Book Review ~ 5 Centimeters per Second story by Makoto Shinkai, illustrations by Yukiko Seiki, translated by Melissa Tanaka

 

Title: 5 Centimeters per Second

Author: Makoto Shinkai, art by Yukiko Seike, translated by Melissa Tanaka

Release Date: June 26th 2012

Published By: Vertical

Page Amount: 566 pages, paperback

GoodReads Blurb:

A tale of two people, Tono Takaki and Shinohara Akari, who were close friends but gradually grow farther and farther apart as time moves on. They become separated because of their families yet continue to exchange contact in the form of letters. Yet as time continues to trudge on, their contact with one another begins to cease. Years pass and the rift between them grows ever larger. However, Takaki remembers the times they have shared together, but as life continues to unfold for him, he wonders if he would be given the chance to meet Akari again as the tale embarks on Takaki's realization of the world and people around him. 

Review: 

I absolutely loved this book. Manga, graphic novel. Whichever this technically is. Whichever, it was great. I think that it's a Manga. This is based off a 2007 movie Makoto Shinkai; also titled 5 Centimeters per Second. This review won't be very long, but only because this is hard to review without giving a bunch away. 

Honestly, I don't know where to begin. I thought that the artwork was beautiful throughout this. I found myself very engaged in the story, as well. The characters drew me in and I wanted to see what happened to them. I liked that this book spanned many years and we got snapshots of the characters throughout the years, basically. I also appreciated the realism in this book. Yes, it is meant to be realistic but sometimes even realistic fiction isn't realistic. Which is okay, sometimes you need that. But this story was and I really appreciated that. There isn't a "Hollywood" ending, so to speak. And for me, somehow that made the story even more beautiful. At first I was frustrated by it, but then I realized it was because of how much it affected me. So, I have to give this one 5 star and would most definitely recommend it. 

<3 Amanda Leigh