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Forum - View topicREVIEW: Let's Dance a Waltz GN 1
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dancem
Posts: 1 |
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Can any one write on without knowing Japanese and Natsumi Ando?
Yes I can, Waltz... story is simply irresistible, as hinted by ANN. Just visited Natsumi Ando blog to find taste of rice freshly cooked. I have simple question to the forum, any one there who has gone through LDW GN1 and sensed the fresh rice odor in it? Rebecca Silverman put in the review "allure of dancing" and "feel like real people", which indicates the human dance flavor is woven well. Where you find it to be precise? |
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Sakura-Alchemist
 Posts: 489 |
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I would say it's more than a little disappointing.
I would hardly call her weight loss a natural result of exercise. It's been awhile since I read it but she lost the weight in what a month if I remember correctly? as an overweight person from my experience you don't lose the weight that fast, first you firm up first long before any weight loss actually occurs. Her magical weight loss without showing any of the struggle really ruined it for me to be honest. And it turned Hime into a generic protagonist to me. |
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Darkmagick
 SubscriberPosts: 465 |
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It's worse than that. I just checked, she loses 20kg (44 pounds) in 2 weeks. That's more than disappointing, it's downright disturbing. Losing that much weight in so little time, she should have been admitted to a hospital ASAP. That moment ruined the series for me too, really. Last edited by Darkmagick on Sun May 10, 2015 8:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Via_01
 Posts: 551 |
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I think calling the weight loss part a ruining moment of the series is exaggerating a little. Sure, it's a little disappointing, but it's not as if her personality is going to completely change because of it or anything.
I'm more interested about the waltz theme. It's what drew me to this manga in the first place. It's just not a common theme to base a manga around; the only other manga from the top of my head where the protagonists practices a type of dance is Tetsugaku Letra (a pretty great one though). And "Let's Dance a Waltz" uses that theme well, which makes me happy. |
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Chibi Shoujo
 Posts: 97 Location: Wisconsin, USA |
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I'm inclined to agree with you. While it may be a little frustrating that Hime goes through this transformation, it shouldn't ruin the story for readers. I'm enjoying reading this manga more for the character development through personality and plot. Ando-san always seem to do a good job of getting my feels going 
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manapear
Posts: 1526 |
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And I am going to say, if that bothers people, it's fair enough that turns them off of the series. If it doesn't for you; good! Cool. Keep reading. But people have a right to be turned off as something as cliche, badly represented and frankly tone deaf as that.
I love Natsumi Ando and her work, but I'm disappointed to hear that, and may just give this one a pass. (This especially after she made such a thing about weight early in Kitchen Princess.) |
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Sakura-Alchemist
Posts: 489 |
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Okay but here's the thing about the weight loss, it's not just about the weight loss they took a character who was overweight and not the standard of beauty who was working hard and doing well to a typical skinny pretty girl. They basically took the extreme make-over instead of removing glasses in a second to become "pretty" they gave her two weeks to lose 44 pounds to become "pretty" and thus a suitable / typical heroine. It completely changed the character dynamic even if the personalities stayed the same. It went from an Atypical heroine appearance, to typical pretty heroine with typical pretty boy love interest.
Basically if you reading for mainly waltz theme I can see why it's only disappointing but not a deal breaker, but I was reading it for the shoujo manga themes. The Waltz was a unique twist for setting along with the overweight heroine, but it was undermined by her unrealistic weight loss. It also made her appearance very generic just like all the other typical shoujo manga heroines. I was really excited about reading a story about an overweight girl being able to succeed in an elegance based sport despite what people might assume about her appearance and the weight loss took that away. If it had taking a long amount of time it wouldn't have bothered me but the fact she just went 2 weeks magic weight loss typical pretty girl appearance just took away her uniqueness and any body positivity potential. I was basically really excited to see a character with a similar body type to me succeed in a sport and make friends so if you can't see why the unrealistic weight loss is a deal breaker to people I don't know what to tell you. |
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manapear
Posts: 1526 |
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Exactly. When I found out the main girl was chubby, I was really interested (I was interested by default of it being Ando before). But after hearing how her size is handled, I'm not very interested. Ando will have other works, and I don't feel like reading something so disappointing. |
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Ali07
 Posts: 3333 Location: Victoria, Australia |
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That's good to know. Pre-ordered this awhile back, but thought the dance might be something that wouldn't click. As for the weight loss...I've only seen the cover image. So, character never seemed that overweight to me? Sure, she looks a little chubby, but looks more like "puppy fat" than someone needing to lose 20kgs. |
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Chibi Shoujo
Posts: 97 Location: Wisconsin, USA |
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I can understand where you and manapear are coming from. Ando-san should have invested some research into the weight issue, much like she did the dancing, especially since it could (and did) have an impact on her readers. I agree that it was upsetting to see that unrealistic change, especially since I was rooting for Hime as an underdog in terms of physique. By no means would I say that you should read it anyways, especially if you do find fault with it. That would be like forcing myself to read things I don't like, and I'm certainly not hypocritical in that respect. I'm just suggesting that other readers give it a chance if they're willing to look passed this flaw. |
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Chiibi
 Posts: 4829 |
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Okay, I'm pretty interested in this one but I'm disturbed that the opinions of nearly everyone commenting here amounts to "Fat heroine!? HORRAY!!!"
"...wait, she loses weight!? BOO!!!" .................seriously guys? 
I agree losing 44 pounds in two weeks isn't possible under normal circumstances....but why are we acting like any weight-loss at all is a BAD thing? |
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nobahn
 Subscriber Posts: 5120 |
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I think that that I am not the only one here who thinks that implied anorexia is A Bad Thing. |
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Chiibi
Posts: 4829 |
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But is it actually implied? Or are we jumping to conclusions? I don't think you can lose that amount even if you are anorexic....not in two weeks, anyway.
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nobahn
Subscriber Posts: 5120 |
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^
The portrayal of unrealistic weight loss can (& does!) have a negative impact on girls's self-image and self-worth. |
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Chiibi
Posts: 4829 |
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Regardless, people are complaining about a fat heroine not staying fat is a little messed up to me. There wasn't any mention of anorexia or how that weight loss is unhealthy. It seemed more like they're saying an overweight character makes the manga better verses a thin one. Lol what the heck......why should her weight matter!?
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