Natalia Lucio Lucio itibaren Wiesthal, Germany
This is the best book I have read. I had to work through it and piece it all together over the course of a year filled with many put-downs and pick-ups and what-the-hells, but for those who are willing to give it a try the book does pay you back for your effort. Not for everyone (but that can be said for all of Faulkner's books)but an amazing piece that can be enjoyed as much for the writing (even if the words didn't mean anything, they sound great together) as for the story and the themes it conveys. I pick it up all the time, flip it open to a page and just read.
The perfect composition of romance, danger, and flawed characters. There is no perfection, which makes for an enjoyable and keep turning the pages.
Though fictional, this is an enlightening look at what it is like to raise an autistic child, based on several true stories. Even though it is often frustrating, Hikaru's parents and everyone around him grow tremendously because of their contact with him and his unique way of interacting with the world. Even unpleasant characters are given their own stories and sympathetic moments rather than simply being cruel and unlikable. It is wonderful to see Hikaru grow too, and although there are more volumes in this series, this can stand alone as an excellent story. The translation and layout are very well done and seem to be designed for those new to manga. The text is kept in its original right-to-left orientation, and a diagram is given to help with adjusting to that. Japanese honorifics are explained since these were (wisely) kept in the translation, signs are always translated, and notes are given explaining unfamiliar cultural references. There are also several pages of prose at the end of the book relating thoughts of actual parents of autistic children. Here the right page also comes before the left, so it may help to read these first to ease your brain into turning pages the other way. Well-written, well-edited, and thoughtfully laid out. Very highly recommended.