Title: Romeo and Juliet

Author: Sonie Leong

Type: Fiction

Page Count/Review Word Count: 196

Rating 3.5/5

 

 

This book is basically a manga adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, set in modern day Tokyo and following feuds between two rival Yakuza families. Sometimes it worked, but most of the time it just felt a little weird. I guess they were trying to follow in Baz Luhrman’s footsteps, and they did to an extent, but they didn’t get it perfect.

Romeo and Juliet is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays and so perhaps I was always going to be a tough critic. And in the book’s defence, I do think that it’d be useful if you had a kid who was super into manga and who was studying Romeo and Juliet at school. But if you’re a pretty big Shakespeare fan with a passing interest in Manga, which was the case for me, maybe not so much.

I’m still glad that this book exists, though. I think there’s a gap in the market for stuff like this, so if you’re at all interested by the sound of it then check it out.

 

 

Click here to buy Romeo and Juliet.