Ringo Nikki

[MangaDex]

 

[FredFriendly]

It's hard to believe that this story was written by the same mangaka as Love*Com. The "MC" is such an obnoxious ahole that I couldn't even finish the first chapter. Being generous, I gave it a rating of "1" (only because it is the lowest rank you can give).

 

[Pokari]

Okay, wow, I'm ditto on the "couldn't finish the first chapter".

She leaves a not-quite budded love with what appears to be a nice guy behind, moves to the countryside, finds a slightly-too-old-for-her, sexually harassing asshole that she's obviously going to go out with based on the summary and how the story is written—it's just... depressing.

Like, it's possible I'm not giving this enough credit and there will be serious character growth and things could somehow be half-okay in the end, but I just can't stomach reading through it to find out.

 

[EarlMerleTheGirl]

The two before me are overreacting. The love interest is a childish pervert but he very clearly has charm points as well, and quite frankly, I found his childishness to be funny. The age gap is a bit much, but he's a brat mentally so I guess it's fine. It's understandeable to dislike a character and drop a manga because of it, but to say it's "depressing" or worthless 0/10 is a bit dumb, especially on a goofy manga like this. Overall, I enjoyed this manga for what it was - a silly shoujo romcom.

 

[dancingoncrocodiles]

@FredFriendly
@Pokari
“nice guys“ spotted lol like maybe just manga that isnt for u

 

[Pokari]

@dancingoncrocodiles:

Fiction is always part of our conversation as a society of what is good or bad, what is acceptable behaviour, and how we think about, well, stuff in general. So I must categorically reject your implication that I should just not say anything about the story, if I didn't like it.

To be clear, I'm not saying "manga where questionable things happen" = "bad fiction". As a theatre professor of mine once said (paraphrased), "what's interesting about a story is the wrongness in it that needs to be reconciled". Nonetheless, I feel it's completely appropriate to object to the themes of even a well-written work (which I think this one is, despite my feelings about it's content) on their own merits, because what we read and how we process it changes how we perceive the world around us.

In this story, I'm put off by (as of the first chapter) a displayed preference for sensual and irresponsible whirlwind romance (or so I feel) over the hard work of trying to make a healthy relationship work out. Basically, thematically, I think that's dumb (at least the way it's portrayed here), and so I've said so.

Others can disagree (like @EarlMerleTheGirl did) both about my perceptions and about the implications thereof, and that becomes part of a discussion of what this work is, what it does or doesn't mean, whether or not the "lessons" in the story are ones we should carry back with us to our lives, and that in turn becomes part of broader ongoing discussions (in this case potentially stuff like, the different virtues and/or wisdoms of relationships, how and whether age gaps matter in romance, what's okay in fiction vs. what's okay in reality...)

So—not to put too fine a point on it—if you disagree with what I'm saying feel free to civilly (or even uncivilly) discuss it; but if you just want to enjoy it without talking to anyone that perceives it differently than you, I can only suggest you stay out of the comments entirely.

Well, this kind of turned into a rant about why reading-discussion is important, but I guess that was sort of the point so it's okay.

_{As a final note, ad hominem attacks are indeed technically included in the broader societal debate I'm talking about, but they're anathema to civil discussion, so I still think it would be better if you could refrain if possible.}

 

[dancingoncrocodiles]

@Pokari ok i read too much into your first comment, i think its the weirdly toxic comment by that other guy that annoyed me. but i think you dont need to think so hard about the merit of a silly romance manga, no prof is giving you a grade here, just try to have some fun ^_^

also (mild):

Spoiler

i havent finished it yet but its not a straight-up romance with the older guy

 

[68748]

Nakahara Aya, torturing FLs through asshole MLs since 90s.

Spoiler

The story is about an asshole who tells the FL to go out with him several times, but starts dragging his feet when she comes to like him back. If you can take it, read it.