Customer Reviews (7)

great improvement
I've always been biased in favor of Les Bijoux, because the artwork of a manga/manhwa has always been the deciding factor for me. (And despite what anyone says about the plot, it's undeniable that the art is GORGEOUS, especially if you're fond of beautiful people.)I admit that the plot in the first two books has been cliched in parts, predictable in others, etc... but so has the plot in many other mangas that got rave reviews. (such as Kare Kano and Call Me Princess.)It's still enjoyable, just like many other so-so story titles because it exceeds standards in almost all other areas.

In vol. 3, the story diverges from Lapis's struggles to avenge his parents and save the world from Diamond, a power-hungry Habit. Instead, the focus is primarily on a magically inclined woman, Silica, and the tyrannical king of a desert mine, Pyrope. Thier story is touching and unusual in many ways, and of course they're beautiful like all other main characters of Les Bijoux. These new additions are very complex, and so far are the most creative out of the bunch. Another highlight was the military workings of the two warring mines-the climax involves an intricate, genius show of strategy. Also, Les Bijoux uses climate and geography to give various settings, as well as explain some plot points. In vol 3, Sable is a desert civilization. The archeitecture and culture is reminiscent of ancient Persia. It gives the setting an exotic feeling, and the buildings are accurately detailed (I think.)

The story and flow is much improved- it's more a side story, but wonderful nonetheless. The bobblehead "chibis" which disconcert the flow in the other books are still present-but this time have much better timing, and are less frequent. They come in only at appropriate places. All in all-a great story with beautiful illustrations, well worth the $10

Fun Fantasy
I do love fantasy, and this is the tale of a young man coming to terms with his destiny. Lapis is was born into the Spar community from a Hunchback woman and a Dwarf(He reminds me of a minature santa clause ;p) man, he has been born doubly cursed. This curse involves him turning from a man into a woman at any given time, and usually at the worst times. He just hopes that him and his parents can escape to paradise after collecting the 12 stones that his father gives to him for his birthday. But after a missunderstanding his parents are murderded by the cruel ruling habit(ruling people) Diamond whom loves Lazuli, Lapis' female form.

Les Bijoux is a fun fantasy tale, but its not light-hearted. Its a pretty heavy story actually, but it is lightened with humor. The whole thing with Lapis changing into a woman makes me wonder, "What would I do if I was both man and woman?". I mean, how could you choose which to date? Or marry!? Of course that's not what Lapis is worried about right now, he just wants to avenge his parents death, Diamond whom is in love with his female side Lazuli, does not realize that Lazuli and and Lapis are the same person. But even with these heavy issues, Les Bijoux remains a fun and thought-provoking read.

Also, I edited this reveiw because I felt I sounded exactly like the editorial reviewer I was condeming. SHAME ON ME.! Anyways, DON'T listen to him.! I question whether or not he/she actually read the book. They never seem to "get" anime/manga/manhwa.

Just give Les Bijoux a try, you got nothing to lose. You'll love it if you like Fantasy and/or REALLY HOT guys, which they actually are real people and just not really hot guys, so that's a plus as well.

God Bless & *enjoy* ~Amy

guilty pleasure
Yeah, this series is my guilty reading pleasure, haha. Yes, the art is lovely; if you are an aestheticist or fan of gothic manga you should check this one out. The plot, however, is kind of hokey and some scenarios or dialogue is just... unnatural, I guess you could say. Okay, long review short, art is great, plot is hokey. Give at least the first volume a shot if you're interested, then decide to continue or not from there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comics & Graphic Novels   2. Fantasy   3. Fiction - Fantasy   4. Graphic Novels - Manga   

Subjects:  1. Travel   2. Travel - United States   3. United States - West - Mountain (General)   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture   2. Alien labor   3. Business & Economics   4. Business / Economics / Finance   5. Business/Economics   6. California   7. Economic History   8. Emigration & Immigration   9. Environmental aspects   10. High technology industries   11. Industries - Computer Industry   12. Labor   13. Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clar   14. Santa Clara Valley (Santa Clara County)   15. United States - State & Local - General   

Customer Reviews (1)

A Voice Crying Out in The Wilderness
Robert Boettcher's Gifts of Deceit insightfully and thoroughly documents the activities and findings of the Frazer Committee.

This congressional subcommittee( through it's 1978 report) on International Organizations opened a window on a world in Washington which many would prefer to see closed forever.

The report of this committee informally called the Frazer Report exhaustively documents and details Sun Myung Moon's role in working to shape American foreign policy. It further names a whole host of characters including American politicians, military leaders, Korean diplomats, former Japanese prime ministers, not to mention President Dwight D. Eisenhower who wittingly or unwittingly wound up acting as agents or surrogates for Sun Myung Moon and his "Unification Church".

In addition to reading like a first rate who dunnit Boettcher's book gives the reader a behind the scenes look at official Washington which to this day has done nothing about the principal findings of the Frazer Committee: namely that the Unification Church has engaged in systematic violations of U.S law. Banking and currency laws, securities and exchange commission laws, Immigration and naturalization laws and charities fraud laws.

Boettcher's book is the first book which reveals the global geo-political ambitions of the Moon organization. It is a must for students of foreign relations, students of destructive cults, and for students of the U. S. Constitution particularly those who take an interest in the first and the thirteenth amendments. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Moon, Sun Myung   2. Park, Tongsun   

Subjects:  1. Fiction - Historical   2. Historical - General   3. Photo Essays   4. Photoessays & Documentaries   5. Photography   

Customer Reviews (1)

Your Average Mahayanist
This book is so terrible that I will not even comment on it. If the subject interests you, get the Robert Buswell book on "Sudden and Gradual". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Enlightenment (Zen Buddhism)   2. Faith (Buddhism)   

Customer Reviews (1)

Korean women in contemporary S. Korea
Pak Wan-so (or Wan-suh Park here) is one of the most famous writers in South Korea. Her stories revolve around women who have grimness, determination and resolve in their attitude toward life. Like much of post-War Korean lit that has been translated, these are not "happy" stories. There are depressing moments at times, brutal and harsh depictions of survival and despair. But the writing shows through depite a number of minor, albeit annoying, spelling and punctuation errors, the translation is smooth and readable overall; just a bit more proofreading on the part of the publishers would have helped things out even more. Park is a powerful storyteller and should be enjoyable to read for those interested in Korean literature in translation. Check out her novel "The Naked Tree" as well as one of her short stories published in the Korean anthology "Land of Exile" formore of her translated work ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthologies (multiple authors)   2. Fiction   3. Fiction - General   4. Literary   

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - General   2. Parks & Campgrounds   3. Travel   4. Travel - United States   5. United States - West - Mountain (General)   

Subjects:  1. Description and travel   2. Essays   3. General   4. Glacier National Park (Mont.)   5. Going-to-the-Sun Road (Mont.)   6. History   7. History - General History   8. Photo Essays   9. Photography   10. United States - State & Local   11. United States - State & Local - General   

Subjects:  1. Description and travel   2. Essays   3. General   4. Glacier National Park (Mont.)   5. Going-to-the-Sun Road (Mont.)   6. History   7. History - General History   8. Photo Essays   9. Photography   10. United States - State & Local   11. United States - State & Local - General   

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - General   2. Science   

Subjects:  1. Body, Mind & Spirit   2. Eastern - Zen   3. Meditation   4. New Age   5. Philosophy   6. Spiritualism - General   

Subjects:  1. European - German   2. Literature - Classics / Criticism   

Customer Reviews (1)

A valuable collection of authors
Voices that need to be heard: book includes articles by Monica Melanchton, India; Lily Kuo Wang, Taiwan; Christine Tse, Hong Kong; Yong Ting Jin, Malaysia; and others. Also two general statement papers from Asian women theologian conferences. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia   2. Christianity - Theology - General   3. Feminist Theology   4. Religion   5. Theology, Doctrinal   6. Unassigned Title   7. Women in Christianity   

Subjects:  1. Astronomy - General   2. Astrophysics & Space Science   3. Life Sciences - Biology - General   4. Science   5. Science/Mathematics   

Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - General   2. Geology   3. Glacier National Park   4. Glacier National Park (Mont.)   5. Guidebooks   6. Montana   7. Travel   8. Travel - United States   9. United States - General   10. United States - Mountain - Montana   

Subjects:  1. Fiction - General   2. General   

Subjects:  1. Yi, Sun-sin   

Subjects:  1. Lodwick, Albert I