend a prep school in Germany. Juli is haunted by the death (or suicide? or murder?) of a young boy named Thomas, who sent Juli love letters and whose rejection by Juli may have sent him over the edge. Juli, who has been shut off emotionally to his friends and peers for a little over a year, tries to remain the same: impassive, indifferent, a perfect prefect. This starts to unravel with Erich, a lookalike of Thomas, shows up to the prep school.
Erich is shipped there by his new stepfather and he resenting every second of it. For the first time in his life he is separated from his mother, whom he calls Marie, and whom he loves very, very much. (He wears an engagement ring from her and wants to spend forever with her). Erich, unlike Juli, is extremely emotional. His feelings flip flop at the slightest provocation and he never dares to hide it. He is intrigued by Juli's hatred of him, and he hates Juli and loves Juli and hates Juli over and over again.
Oskar is mischievous and rebellious but has the headmaster in his pocket. He is also Juli's closest friend and keeps Juli's painful secrets about what happened to Juli the year before (unbeknownst to Juli). Oskar guides Erich through his new troubles at school.
Mostly everyone loves and has crushes on everyone else, especially Juli, and this drives the tension and drama as secret backstories are revealed. Juli. Erich is . Oskar is the .
Towards the latter maybe quarter of the series, religion starts playing a major theme. Juli refers to "losing his wings," or his innocence, or his faith. This is perhaps where I find myself giving a 4 star rating instead of a 5 star rating. This part just didn't really do anything for me, and I was disappointed with Juli's ending. However, I read in someone else's review that this is a common manga trope? Or perhaps shôjo manga trope? But I don't know much because this is only my first introduction to it.
Overally, I just really liked the story. It was intriguing, sometimes strange, sometimes heartwrenching. I went out and picked up Moto Hagio's other work immediately afterwards.
I picked this book up off the shelf at the library because I liked the spine. And then I read the back about how Moto Hagio was essentially the founding mother of shôjo manga, and then I was like, well I have to read it, considering I'm on a kick of reading books by women and I'm trying to make sure that doesn't mean a kick of reading 100 white, American women. It was an introduction to something I knew nothing about with a woman who was pioneering something else I knew nothing about. I was sold.
This is the story of Juli, Oskar, and Erich mostly, three boys who attend a prep school in Germany. Juli is haunted by the death (or suicide? or murder?) of a young boy named Thomas, who sent Juli love letters and whose rejection by Juli may have sent him over the edge. Juli, who has been shut off emotionally to his friends and peers for a little over a year, tries to remain the same: impassive, indifferent, a perfect prefect. This starts to unravel with Erich, a lookalike of Thomas, shows up to the prep school.
Erich is shipped there by his new stepfather and he resenting every second of it. For the first time in his life he is separated from his mother, whom he calls Marie, and whom he loves very, very much. (He wears an engagement ring from her and wants to spend forever with her). Erich, unlike Juli, is extremely emotional. His feelings flip flop at the slightest provocation and he never dares to hide it. He is intrigued by Juli's hatred of him, and he hates Juli and loves Juli and hates Juli over and over again.
Oskar is mischievous and rebellious but has the headmaster in his pocket. He is also Juli's closest friend and keeps Juli's painful secrets about what happened to Juli the year before (unbeknownst to Juli). Oskar guides Erich through his new troubles at school.
Mostly everyone loves and has crushes on everyone else, especially Juli, and this drives the tension and drama as secret backstories are revealed. Juli
Spoiler
did love Thomas!Spoiler
the cousin of Thomas by the father he never knew! His mother dies and his stepfather wants to adopt him!Spoiler
secret son of the headmaster. Both Oskar and the headmaster know but don't say anything about it!Towards the latter maybe quarter of the series, religion starts playing a major theme. Juli refers to "losing his wings," or his innocence, or his faith. This is perhaps where I find myself giving a 4 star rating instead of a 5 star rating. This part just didn't really do anything for me, and I was disappointed with Juli's ending
Spoiler
deciding to go off to be a priestOverally, I just really liked the story. It was intriguing, sometimes strange, sometimes heartwrenching. I went out and picked up Moto Hagio's other work immediately afterwards.