I know when I first started reading Honey and Clover, I wasn't sure if I'd like it or not. I found the depiction of Haguchan as a really young child disturbing. Now that I've read through volume 5, I find I like these people and I like this story. This one was sad, everyone trying to figure out what they need to do with their life. Now that Morita is back, not sure what's going to happen as he's the series' wild card. ( )

The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think. ( )