A Bride’s Story, Volume 7
By Kaoru Mori
Wow, I never expected a female centered comic like this to
contain so much nudity. Naked bodies have shown up in this series before, but
never to this extent. I’m not sure exactly which genre this manga fits into in
Japan (that is, whether it is published in a magazine aimed at men or women),
but based on the subject matter, I’ve always considered it to be a josei (women’s)
series. The emphasis on naked women here, and especially large, shapely
breasts, has me wondering though.
The large increase in nudity in this volume comes from a plot
centering around women’s bathhouses. Since portions of the series follow the
English journalist Mr. Smith as he travels back home, Kaoru Mori uses this
conceit to have him meet various women along the way and explore their stories,
making for a rich look at the various cultures in Central Asia and the Middle
East in the 19th century.
Actually, Mr. Smith never meets the main character of this
volume, even though he spends a month staying in her house. The culture in this
area (part of Turkey, I think) hides women away from public sight, with them
wearing head-to-toe coverings in public and only removing them in the presence
of their husband or other women. We meet Anis, who is married to a rich man and
living what she supposes is a happy life, but she’s very lonely, with only her
baby boy and his nursemaid to keep her company.
The plot kicks in when Anis learns of the concept of “avowed
sisters”, women who pledge themselves to each other as best friends and
confidants for life, taking vows that seem to be as serious as marriage. She
resolves to go to the public baths to try to meet someone who could be her
avowed sister, and that’s where we get lots and lots of nudity. These scenes
have so much flesh on display, with such pointed emphasis on sexual
characteristics, that there must be at least some intent to attract male
readers. The combination of this copious nudity with a plot emphasizing mutual
female yearning even lends a lesbian subtext to things, which can’t be
accidental.
However, this is still very much a women-centered story,
focusing on the characters’ feelings and desires, and it even takes a bit of a
melodramatic turn when tragedy strikes almost immediately after Anis befriends
a woman named Sherine and achieves her goal of finding a lifelong
friend/partner. It’s a good combination of heartfelt yearning and drama, and
while it doesn’t reach the satisfying heights of previous volumes in the series
(possibly due to its complete lack of questioning the way women are treated in
this society), it’s still quite good.
Much of that comes from Mori’s skill, both at weaving good
drama and at creating a fully-realized environment for her characters to move
through. Her attention to detail is incredible, whether she’s drawing an opulent
mansion or a dirty hovel, and whether she’s filling pages with naked bodies of
varied shapes and sizes or demonstrating emotions by cramming panels with
flower petals or intricate designs. I especially like the little details of
human or animal interaction she always includes, like the way Anis’ cat
alternately craves and rebuffs affection:
So, if you’re new to this series, I’d recommend reading the
other volumes first (that’s the way numbers work), but if you like what you see
there, you’ll be glad to know that the series continues to delight. I’m looking
forward to the next volume, which promises to return focus to its original
characters, and hopefully find a suitable match for young Pariya. If the seven
extant volumes of the series have led me to expect anything, it’ll be full of
good, moving drama, and hopefully an ending that will make me happy.
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