The Art of Loving vol 01 (Renai Koufukuron)
June Manga
2006
1-56970-908-4
184
12.95
"What's the greatest happiness one can know in love?"
For Yutaka, there is only one answer: Sex. To him, happiness and lust are the same thing. The likable and respectable heir to the wealthy Fujiwara family is being torn inside-out by repressed physical desires. The one day, Tohno, a transfer student, shows up at school. Yutaka sees Tohno as the "toy" that will make real all his desires and debauched fantasies.
A life-long friendship based on trust and gratitude... will it all be shattered when Tohno learns the truth about Yutaka's obsession?
Lust, dark secrets, manipulation, obsession and unbridled passion... it would be a sin not to discover the Art of Loving. Induldge in this sin and get swept in the throes of forbidden, carnal urges now.
Rating:18+
Sex:Masterbation, mostly implied sex but some graphic in nature
Nudity: Some
Release Date: April 26, 2006
The Art of Loving should perhaps be called something like the mousetrap. It is a unique story andin a way not that uncommon in the genre. One party is almost innocent, loving at least in this part of the story, the other is popular however carrying a darkside that he just can't deny that finds obsession with the other.
However, though the concept is not new this exploration of it is well done and the writing really shows you the beast inside of the main character, Yukata. Though the book starts out in the future of the couple the main body of vol 1 takes place as a flash back to the time when they first met and Yutaka's darkening habits of self pleasure and fantasy.
This book gives you a look at the dark side in a little more detail, as it focuses on Yutaka almost completely, getting glimpses of other characters such as his younger brother and the other main character. While it is very well written, it relys heavily on sex and to continue the story I believe it needs to. It reads well and Yutaka's character is extremely well developed. I can hope that in later volumes we get to see things from perhaps theo ther perspective, but that is more my curiosities in the character and wanting to know more is always a good sign that you enjoyed the book.
The art style is gorgeous and though the backgrounds are sparce she uses a great sense of shadow, light and dark to create the moods that she wants her reader to feel. The characters are both expressive and well drawn and there is nothing to distract the eye from both the story elements and the environment that she creates.
This story really isn't for the light at heart, there are elements of manuipulation, control and domination. Each stride that the main character makes actually is about pulling the light into the darkness instead of the light being raised up. Its a story for anyone who has had dirty thoughts they don't want to admit and I think the pressures that both the boys face in vol 01 can be related to by all.
All in all this story is a good mix of sex, story, art and passion. The Art of Loving is something that the darker of many of us will like and a good read when you are alone. Eiki Eiki has found a good door into the darkside of the soul, and hopefully will continue to do so in the upcomming volumes.