The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa

Title: The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya

Author: Nagaru Tanigawa

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Age Group: Young Adult

Grade: C

This third volume in the Haruhi Suzumiya series is a collection of four exciting short stories that chronologically take place before The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya.

The Boredom of Haruhi Suzumiya: In her latest attempt to give the S.O.S. Brigade more public exposure, Haruhi signs the group up for the city-wide baseball tournament.

Bamboo Leaf Rhapsody: It's like Back To the Future! In order to prevent an impending disaster, Mikuru takes Kyon back in time, where he meets Haruhi as a seventh grader.

Mysterique Sign: The computer club president at school mysteriously disappears, and it's up to the S.O.S. Brigade to get to the bottom of it!

Remote Island Syndrome: It's vacation time when a relative of Itsuki's invites the S.O.S. Brigade to stay at his island villa. But then a dead body turns up, and Haruhi and the gang get mixed up in a thrilling murder mystery.
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As always these books pleased me immensely. I really enjoyed how Boredom was more than just one story, unlike the other books Boredom included several short stories that made the book more interesting and fun to read.

It's funny to read Kyo's off the wall observations and everyone else's wild reactions to the plans that Haruhi devises.

All of the characters can be pretty annoying at times though as well. No one would do the things they are doing, or say the things they are saying but you just have to remember that it is a work of fiction. Of COURSE it's made up. Do you really think espers and time travelers are real? It's hard to get angry about how unrealistic the characters are when you're dealing with a fantasy novel.

I really enjoy looking at the random art. My mind can stray from books often but seeing pictures gives me the ability to get it together. They also give me a clearer idea of what was going on. They seem to be strategically places where a confusing scene is going on.

To put it simply, I liked the book. It was funny, and creative just like the ones before it. Keep it up Tanigawa. I look forward to reading whatever comes next.

-Amanda
Book received free from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers