comedy, an unconventional main character and 6 beautiful guys= great manga - Rated 
I would have given this book 5 stars, but be warned, some of the pages are awkward to follow. Other than that small draw back, this is one hell of an entertaining shojo! Haruhi,the main character, is a refreshing change from the ditsy-high-school-girl-type you usually see in these types of books (Tamaki fills that role quite well). The art is pretty good and some parts will seriously make you laugh out loud. These books are truly excellent, i've found myself re-reading them several times, i think you will too XD
A Funny, Entertaining Series - Rated
Ouran High centres around Haruhi, a matter-of-fact, ordinary, scholarship student in an elite high school. In the first volume, she meets and finds herself becoming part of the Host Club, made up of an assortment of six aristocratic boys from the school. The Host Club is dedicated to catering to female members of the school (which usually involves charming them over tea etc). The series isn't really about the club's activities though; it's more about the specific members and what's going on within their lives.
Ouran High in general is very light-hearted and plot-wise the chapters are usually disconnected, involving various mad things happening to the club as a whole or to specific members. It's really funny, with Haruhi boggling at the crazy world of the rich, and the club members, in turn, trying to understand the lives of ordinary people.
The boys in the club are developed as the series progresses, as is Haruhi and her background. The characters are actually really well developed, even though there are so many of them. Supporting characters are also well defined.
Overall I really love this manga. It might not be plot driven but it's always funny and entertaining. All the club members are fantastic- if a little mad, and Haruhi's calm, matter-of-fact personality is great. I definitely recommend the series to anyone; if you're looking for light-hearted entertainment, Ouran High guarantees it!
You Are A Host, Starting Today - Rated
Haruhi Fujioka is not having a good day. Aside from being a lowly scholarship student in Ouran High, a prestigious playground for the super-rich that perceives her as a "commoner", she simply can't find anywhere quiet to study. Opening up the door to the Third Music Room, instead of peace, she discovers...
THE OURAN HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB.
The Host Club is an all-male club devoted to hiring out their company to the girls of the school (rather like male geisha). Realising her mistake, Haruhi tries to leave and subsequently, breaks a vase. A vase that the Host Club were about to auction. A vase worth $80 000. So in order to pay off such a debt, the club enrols her as a host.
But as it has already been said-the Host Club is an all-male group. Whilst Haruhi doesn't seem to mind that the Host Club have mistaken her for a male, the truth will eventually be known...
I must admit, I bought this title after having seen its awesome anime counterpart and was personally slightly let down by that fact. (The anime is a lot funnier). Though in truth, only the layout proves to be the most problematic aspect of Ouran High. It is frequently quite self-contained and not always easy to follow. However, there is so much more about this title to love.
For a start, Haruhi is a greatly refreshing heroine. Rather than laspe into the old stereotype of the lacklustre, bumbling idiot personality, Bisco Hatori has created a character who is intelligent, both academically and emotionally, insightful and at times a tad cynical. Furthermore, the other members of the host club are interesting and amusing personalities whilst at the same time, playfully mocking the old stereotypes of shoujo manga.
However, in the style of shoujo manga, all the main male characters are visually appealing and the artwork is original and beautiful. Volume 1 includes character bios and additional author notes along so it is certainly worth paying for.
Ouran High School Host Club is certainly an impressive English debut for Hatori and certainly a refreshingly original shoujo title.
|
