I'm starting with this series because it was recommended to me by an acquaintance. He said it was indeed a sweet series. I'm starting with this volume because it was the earliest that my local library had. So between the recommendation and the local library's collection, I am able to enjoy this series.
It is a cooking manga in the Iyashikei genre. The frame narrative is single father Kohei Inuzuka learning how to cook with his young daughter Tsumugi and one of the students in his high school math class, Kotori Lida. Because of the Iyashikei genre, this situation is totally wholesome and innocent. The three of them take their time preparing a meal together and then they eat together once finished. That's the premise.
It is precious.
Each chapter is a self-contained story, a handful of the meals that the trio prepare together. In one of them, Kohei is trying to find a way for his daughter to eat bell peppers, which she thinks are disgusting. The story doesn't go the way of "Green eggs and Ham". No, Kohei's first attempt ends up making Tsumugi cry because of how bitter his bell pepper dish tastes. The story goes into detail about how young children have sensitive taste buds, and so Kohei and Kotori work together for a solution.
Another chapter is a Gyoza party, which is when friends get together, make "gyoza", and then eat it together. This appears to be something that real-life Japanese people do, because the author says that they did this with some friends in the afterword. Gyoza is a stuffed bread dish. One takes meat and/or vegetables and wraps them up in bread wrappers, which are then boiled/fried/baked etc. depending on the recipe.
It is a light read. Light and sweet, like the title says. It's a good thing to read before bed to move into a relaxed state of mind prior to sleep. Unless, of course, the stories make you hungry. The food looks good. I'd like to try it at some point.
Sweetness and Lightning volume 2 an A+
Click here for my previous book review: The Wee Free Men (read for fun)
Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.
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