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Nuestros Tiempos Felices (2012)

by Ji-young Gong(Favorite Author)

4.44 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Graphic Novels & Comics

publisher

La Esfera de los Libros

review 1: Post-suicidal girl visits prisoners on death row. Not so happy a time but very touching.....desperate situations, difficult family interactions and some brilliant insight on occasion. Truly worth reading but if you're looking for a happy story, this is not it. The best part of it, to me, is that it shows if we can unlock our hearts from the hurts done to us by others, whether intentional or unintentional, only good can result, to us and to the world.
review 2: 10 am on Thursday. this is the only time we can live.-This is my poorly written diary... To the people who feel worried about the words I write, what's in a driary is not exempt from punishment.However, this was a chance for me to visit my mindset several months ago.Back then, I dreaded sun's rays... B... moreecause when I was in the dark, I thought I could live unaffected by the true identity of the things that coiled.The first time I met him was during a time like that...The 1st Meeting: No. 3987Around when November was coming to an end, I tested... Death"To me, the hours that pass by each day are just an agony that I want to throw in the trash.""No. 3987. That man... has attempted suicide countless time in prison just like you."-My second encounter with hime was the horrible things I heard about him.The 2nd Meeting: Piano.To be honest, I didn't really like the piano that much. But I played it, because it made my aunt, my cousin Hide, and my mom happy.My mom was always yelling, and she'd only quiet down when she was listening to me play the piano.So I played. For her sake..."When she plays the piano, I can't hear a single bad thing, so it makes me feel better. I can't hear your... crying either.""I am never playing the piano again!"-My third encounter with him occured through my misfortune...The 3rd Meeting: The BigotFor fourteen years, I had a secret that I couldn't tell anyone.I don't know why I confessed all the sorrow that had collected inside my chest to him back then.Was it because I was drunk? Because I thought he was going to die soon, anyway? Or because I knew that he was the same kind of person as me?"I came because I didn't understand... Why someone like me, who wants to kill so badly, is running free... While someone like you, who trembles and begs for forgiveness, is locked up in here...""Next Thursday, at 10 AM... If I'm still alive then, please stop by. I also would like to talk... with you."-From my fourth encounter with him onwards, we competed to see who could talk the most.The 4th Meeting: Sylvia.We were only granted 30 minutes every Thursday.Today may be the last day...And so we continued to talk, even about trivial little things, and even if our throuats became sore..."Today's a snow day. It's snowing. So Isn't it 'Sylvia's Day'?"-The 5th Meeting: Sketch BookI decided to draw.Because he had such a great regard for even trivial things...I took notice of them for the first time.Where I had thought there was only darkness, there are actually radiant, sparkling things that exist...."You really are a lot like her. Maybe that's why she's changed. and you are the one who changed her.""You've been sending me letters, right? I want to write back, but I don't have any talent for it. From your talks you really seemed to be attached to how things look outside. So... I wanted to atleast draw them to show you...""If you could, please draw my face sometime... If you draw a picture of me, maybe I'll be able to like it..."-The 6th Meeting: The Secret LetterThe answer that people who have witnessed a murder give about the existence of the death penalty...The answer that people who have seen a criminal be executed give to activists who want the death penalty repealed...If those answers were to finally satisfy our egos, and some distinguished person was to make a firm decision on it, we wouldn't be distressed about it..."I have no complaints about being here in prison... I understand being hated all too well. I have no regrets..."-The 7th Meeting: Augustine.Next Thusrday is Christmas. So my aunt and I attended Yuu's baptism.His Christian name is Augustine."Lately... I've been scared of time passing... I wonder what I'd do if his sentence was carried out tomorrow. He told me himself that he has no complaints about where he stands... I'm the one who's frightened.”"I didn't have any regrets. But for a while now... I wait for Thursday to come. I realized I'm chasing after day. That's right, today's only Monday, isn't it? It's still quite a while until Thursday."-The Last Meeting: The Opened Piano.There are more things that I cared about. There were also things i didn't want to lose.To the some extent, there were also more things that I didn't want to see, and more things that I thought would be horrible.I knew that, in life, both sides are essential."The piano... If you can, I'd like to hear you play the piano one more time...""I'll play. And in return... Will live another year for me?"-----------------------I found this manga when I do some research about some angst stories, which is my favorite genre. And it's already countless time I re-read it, but it still give the same feeling as the first time.At first, I just read this because someone said it's heart wrenching like the other one shot made by the same artist, so I tried reading this not expecting anything about the story. But first chapter.. up until the last, they were all bittersweet and heartbreaking. The realistic taste involved had become unbearable, but professionally done as the author explores the areas of self redefinition after terribly tragic incidences have happened to the main characters. How they each overcome their own past through mutual support is perhaps what makes this story such a great read."Thanks to the Thursdays that I spent with you, I knew for the first time how it felt to be happy.""It's thanks to hime that I also understand... How to obtain the thing called happiness."I CRIED. I Couldn't hold the tears any longer. I really cried like a baby at the ending and that I cried pretty much through the whole Manga when I understood where the story was leading. Though I wouldn't say that it will make absolutely everyone cry, but for the most part, it will remain with you for some time. Eventhough I usually prefer angst story with cruel ending rather than happily ever after story, but just this time I hope it will end up with happiness for the characters. I was at least expecting they can escape their fates.. two broken people met, and their lives and beliefs were changed. But...I can give the story and art 10/10. Especially the story, because it was a masterpiece and a hidden jewel. I usually don't give out 10/10 ratings, but this one definitely deserves it. I haven't read something as touching as this for a long while. It was just brilliant. Even if the romance is subtle I can feel their emotions, their pain and needs. Their love is purely platonic. And the ending.. was just tragically beautiful. Argh I love it so much.I wish Makoto Shinkai sensei will make the movie for it :')P.S: I don't recommend this for anyone who can't stand Tragic story less

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